Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-04-13

ner WATERPROOF clOak ABOUT her anu
the cold drops Of rain flew into her
eyes. The path was fast turning
into slippery pool where the ducks
FLASHED along exultantly.
"They like it, but ] don't!' said
Hetta pettishly, as she picked her
way along on tiptoe.
Soon she came out of the woody
path and began to mount the hill
OH which stood Wilmer Park, a
broad, wide-spreading structure of
several different dates and orders of
architecture.
Hetta gazed proudly up at the old
house. I'm glad to come of such
an ancient race, she said aloud. IL
would rather, to-day, be the penni-
less daughter of such house, than
be a rich nobodyr
And, relaxing her hold upon her
umbrella, in the fervor of her emo
tions, she had the modification to
see it flying off on the wings of the
wind, falling into the little lake at
the foot of the hill and skimming
gaily over to the other shore. Turn
ing quickly on her heel, she found
herself face to face with tall young
gentleman, who instantly dotted his
hat and tried to hide the look of
am usement which overspread his
pleasant face.
'He must have heard every word
| said!" thought Hetta, her own
face blushing deeply with mortifca-
ton.
"A rose shining rosy red under
the raindrops," said the stranger to
himself. II am sorry that you lost
your umbrella; will you make use
of mine? | am only going into the
village, and don't care for it in the
least"
Hetta hesitated. IL thank you,
said she, "but | am only going to the
old house up yonder. 1t is not far
and perhaps | need not deprive you
of yours"
ITO the Park?" said he with an
accent of surprise, "then perhaps
shouldsay that my uncle, Sir Robert
is quite unable to receive visitors
He likes me to attend to everything
for him"
Your uncle! stammered Hetta
"why-why-he is my uncle!"
"Your uncle" repeated the young
man, "Sir Robert Wilmer your UNI
Gle? Then you are, you must be, /
daughter of the brother who Wen
abroad so many years ago?"
Yes replied Hetta. I'VE came
home after his death, to the ole
home, for we had no other"
II assure YOU" the young man
went on quickly, 81 assure you tina
| will do everything | can for you
Let me take you up to the house al
once and my uncle shall see you
He must. If !, his destined hei
and chief favorite, cannot persuade
him to it, it will be hard indeed"
His heir?' questioned Hetta
Then you cannot be very glad t.
see us. Youmust feel that we are try
ing to thrust you out of your owl
place in order to gain our own"
mot bit of it. Don't do m
that injustice!' he cried in tin
heartiest way imaginable. "Wh'
could be so selfish, so unjust? And
besides, Idon't need it. | am one o
those rich nObodies, whom you wer
mentioning in such a contemptuou
tone, just now;" and he laughe,
and blushed so ingeniously tina
Hetta could not help laughing too.
Let us consider that you and
have always been acquainted, Mis-
Wilmer" he continued, in tina
frank, off-hand way, which Hett
already began to find so captivating
81 am Lucian Gates, the nephew o
| Sir Robert Winners second wife
| Sir Robert has never had an,
children, and have always beel
his favorite and have lived ut tn
Park. But have no ambition t.
take your rightful place and inheri
tance away from you. Let us cal
ourselves friends and cousins if yo
will"
And out there in the peltin,
rain, under the dripping trees of tn
park, the two young people VIII
ten minutes before had never SEE
or heard of each other, joined hand
for the first, but not for the las
time.
What brave, beautiful girl
said Lucien to himself. as they climb
ed together the steep ascent to tn
western terrace, IA girl in a thou
sand. III never see another lik
her, I'll be bound. How that sof
little hand trembled in mine as
took it. Some day | should like /,