The morning call., 1892-01-22

Il was not a pleasant subject, aud the
young people WINGED. They did not regret
what they had done, but neither ala they
are to dwell upon what might have been.
Il am so glad to have you hereF the OLD
| lady went on. Its very selfish OF me; Out
my attack of bronchitis has left me low and
nervous, and / knew that nothing would 40
me so much good as cheerful society 90 L
give You fair warning" she added, with
laugh, that you will have to devote your
selves TO the task OF amusing me.
1t certainly was selfish speech, nut 1t
bauished the CONSTANT that had insenSlbly
crept over the cousins, and they cheertullY
expressed their readiness to do anything
that would revive her spirits and lessen the
tedium of her cOnYaleScence.
For a couple Of days Mrs. FrOyle kept
them TO their word, plnniDg Rena TO her SIDE
as she sat ia her easy-chair, ana giving HUI
bert plenty of work in looking over her
accounts and writing business letters for
her.
But at the end Of that time she threw off
all sembance OF the invalid, and used her
utmost endeayors 10 bring back the smiles
to Reaa's pensiye face aud make both her
/ visitors enjoy their stay a. the cottage.
For a few days she was interchangeable,
! walking and driving with them TO all the
! pretty spots in the vicinity, aud making the
evenings delightful with music aud CONVEX
saJieD, and the display of her store OF quaint
aud valuable relies Of past a-es.
But when The cousins mad lnSenslOly re-
sumei their former intimacy ard argued
with aud leased each other as freely as of
old. Mrs. Fr0yie gradually left them more
and more TO themselves.
II q walk vas proposed She had domestic
matters 20 attend to; II a drive had been ar
ranged she suddenly remembered she had
/ callers to receive; ana after dinner she took
/ ~ d Zlug in her easy-ChaiT, While Bena and
Hubert strOlied IN the garden under the
moon; or sat at the chess board, the game
! forgotten while he described TO his en-
/ tTanCed auditor some exquisite scene he had
/ witnessed in his travels. or raclly TecOunted
/ some humorous or pathetic incident that had
come under his notice.
Are your schemes prOSpeTingY the vicar
demanded, qUZZlcal'y, the first time he
found himself alone with his old friend
Are you teaching them tn drop pride and
! take up with love lnStead|"
My dear Mr.. Bourne" she answered,
with much gravity, nothing can be farther
from the thoughts Of these dear children.
! They do not dream OF altering their de-
cjsiou. Have they not given it IN? and have
/ / not assured them It is uualtpTable? Reua
! has written TO her mother 10 say she will be
at home. ready for hard work, this day
week; and Hubert is making arrangements
for his return TO his duties In Australia"
Then you have not prevailed VITA then
10 act upon the Will"
On the contrary, l have convinced them
that it is out Of the question"
Nj Bourne was considerably mystIfed,
but Mrs. Froyle dId not choose to eulghten
MIN. and he went away half inclined % be
angry with her FOR bringing the young cOu-
pie together under such circumstances.
But they bore her no malice for it. On
the contrary, they blessed the gentle. cheer
! full old lady who had CONSIDERABLY with
drawn R-na from the muUmurings of her
mother, and Hubert from the remarks Of
! his too Offci0us aCQuIntances.
Not that they could be said TO be quite
satisfied with theiT position. Though they
had resumed their old friendly Intercourse
there was a certain degree Of embaTrass-
ment that sometimes made itself felt at
/! those moments when they were in their
most cordial moods. Then Hubert would
bite his lip aud walk away, or Eena's voice
would suddenly become cold aud her man
ner distant and they would avoid each
other for some hours, no one knew why.
Mrs. Fr3yis never seemed TO see tie vary
ing temperature. She asked no questions
when Eeua's ewes betrayed tie tears shed
ia secret nor when Hubert smut himself IN
the little room she called her study. or
buried himself I'm q newspaper. Aud when
Beua creut to her side one evening in the
twilight. aud, sitting Old tIe floor where she
was hidden from sight, confessed Oy her
heavy signs that she was unhappy the
CaTessug touch Of the old iady's hand on
her head was the only sign that her sadness
was dIScerned and respected.
But now Hubert came in, and he ton
seemed TO prefer the shadow, Tor when Mrs.
FToyls bade him ring for the lamp he SAID
Not vet"
" Lei NE first have few words with you,
dear friend; yoa'A not think NE unkind If
l leave you tO-myTrOW?"
" So so0n?'
" Yes, " he responded, abruptly 81 dare
not stay longer. To be frank with you, l
love Beua; what is the use of denying it
and l am a stupid 10 linger near by. know
ing that she has promised herself to
another"
No, nO" and the young girl sDrang to
her feet and confronted him. For shame,
sir to shelter yourself behind this excuse,
instead Of honestly acknowledging your own
eBgaEemeut?'
Nine Good heavens, Miss Hursley,
who told you such a fal,ehOOu?'
1t vast was Mrs. F.0yle herself,
when came here, and so II must be true.'
1T was Mrs. Froyle who told me that
you were on the POINT OF maTriage.' re-
toTted Hubert, and yet you Indignantly
refute the statement"
Then both turned to the old lady. who,
with her knitting In her lap, leaned back
and Dlacidly regarded them.
Gently, young people. gently. I wanted
your society, and If l had not dDbad you
would have run away from oach other and
from NE. Aad yet they were not ibs,
either. ] told you, Rena, that your cousin
had given bis heart to dear good girl in
whom l was very much interested; ana l
told Hubert you had formed a lifelong at
tachment I'll leave him to ask you whether
this Is or is not correct"
When Mrs. Froyle came back she was
met by happy faces.
''She i not frightened ut my poverty; she
consents to 60 to Australia with mel cried
Hubert, proudly.
"But you would have to be married
directly, and what would Renas step
mother say?' cried the old lady.
I'VE have thought Of that and wondered
whether you, who have been so good 20 US,
would let Us be married here?"
Mrs. trOyle shook her head said it would
never do; then considered awhile and pres
entity glad Tened tile anxious lovers by as
sentlng to their wishes.
Hubert Deriton went to London on the
morrow, but 1t was to buy the license and
the ring. Rena was of age. and there were
no obstacles to the marriage.
MIR. Bourne sOlemnzad il and nfterWaTd
walked 20 the cottage with the only witness,
Mrs. FToyle, who did the honors of the
wedding breakfast somewhat TREMENDOUSLY,
but with many an afectonate glance at the
newly welded pair.
Just after the vicar proposed the health of
! the BRIDE and bridegroom a illegal packet was
handed 10 their hostess.
And now 10 see what the LAWYERS have
sent u.s." she exclaimed, as she opened It,
"Ihe plans Of the African church" muir
| INJURED Rena, ana she sighed as she drew
nearer 10 her husband. But for the strange
wording OF the will they might have begun
| life 50 prOSpeTously.
THESE were directed to me-" said Mrs.
! Froylp, handing the contents of the envel-
| ope to Hulburt DerItOn, but they are
yours and Bena's. Take them, they are the
dtle-deeds Of the estate my brother left
! you"
But" the amazed bridegroom began.
But me 20 butts" she gayly nterposed.
Did YOU think l was going to let you ruin
yourselves IN your mistaken pride and deli
ca Y If there WAS any w-av If uravnufiu,r II