Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-04-16
MR.. WAYT'S
Wife's Sister

His mothers attitude changed slight
", although her face was unaltered
She seemed to hold her breath to listen
intensity of interest. March, stretched
luxuriously upon the rug, in his usua
post-prandial attitude, felt her sigh.
''Do tire you. mother. dear?" he
asked.
"Never, my boyl"
Nor ever would, although. within the
hour, and with throe that tested hel
reserves of fortitude, she had surren'
dered the first place in his heart. The
blow was unexpected. The orchard
paintings and her children's interest in
them had seemed entirely professional
to her. March had sketched dozens OF
girls, and fallen in love with none OF
them. With all his warmth of heart,
and ready sensibjlities, he was not sus-
fceptible to feminine charms. AS boy.
he became enamored of art too early to
have other flames Perhaps, with faulty
common TO mothers, she reasoned that,
with such home as his, he was not
likely to be tempted by visions of do
nestle bliss under vine and fig-tree yet
to be planted. 1t is grievons problem
to the maternal intellect why men who
have the best mothers and sisters living
and eager to spoil them with much
serving. should be the earliest to marry
out Of certainty into hazardous uncer-
tainty.
When the Judge had gone to politi-
cal meeting, and May to entertain Wis
I itors in the drawing-room, Mrs. Gill
! christ OWNED the purport Of the Inn
pending communication. Her fair hand
grew clammy in toying with the short
chestnut curls; in the silence through
which she could hear the tinkle of the
I fountain on the lawn, she wet her dry
lips that they might not be unready with
loving rejoinder to what her idol was
preparing to say. She knew March too
well to expect conventional preamble.
He was always direct and genuine. She
did not start when he spoke at length.
"Mamma, darling"
Eyes, my SON."
ut has come to me at last, and In
earnest"
II surmised as much" 1t was plain
to see where he got his dislike of cir
cuitous methods. as it Mrs. Wayt's
sister?"
at is Hetty Alling. She is a true,
noble woman. shall try to win her
love Should succeed, you will love
her for my sake, will you not?"
"You know that ] will. But this is
sudden. You have known her less than
a fortnight. And, dear, it is out OF tho
fullness Of my love that speak, am
afraid that the family is peculiar one.
Be prudent, my son. You are young,
and life is long. ] can not bear that
you should make a mistake here.
Should this young girl be all that you
think-even all that | hope to find in
her-it is best not to force her decision.
Give her time TO study you. Take time,
and make opportunities to study her. l
ask it because you bear the names of two
honorable men-your father and mine
and because it would break your moth
er's heart to see her only boy unhappy"
He drew her hand to his lips-the
high-bred hand that would always DO
beantiful-and held it there for mo-
ment. She had his pledge.
Hetty had followed Hester into the
house. 1t was half-past five, and there
were strawberries TO be capped for the
half-past six dinner. A parishioner had
left a generous supply of Southern Der.
ries at the door while the girls were out,
and taken Mrs. Wayt and her little
daughters TO drive. Aunt and niece sat
down at a table drawn before the dining
room window and fell to work. He's /
ter's high chair brought her tiny. dex-
ferrous fingers to a level with Hetty's. |
The task went forward with silent ra-
pidity, and neither noted the direction
of her companions eyes. Hetty seemed
to her dazed self to bear about with her
the charmed atmosphere of the nook
under the king apple tree.
The mingled hum of bees and signing
wind and bird-note sounded in her ears
like the confused song of sea-shell.
Now and then, a ray from hazel eyes
flashed athwart her sight. Brain and
heart were in a tumul. that terrified
her into questioning her identity The
winged boat" of fancy was a novel
craft to our woman Of affairs. As novel
was the self-absorption that made her
Of Hetty's brilliant eyes
and musing smile. As the dainty
fingers, just Redeemed on the tips by
the fruit, picked off and cast aside the
green ''eaps," Testers regards were
liked upon the Anak of the orchard
md Helty's strayed continually to the
same point Both looked over and be-
FOND figure creeping on all-fours down
.he central alley of the broad, shall
ow garden, occasionally crouching low.
IS if to crop the grass of the borders.
Perry, studying his Latin grammar in
lis mothers chamber above, awoke the
aciturn dreamers by shout;
Hello. Tonyi what are you doing
here?"
He turned his head, not his body, to
eply:
Movies look.n' fur somethin' |
Iropped."
$500. | ,