The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-01

at last, just as she had promised 70 renounce
him forever.
But ne did perceive her. He had paused
on the landing his fine features Frightening
with pleased surprise, his hand extended 10
another parsonage who had assembled the
stairs behind him
The other responded, with the reserved
courtesy of one uncertain of the reco gnition.
IL am sure | ought to know you, lie pc
lftely remarked, as through his gOd-rlmmeG
glasses he peered at the tall yOuhg fellow
who had doomed up before him IN the OBJ
security Of the wiud0wless hall.
al should think you had, Uncle Law
renee" smiled the young fellow.
BLESS my sOul!" exclaimed John Law
renee. as this Rob?"
'This is Rob. was the laughing response.
And Rob is very glad to be back in his ma
tive city again."
You need never have left your native
city," the ether returned, somewhat dryiy.
Fortunes are nc 0ftener made abroad than
at home. and if you proposed a business
venture you could have relied upon any aid
or any sum from ne"
81 always prefer TO rely upon myself,
Rot smiled. although am grateful to you all
the same-you know that. But are you, too.
visiting the Selmers? / was not aware you
knew them" he added with respectful curl
osity.
Il knew them before you were born" Mr..
Lawrence informed him. 'But we drifted
apart as people sometimes do, and l have
only latterly been aware of their residence
here. The fact is, Rob. that | contemplate
a closer relationship here" he concluded in
cautiously lowered tones and with coniden-
tial gravity.
Mamie, half fainting against the door
which concealed her trembling figure, too
strengthess for speech or motion, listened
as enc would listen to sentence Of doom.
Ia another moment Rob would know how
lef, fittv
dear true love. Her wistful eyes we're fixed
upon them but neither deemed an auditor
possible Just there.
The fact is" Mr.. Lawrence continued,
II have just regained a lost treasure. Miss
Primrose and | were betrothed in the long
ago, but foolish little mistake parted US
as ne shall never again be parted II can
persuade her TO become my wife"
Then Mamie started; great gladness and
q great wonder TRANSPORTED her, How
stupid-how. rldicQl0usly stUpid-they all
had been, and dear. dlffident, unselfsh
Aunt Prim most OF all! AS noiselessly and
swiftly as If her feet were winged and shod
with down she sped from the kitchen, and
in an instant more she was on her knees
beside the sofa where Miss Primrose was
lying
That sudden and mysterious ailment was
no mystery to Mamie new. She felt that
patient, gentle Aunt Prlm was fading and
pining only with grief-the silent, Uuac-
knowledged grief which is too humble for
hope and too hidden for sympathy, and
which is deadiest Of all.
Darling Aunt Prim," she began in q
wild whisper. "it is you Mr.. Lawrence
loves; it is you he wants to marry. Oh,
papai how could you have misunderstood
him SO 2" she exclaimed as Mr.. Selmer
turned uueasily 10 bs invalid chair and
knit his shaggy br0wS in an incredul0us
frown.
But there was o time for very lucid ex-
plantations for just then there was rap at
the silting-room door; the gentlemen had
ended their informal conference and were
petitioning for admittance.
Mamie did not finish her interrupted iron
ing that day-there were toe many matters
10 be discussed double wedding and all
the interesting specifications appertaining
thereunto. And besides she was too cccu-
pied with little loving services for dear Aunt
Prim, who had become sort of heroine in
her sight. and who. before the eventful day
was done, had become almost as blithe and
radiant as herself.
Mr.. Selmer, from the bondage Of his in
valid chair. occasionally directed a depre-
catory glance toward the happy quartet
"0f course l misunderstood him; a help
less man always misunderstands every
thing" he mentally gTumbled. But after
all his nephew is fine fellow, and the Law
renee money will all be in the family, as it
Wereo