The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1892-05-14

He began to admire her the more he
knew of her, and before the wear was
out he developed a friendship for her
which might have grown to love had
not the memory of his dead wife inter-
fered. He had dearly loved that sweet
faced, golden-haired angel, and time
had dimmed but little his reverence for
her memory.
But Mr. Harmony was business
man and lookedAat everything in life
from its practicability. He knew the
present state of affairs at the house
could not continue indefinitely. Miss
Burns might take it into her practical
head to get married, and he knew that
he could never supply her place as sat
isfactorily with his children. Mr.. Har-
mony argued the matter over carefully
in his own mind and came to a deter
mination.
MIR. Harmony would like to see you
in the parlor, Miss Burns" said Mary,
the maid OF all work, a morning or SO
after Hes waiting there for you
now"
Miss Burns was startled She won
dered what she could have done. She
hastily ran over her recent employ
ments but could see no foundation for
a discharge-for this she presumed was
the reason for the impending inter-
view But she resolved to put brass
face on it and went down. 49,
Mr.. Harmony was standing with his
back to the door when she entered, but
hastily facing about he said:
Good morning, Miss Burns" mo-
tioning her at the same general detlec-
ton of his head included in the saluta-
ton to seat:
81 have sent for you," he continued
"Yes," she said, simply wondering
how she would take the parting from
the children.
You have now been with us for q
year, Miss Burns"
YES" as she mentally went over the
love which had grown up in her heart
for her charges.
You have, l must confess. more
than gratified me by your attention to
my two daughters. They have grown
toto, in fact, love you, think"
"9es, said Miss Burns, wondering
if jealousy was to be the foundation
for the dismissal.
II love my children" went on the
business like Mr.. Harmony, land /
want to make them happy, of course.
have sent for you this morning to MS k
you If you would not like to make
your present home a permanent one
If, in fact, you would marry me-"
"Sir?" gasped Miss Burns, unable to
believe her own ears. Marry you?"
EYES, me" said Mr.. Harmony. "Is
there anything very strange about
that? don't ask you to love me.
merely want you to make the home
pleasant for my children. They need
you, and what they need need. You
need not give me an answer now,"
beginning to pull on his gloves Take
time to think it over-say Sunday.
That's three days for consideration
Do not decide hastily, but think it over
carefully;" and, bowling himself out of
the parlor, Mr.. Harmony was gone.
Poor Miriam sat for some minutes
stupefied by the proposal Then, 81
lently and with white face, she made
her way to her own room, and, opening
her writing desk, took out her treasure
box. She opened it, read letter or
two and then stained the photograph
with her loving tears.
II cannot! cannot!' she cried.
Never" The extract written on the
box in faded ink seemed to add to her
resolution: "You will find me ever the
same" She could not be false to tnat
vow. Mr.. Harmony would have her
answer before Sunday.
Bnt when, after the morning in the
nursery. with her loving charges call
ing her little mother" and lowering
around her, vieing with each other in
attentions, she came again to consider
the question, with her love for them as
an argument. She found that she