The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-27

he never absolutely committed himself to
anything moro binding than the merest
friendship.
"I can't ask him." she said one day
under her breath, az she walked slowly
home after ono of these accidental
meetings. "But do wish he would say
straight out what he means or else stay
away altogether. 1t makes one feel I'M
settled"
Poor Barbara felt more unsettled still
before she reached homo. II was lovely
summer evening, and Atty yards further
on she was Joined by another cavalier,
John Grant this time. She shrank back
at first, half afraid of some jesting remark
about the legacy, but she soon discovered
that he had quite forgotten the matter.
There was something else on his mind,
and he lost no time in saying very
straight out what IL was.
az may not be able to offer you nne
house and luxuries," !" he said, "but I have
saved plenty to begin In comfort, and
think we might be very happy together
II you would only try. ! have thought
about It for the last two years, and
worked hard to be able to tell you so."
Barbara looked up at him with genuine
tears In her eyes.
"I am so sorryi" she said. az never
thought of such . thing-at least, not In
earnest" a. she remembered sundry re-
marks Of Mrs. Stewards. Besides
there's lot Of other better girls you might
hnd."
"That is not to the point" he inter-
rupted; ait Is you, not other girls,
want. Try and think of IL, Barbara.
don't want to hurry you, but let me have
line - soon as you can; It means good
deal to me-"
For another week or two things con-
tinued to go in much the same fashion.
Mrs. Stewart wore chronic air Of disap-
proval. John Grant was invisible. Only
Mr.. Lawrence was TO the fore with his
sympathetic inquiries, but In some mys-
terious way Barbara began to find them
irritating rather than hattering. She
got tired of giving the same responae,
"Nothing yet" and of hearing the same
polite remarks about his concern and
admiration for her. They did not 60 deep
enough.
At last on Saturday morning, as she
was setting out for Mrs. Stewards she
met the postman, who gave her q blue,
official looking envelope. Barbara stood
still on the step, holding her breath a.
she opened IL.
"Messrs. Dodd d Sons compliments to
Miss Reed, and beg TO inform her that
Mrs. Elisabeth Drake has been proved
the nearest of kin, and, consequently,
heir-at-law to the 2500 left by tho late
Mr.. James landlord"
Miss Reed folded up the letter and put
it sobsrly into her jacket pocket. Shs
had scarcely realized before how much
she had been counting upon IL. There
was nothing left now but to put on .
brave face and make the best Of Il.
As Barbara crossed the hall TO the
school room that afternoon she encoun-
tered Mr.. Lawrence. He was standing at
the table buttoning his light gloves. She
saw at the frst glance that Mrs. Stewart
had told him Of her disappointment. She
hesitated one instant, then went straight
up to him.
"You see I am not to come into for
tune after all" she said quietly.
$50 IL seems" he said coldly, not look
ing up from q refractory button. "But
II was not much Of fortune, anyway.
thought II was to be ave or six times that
amount"
81 wish had never heard of IT," said
Barbara, looking at him in scornful sur
prise. at has been nothing but an upset
and annoyance from the first"
"Y-es, rather a pity-disappointin
and waste of time, too. Well, Im going
into the country for q few weeks, Miss
Reed, SO good afternoon II don't chance
to see you again."
"Good afternoon" returned Barbara,
with q frigid bow, a. she opened the
school-room door.
A tiny note was dropped into the letter
box that same evening addressed to Mr..
John Grant.
"Dear john" It ran. "I'm not half
good enough for you, but II you wish 1t,
I'll try"
1t was not, perhaps, q great achieve
ment In the way OF composition for .
young lady who had been under Mrs.
Stewards guidance for so long, but II
perfectly satisfied the person It was in
tended for and much loftier epistles have
often failed In that respect.
"Mrs. Stewart, that unfortunate legacy
was something to my advantage after
ALL" Mrs. John Grant said once, some
months later. al don't know what Mrs.
Elizabeth Drake did with it, but do know
would not change with her. The missing
IL has brought me far more happiness