The Press., 1892-09-01
W.

"Johnny, love-" said Mrs. Smith ten. derly to her son, ''what is the matter with you2 Aren't you we'll, or is it some trouble? Come to me, my lad, and tell your old mother. can't bear to see you looking like that. Tell me, dearie father and I will do anything we can tc make it all right"
 He went and knelt down beside her putting his arms around her substantial waist and laying his head on her kind motherly bosom, just as if he were a boy again coming to the mother for con- fort and consolation.
 "Yes, dear old mamsy," he said, '] am in great trouble, but no one can helI me; 1 must bear it alone. I will tell you, mother, because 1 want to go away again. can't stay here-and you ought to know the reason. You will make it all right with my father, I know. I've fallen in love, mother, fallen in love, like goose, and been cruelty disap- pointed"
 "You mean the doctors pretty daugh- ter, don't you, Johnny? Why, father and were so pleased, we thought
 "Don't speak of her, mother" he broke in hoarsely. "I can't bear it. She despises us-a proud, disdainful CO quette. How can l tell you the truth! She thought was Josselyn; it was the man of birth and family, the scholar, she cared for, not me, the draper's son. She scorned the idea of being Mrs. John Smith, Juniorr If you had only heard her say the words! So I am going away. Don't distress yourself, dear old mother, shall soon get over it. You know the old song:
 !, If she be not fair for me,
 What care how fair she be?
 am as much mistaken in her as she in me. Never fear that am going to break my heart over 8 creature who only existed in my own imagination. And I fancied her so sweet, so pretty! knew she was proud, and that her dainty head was full of false ideas about men and women, and their true worth, but thought she loved me, and that love would open her heart and make her see more clearly what is really lovable."
 "And, my dearie, my own lad, she does love you, am sure of it. Ah-Fve seen the color rush into her bonny face and the light flash into her dark eyes at the sound of your voice or your foot step. No, no, Johnny, be patient, it will come all right. How could she mistake you for your friend?''
 ''I can't imagine; nothing was farther from my thoughts. It came upon me like clap of thunder"
 Little more explanation was needed, and the next night saw the despised wooer on board the steamer swiftly crossing that strip of blue which sepa- rates US from other nations.
 Meanwhile dire calamity had fallen upon the Lisles, n which poor Frances own lesser trouble became swallowed up and unnoticed. Dr. Lisle caught severe cold, which he neglected persistently for several days, until suddenly pneumonia set in, and in few hours he lay hover ing between life and death. His poor wife was in an agony of grief and anxi- ety, which reached the pitch of despair when, after one short week of desperate fighting for life, death won the victory and she found herself widow.
 The grief which completely broke the delicate, feeble mother down gave Fran ces new strength. She took the whole burden on her young shoulders, made all the necessary arrangements for the funeral, and then faced the lawyer and the anxious question, what was to come next2 It was discovered that very scanty provision had been made for them all. Dr. Lisle was man in the prime of life. He had hoped to see all his girls we'll edu- cated. married or otherwise put out in the