The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-04-09

than gratiied me by your attention to
my two daughters. They have grown
toto, in fact, love you. l think"
Yes said Miss Burns, wondering
if jealousy was to be the foundation
for the dismissal.
Il 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 ask
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?"
YES. mel" said Mr.. Harmony. as
there anything very strange about
that? ] don't ask you to love me. l
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, b6wtng himself out Of
the parlor, Mr.. Harmony was gone.
Poor Miriam sat for some minutes
stupeied by the proposal. Then, ST.
lently and with 4 white face, she made
her way to her WI room, and, opening
her writing desk, took out her treasure
box. She opened it. read a letter or
two and then stained the photograph
with her loving tears
II cannot. l c%annot.' 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 mat
VOW. MIR. 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
could never give them up. She cried a
little when she thought of the dear
face in the treasure box. but she gave
MIR. Harmony his answer before Sun
day. The next morning she told him
that she was willing.
Mr.. Harmony thanked her and was
about to leave the house, when, sud
denly remembering something, he came
back to say:
BY the way, Miss Burns, a nephew
of mine who has bought a junior inter
est in the business will be here on
Sunday. | wish you would see that a
room is prepared for him. He will live
with us"
Miriam had come to govern the
household as well as the children.
She promised to see 10 the room and
returned to the nursery, glad of relief
from her trial.
Saturday night Mr.. Harmony an
nounccd that his nephew would be in
1T midnight. The household retired
with hearts and minds busy with the
new conner.
Especially Miriam. She wondered
what he would be like. She had never
heard of him. and ever now she knew
nothing of his name. She went to
sleep, dreaming that he was a proto-
type of Mr.. Harmony, and awoke the
next morning convinced that she would
like him for the little girls sake.
She found after she had made her
morning toilet that she was an hour
too early for breakfast and she re-
solved on a trip through the grounds
She slipped on her big straw hat, ran
of a side entrance and-collided
headlOng with a tall stranger who vas
standing with his back to her at the
entrance, TRANQUILITY sending
of tobacco smoke toward the
heavens 1t was the nephew, she
knew, and she hesitated a moment
she should stand her ground
or fly. She had half formed the apol-
Dgy she knew she should make when
the big FORMS hat went off as he
whirled on his heel. He stammered:
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS."
The little governess looked just one
moment which seemed an
age-and then. half Historically cry
ing out, everything began to dance be-
her and she did the best possible
thing under the circumstances and
When she came to herself he was
standing before her, this stranger.
waiting for the water which he had or
dcred a servant to bring after the first
She a lying in a sheltered