The morning call., 1892-06-11

l hope. II You could learn to care even a
little for him the rest might come in time"
Honelessly he f0undeTed on. Lena, wfo
a moment before had flushed like a rose,
had now turned pale as ghost under cover
of the pioaming When the next time they
reached the end Of tie walk she LETT her
cOmpani0n and entered the house.
Her grandmother was sitting in the gIeat gt
armchair, under a shaded lamp, reauihs
Herbert Spencer. oid
"Where have YOU come from ?" she sad
"But / know. should DO DeIteo - .,a1I' ~
where Mr. Bowen Is. on L.' Xdne ,batS o.
ing with the uncle instead ny 90 eua'
fhe old ladv's tone had never Deen more
ontocrSti, her eyes had never had more
arbitrary and sarcastic slealh -i," - SNo'-
IN tren1bIe. Her tense nerves gave way.
ssCrardmamma," she cried, You nave no
.;..,'3 no no r;ght-to marry me against my
VII, TIar blne ewes we're flashing like diamonds
beIind the sudden binding tears OF rebel
lion. , ..;.o uho NO, is
trying to marry you against your Will? Are
Won not very fond OF this charming young
fellow who is so madly in love with you
If YOU are not ] marvel at your lack OF
taste. All this is childishness. l know
better Than you. Old people always know
better than young people 1t IS very sensl-
bic 20 make their marriages for teem: II !
matrimonial blundeTlng. ASK captain
Charter if am not right"
You speak Of Captain Charter as though
he were old" cried the girl, forgetting All
things in her hot Indignation. HE is only
thirty-siX."
years" retorted the old lady with unrutfled
eQuanimity. "Come. kiss NE and retire lot
the night. You cannot present yoursei De3
fore the gentlemen with that tear-stalned
face"
When Lena had left ths room Mrs. Fred
ericks glanced at the closed door with
very curious smile upon her lips She was
ahopt M resume principles of Sociology
when the captain came in. he looked worn,
hapgqrd and pale. After a few words OF
preliminary conversation he observed that
lie might find himself obliged TO return to
town in day or two.
provided" " cried Mrs FredeTieks, that
you are permitted, and | don't at all know
that | shall permit you. believe you are
all in league to make me pass bad night.
Here have l Just dismissed Lena IN a very
bad state of agitation. setting herself up
against me, the little rebel! and saying sine
would not do this and would not do that,
etc, and now you talk Of leaving me! What
does 1t all mean? That Is what l would
like 10 know"
The captain, who had been looking at the
floor, With his arms upon his knees, IN an
attitude Of corporal reckleSsness and men,
tai detection very unlike his usual grave
strong sOldierly bearing, glanced up at this.
81 eau explain that when may seem
strange in MY own conduct, Mrs Freder
IckS" he said, with an effort perhaps,
though | had first thought TO keep silent, II
would be best for me thus to do. am
afraid you will despise me for what am
about 10 confess.
"Oh. don't imagine that 7 shall" cried
Mrs. FTedericks, lightly. Come, 10 the
point! ! think | shall be able to hear your
confession without too great a shock
" l love your granddaughter" calculated
the captain abruptly, and his eyes still con-
tinued to study the pattern Of the rug at bis
"WeH?"
"Wen, I know you have other designs for
her. l know that Henri loves heT-nO. not
as well as / do; that would be impossible.
Still, he IS bound up in her, poor boy And
-apd so you see that l must 20 away"
% see nothing Of the sort, said Mrs.
Fredericks, distinctly.
Tie captain locked at her in wordles8
surprise.
Come here, young man." she continued.
He approached the great armchair. The
old lady's small, impeTi0us hand went up to
his coat sleeve, and as she ordered him 10
bend lower. be was aware of having re-
ceived a kiss Ike a beGedictiOn on the roots
Of his hair
You will remain here, and you will be
my gTandsOn-in-law," cried the old lady.
Yes, yes. Why do you look at me so? l
speak the truth. You will certainly marry
Lena. Why, silly warrior that you are,
don't you know that she has not thought OF
any one but you since she first saw you
Ouug Bowen, indeed Saving the polite
ness l would show your nephew he has
been nothing more 10 her than a handsome
barber's block, and that was just what |
had intended. | knew what you were.
Was not your father one OF nay dearest
friends? On, we'll! l knew that no one
would make Lena as happy you. | wished
when MY end came to leave her ia your
hands. What was it to me that you were
SO and the child 10? l knew we'll enough
that those differences are nothing when
they are on the right side. But ! wanted
Lena 10 be equally convinced. 10 Judge Of
you in comparison with the-eXcuse me Tor
SO speaking OF your uepheW-Whpper-
snappeTs Of thedaY. For that reasonI inv ted
you both here together that she might see.
But had | minated to her that l wished
her 10 marry YOU, the chances are
such, my dear Captain Rob, is the peryer-
sity Of the feminine heart-that she would
have found some charm in the younger
man-lhe boy who can only talk of his ball
matches and his college races. As 1t IS, all
has turned out for the best and according
to my most ardent desire. III you are not
persuaded, wait and see" She rang a bell
at her elbow Tell Miss Fredericks l wish
to see her," she said to the servant answer
ing the summons
In a moment Lena, pale still, and with
traces Of tears recently shed still on her
cheeks. came slowly into the room. She
hesitated upon tie threshold.
Captain Charter had sprung to his feet.
Mrs. Fredericks opened her lips to speaks.
Then she paused, looking from one TO the
other. Suddenly she said
Captain, you can explain all this far
better than l can. Children, go into the
grounds togetherl"
1t is to be inferred that the captains ex-
planatiOn was satisfactory, for Miss Lena
Fredericks has been Mrs. Charter year.
"ID this world" says Mrs. Fredericks,
who still reads Herbert Spencer without
glasses. nothing is SO necessary as a little
dinlomacY. Nothing gives such good re-