Nevada County picayune., 1892-04-14

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Mr.. Harmony argued the matter
over carefully in his own mind and
came to determination.
Mr.. Harmony would like to see
you IN the parlor, Miss Burns said
Mary the maid ef all work, a morn
ing or SO after. He's waiting there
for YOU now"
Mr.. Harmony WAS standing with
his back to the door when she enter
ed, but hastily facing about he
said:
Good morning, Miss Burns, ?"
motioning her at the same general
detection of his head included in the
salutation TO a seat:
Il have sent for you," he contn-
ued.
Yes" she said, simply wondering
how she would take the parting from
the children.
"lou have now been with us for
year, Mss Burns"
Yes" as she mentally went over
the love which had grown up in her
heart for her charges.
You have, must confess, more
than gratifed me by your attention
to my two daughters. They have
grown to-to, in fact, love you, l
think.
YES" said Miss Burns, wonder
ing if jealousy was to be the founda-
ton for the dismissal
Il love my children" went on the
business like Mr.. Harmony, land l
want to make them happy, of course.
| have sent for you this morning to
ask you if you would not like to make
your present home permanent one.
If, in fact, you would marry me. .
Sir" gasped Miss Burns, un-
able to believe her own cars. Mar
ry you?"
YES. me-" said Mr.. Harmony.
lis there any thing very strange
about that: don't ask you to love
me. ! merely want vou to make the
home pleasant for my children.
They need YOU, and what they need
] need. You need not give me an
answer now" beginning to pull on
hls gloves. Take time to think it
oyer-ssy Sunday. That's three
days for consideration. Do not de-
eide hastily, but think it over care
fully ;" and, bowipg himself out of
the parlor, Mr.. Harmony was
gone.
Poor Miriam sat for some minutes
stupelied by the proposal. Then, 81
lently and with white face, she
make her way to her own room, and,
opening her writing desk, took out
hcr treasure box. She opened it,
read a letter or two aud then stained
the photograph with her loving
tears.
Il cannot. | cannot" She cried
But when, after the morning in
the nursery, with her loving charges
calling her ''little mother" and how
ering around her, viein2 with each Ii
other in attentions, she came again
to consider the question, with her
love for them as al argument. She
found that she could never give
them up. She cried little when
she thought of the dear face in the
treasure box, but she gave Mr.. Har-
mony his answer before Sunday.
The next morning she told him that
she was willing,
Mr.. Harmony thanked her and
was about to leave the house, when,
suddenly remembering something, he
came back to say:
by the way, Miss Burns, a ne
phew of mine who has bought jun
ior interest in the business will be
here on Sunday. | wish you would
see that a room is prepared for him.
He will live with us. -
Miriam had come to govern the
household AS well as the children.
She promised to see to the room and
returned to the nursery, glad of re-
lief from her trial.
Saturday night Mr. Harmony an
nounced that his nephew would be
in at midnight. The household re-
tired with hearts and minds busy
with the new cOmer.
Especially Miriam, She wonder
ed what he would be like. She had
never heard of him, and even now
she knew nothing of his name. She
went to sleep, dreaming that he was
prototype of Mr.. Harmony and
aNokc the neXt moraiug convinced