The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-06-25

fore that Tom Morrison gets me out Of
the house."
"Oh, aunt! It's just because he
wants, he says, to familiarize himself
with the place"
well he's got all the time there is
after we're gone. want You should
be very distant with him-and, Sarah,
guess you'd better not begin any Ger.
man readings"
During Mr.. Morison's next visit
Sarah appeared in her aunt's room with
a very anxious expression.
Aunt Polly" she said, with an effort
at composure, ''Mr. Morison's brought
the German books, and / don't know
what to say about it,
"Well, go on" said the old lady, 81
suppose you're bent on it anyway. and
perhaps he'll help you some"
She lay very still when she was
alone. sometimes with her eyes open,
but generally keeping them closed as
pictures from the past, and visions of
what might be ahead of her, fioated
through her brain, and the peculiar
cruelty of her brothers will smote
her heart afresh. When she had been
left widow forty years ago, Ezra
Turner had promptly babe her stay
on in the house which had seen the
happy years of her married life, and
which had been endeared to her by a
hundred different associations, when
the sorrows 1t had witnessed conse-
taA hn NJ, al
its periods of joy, while. from the time
she had brought her little orphan niece
Sarah home, a new interest was given
her life, yet one inseparably bound up
with the old mansion. Ezra's will fell
like a thunderbolt upon the old lady and
her niece. Indeed, there was little
question but that it caused the weak
turn which confined her to her room;
and as she lay there now, family con-
scious of the voices from below, some.
thing like wish never to leave the old
home save for final resting place
brought hot moisture into her eyes.
1t seemed a long time before Mr..
Morrison went away. When the door
had closed upon him at last Mrs.
Thorpe. alert for every sound, heard
Sarah lingering on the stairs. Pres
emily the girl appeared. Her cheeks
were scarlet
WELL" demanded the old lady,
what now?-what new things he 90
ing to claim?"
Sarah's color now swept all her face.
'Oh, Aunt Polly" she said, sits all
as queer as queer can be. Oh, If you'll
only let me. Please-oh, Aunt Polly,
it seems Mr.. Morrison made his mind
up right away, the very first day, he
says-and he never wanted anything
SO much before"
Sarah Molyneux," said the old lady.
sitting upright, what ais you? Speak
English"
"Oh, he's asked me to marry him,
Aunt Polly" said Sarah: that's it,
and he says mustn't say no-he made
all that up about going to be married.
or rather, he says he was bound 10
make me say yes"
Mrs Thorpe remained rigid in the
same attitude for a moment without
speaking. Sarah flushed and paled and
| flushed again.
"Whatd you tell him?" at last de-
manded the old lady, with an accent of
fine scorn. She was very proud of
Sarah's conquest She knew all about
young Morrison, and was well aware
| how highly he was esteemed.
"Oh-he says it's settled" observed
Sarah, land of course-he was only
going on, he says. to try me about the
factory and the garden and the piano;
he says, bless your heart. he wouldn't
take a thing belonging to you more'n
! he'd steal"
'Only-my GIRL" said Mrs. Thorpe,
grimly. But when Sarah bent to kiss
her there was the kind of tenderness
in the old woman's embrace that the
girl remembered only when she was a
little child.-Lucy C. Gills. in N. Y. In
dependent