Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-04-22


unbeknown TO her! Run quick, plaze,
Miss Blalze-I can hear her scolding
now!'
"Never mind, 'dearp' encouragingly
whispered Clara, as she rustled by,
leaving an odor of franggipanni in her
wake; 'the odious shackles will soon
drop off Send me line at once. Mr..
Dowdin can't waltz
Mrs. Dickinson had never been so ir-
ritable, SO hard to please, as she was
that day. Or, at least, SO it seemed to
Barbara.
But there was an exultant thrill in
the girls heart.
''It need not be for long" she told
herself. II will write Immediately and
accept Clara's kind offer"
But nevertheless certain regretful
feeling kept pulling at her heart
strings She remembered how her
gentle, soft-voiced mother, in her life
time, had always distrusted Clara
Belden's assured manners and dashing
ways She recalled to herself that
mothers efforts to keep her in the
modest retirement of the home circle,
her constant precepts against brushing
| off the soft bloom of true womanhood,
and conscience told her to reject the
tempting offer
"But am so youngl'' she pleaded with
herself "And have seen so little OF
pleasure and variety. / am such q
drudge! No one cares for me here; and
perhaps, if | went to the Cecilian |
might attract some true heart. Even
if Eugene Dickinson were to see me
dressed as Clara dresses-but no! Eu-
gene never would go to place like the
Cecelian. OF course it must be re-
spectacle, or Clara would not belong
to it. But-oh, mol Eugene would
never go there"
In an instant she comprehended
She would be lowering herself In her
own estimation by accepting the
tempting bribe. She would be cutting
loose from all the traditions of her
youth. And yet
She sprang suddenly up, and threw
back the masses Of soft chestnut
brown hair from her forehead, with
both hands.
'Nol" she uttered aloud-''neverg'
Almost at the same moment she
heard Eugene Diclzinson's voice in tho
next room, talking to his aunt.
''Yes," said he, quietly. 81 think you
are right. l think she deserves it at
your hands"
"She has worked very hard" said the
old lady. 'She is very patient and
sweet-tempered I've seen tears come
into her eyes once in awhile, but l
can't call to mind that she has ever
lost her temper, or spoken word OF
complaint"
1.-THE patient Griselda, . said Eugene,
softly
"Yes, exactly that The patient
Griselda. So have made up my mind
to adopt her as my daughter, and get
some one else to do the work. Well
travel and go everywhere. | want her
to see the world. | somehow feel con-
science-striclSen that young thing like
Barbara should have grown up so much
in the shade"
II don't think, though" slowly added
Eugenc's gentle, lcisurely voice, that
: your plan is quite feasible"
mot feasiblel Why not?"
perhaps because it conflicts with a
plan of my own"
"a plan of your own! My dear boy,
: do explain"
1.-The fact is, Aunt Adriana," said
Eugene, 81 have lost my heart to this
sweet-voced, sweet-natured companion
of yours. | want to ask her to be my
: wife"
: Mrs. Dickinson was silent a moment
then she spoke again, in an altered ac
cent
: 81 wonder this never occurred to me
before" said she.
: 'It was not so very unlikely, was
it?"
'Not in the least But Eugene"
Eyes, Aunt Adriana."
"Why need my plan conflict will
yours?"
II don't think / quite understand
!. you, Aunt Adriana," said the young
= man.
u y "You are already my adopted son.
q wish to make her my daughter. Very
a we'll This is big house, and indi
y vidually occupy very little of it. Why
can't have you both?"
a Barbsra had sat there with boil
: hands clasped over her burning face
: Was she an eavesdropper? If so, th'
), fault was unintentional. Now she hur
ried away, almost believing herself t,
be in dream. Surely, surely thi
could not be true-this lifting of tn,
. curtain of trial and toil-this clea
= shining of a new life?
n But as she passed the parlor door i
:, opened and Eugene Dickinson met he
= face to face.
. "Miss Baker he exclaimed. "Yo,
. are the very person have been wish
= ing to see. Win you honor me with
n few minutes of your timer"
4 Clara Belden was at her evenin!
,s toilet with a surrounding of mirrors
!. rouge pots, darkening pencils and high
IS ly scented pomades, when Barbara
N brief note of declination reached her.
e what fooll" said Clara. "Reacl
l. me that nail polisher, Jane. But a
,d all events, she's had a chance"
But Miss Belden did not know wha
n other chances" Barbara Blake ha'
l. had The Home Queen.
Is A Valuable Tip.
j, Bullfnch-How much is this thel