The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1892-04-30

800 - VAIN ouRPCIS, OouIuCtS, duullTd-
ton unlimited. Barbara drew her
breath with gasp 1t seemed almost
too much to realize.
just then Mary, the housemaid, tip.
toed into the room, with her finger on
her lips.
''Miss Blake" said she, with a side
long glance of admiration at the snowy
visitor in her silks, bangles and "breath
OF roses" ''the ould lady is afther
wakin' up as cross as two sticks. An
she says you We forgot her morning
tonic and Bijou's collar is too tight, and
this way, miss pl'aze," as Clara rose
precipitately. Its as much as me
place is worth for Mrs. Dickinson to
know that Miss Blake had company
unbeknown to her! Run quick, praze,
Miss Blake--I can hear her scolding
ncwr'
'Never mind, dearp' encouragingly
whispered Clara, as she rustled by,
leaving an odor of franggipanni in her
wake; 'the odious shackles will soon
drop off. Send me line at once. Mr..
Dowdin can't waltz
Mrs. Dickinson had never been so ir-
ritable, SO hard to please. as she was
that day. Or, at least, so it seemed to
Barbara
But there was an exultant thrill in
the girls heart.
sit need not be for long" she told
herself II will write Immediately and
accept Clara's kind offer"
But neverth eless certain regretful
feeling kept pulling at her heart
strings She remembered how her
gentle, soft-voiced mother, in her life
time, had always distrusted Clara
Belden's assured manners and dashing
ways. She recalled to herself that
mothers efforts to keep her in the
modest retirement of the home circle,
her constant precepts against brushing
off the soft bloom Of true womanhood,
and conscience told her to reject the
tempting offer.
"But am SO young!" she pleaded with
herself "And have seen so little of
pleasure and variety. I am such
drudge! No one cares for me here; and
perhaps, il went to the Cecilian /
might attract some true heart Even
If Eugene Dickinson were to see me
dressed as Clara dresses-but no! Eu-
gene never would go to place like the
Cecelian. OF course it must be re-
spectacle, or Clara would not belong
to it. But-oh, no! Eugene would
never go there"
In an instant she comprehended
She would be lowering herself in her
own estimation by accepting the
tempting bribe. She would be cutting
loose from all the traditions of her
youth. And yet
She sprang suddenly up. and threw
back the masses of soft chestnut
brown hair from her forehead, with
both hands.
mo" she uttered aloud-''neverr'
Almost at the same moment she
heard Eugene Dickinson's voice in the
next room, talking to his aunt.
eyes," said he. quietly. 81 think you
are right I think she deserves it at
your hands.
'She has worked very hard" said the
old lady. .She is very patient and
sweet-tempered. I've seen tears come
AAA"O AVA ~ Oo OhOS III dWullc, UuU
can't call to mind that she has ever
lost her temper, or spoken word of
complaint"
THE patient Griselda," said Eugene,
softly.
"Yes, exactly that The patient
Griselda. So l have made up my mind
to adopt her as my daughter, and get
some one else to do the work. Well
travel and go everywhere. want her
to see the world. I somehow feel con-
science-stricken that a young thing like
Barbara should have grown up so much
in the shade"
II don't think, though" slowly added
Eugene's gentle, leisurely voice, that
your plan is quite feasible
mot feasible! Why not?"
Perhaps because it conflicts with
plan of my own"
"A plan of your own! My dear boy,
do explain.
"The fact is, Aunt Adriana," said
Eugene, II have lost my heart to this
sweet-voiced, sweet-natured companion
of yours. want to ask her to be nv
wife"
Mrs. Dickinson was silent moment:
then she spoke again, in an altered ac-
cent
II wcnder this never occurred to me
before" said she.
1T was not SO very unlikely, was
it?'
"Not in the least. But, Eugene"
"Ies, Aunt Adriana."
"Why need. my plan conflict with
yours?n
Il don't think quite understand
you, Aunt Adriana," said the Young
man.
"You are already my adopted son.
wish to make her my daughter. Very
we'll This is a big house, and indi.
vidually occupy very little of it. Why
can't have you both?"
Barbara had sat there with both
hands clasped over her burning face.
Was she an eavesdropper? If SO, the
fault was unintentional. Now she hur.
ried away, almost believing herself to
be in dream. Surely, surely this
could not be true-this lifting of the