Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-06-13

Barbara flung it into her desk with 1
disappointed face. IL was tedious TO b
obliged TO wait in suspense like this. Sh'
would scarcely know how TO get through
the time but for Mr.. Lawrence's atten
tion and warm interest in the upshot.
John Grants indifference, not TO say
skepticism, on the subject, threw up his
rivals superior qualities in full relief
and yet there were times when Barbara
felt Just litle puzzled that Mr.. Law
renee went no further. With all his
solicitude and lO,ks th.t ir,a1t more
than words. lac never absolutely com
mitted himself 10 anything more bind
ing than the merest friendship.
II can't ask him." she said one day
under her breath, rs she walked slowly
home after one of these accidental
meetings. But do wish he would say
straight out what he means or else stay
away altogether. 1t makes one feel un-
settled"
Poor Barbara felt more unsettled still
before she reached home. 1t was "A lovely
summer evening, and fifty yards further
Oh she was joined by another cavalier,
John Grant this time. She shrank back
at first, half afraid Of some jesting re-
mark about the legacy, but she soon dis
covered that he had quite forgotten the
matter There was something else on
his mind, and ho lost no time in saying
very straight out what it was
ii may not be able TO offer you a fine
house and Injuries" he said, "but have
saved plenty 10 begin in comfort, and
think we might be very happy together
if you would only try. have thought
about it for the last two years, and
worked hard to he able TO tell you 80"
Barbara looked up at him with genu-
inc tears in her eyes.
II am so sorry" she said. II never
thought Of such a thing-at least, not in
earnest" as she remembered sundry re-
marks of Mrs. Stewards. Besides,
there's lots Of other better girls you
might find"
"That Is not TO the point" he inter
rupted lit is you, not other girls, l
want. Try and think Of it, Barbara.
don't want to hurry you, but let me have
a line as soon as You can; it means o
good deal to me-"
For another week or two things con-
tinued TO go in much the same fashion.
Mrs. Stewart wore a chronic air of dis
John Grant was invisible.
Only Mr.. Lawrence was to the fore with
his sympathetic inquiries, but in some
way Barbara began TO find
them irritating rather than fattering.
She got tired of giving the same re-
sponse, Nothing yet" and Of hearing
the same polite remarks about his con-
cern and admiration of her. They did
not go deep enough.
At last on Saturday morning, IS she
was setting out for Mrs. Stewards, she
met the postman, who gave her blue,
official looking envelope. Barbara stood
still on the step, holding her breath as
she opened it.
"Messrs. Dodd & Sons compliments
TO Miss Reed, and beg to inform her
that Mrs. Elizabeth Drake has been
proved the nearest of kin, and conse-
the late Mr.. James landlord"
Miss Reed folded up the letter and
put it soberly into her jacket pocket.
She had scarcely realized before how
much she had been counting upon it.
There was nothing left now but to put
On brave face and make the bsse of it.
As Barbara crossed the hall to the
schoolroom that afternoon she en-
Mr.. Lawrence. He was
standing at the table buttoning his
light gloves. She saw at the first glance
that Mrs. Stewart had told him Of her
disappointment. She hesitated one in
stant, then went straight up to him.
"You sec am not come into fortune
after all, she said quietly.
$50 it seems" he said coldly, not look
ing up from refractory button "But
it was not much Of fortune, anyway.
l thought it was to be five or six times
that amount"
IL wish / had never heard of it," spoke
Barbara, looking at him in scornful sur
prise. ut has been nothing but an up
set and annoyance from the first"
"Y-es, rather a pity-disappointing,
and waste Of time too. Well, I'm GO
ing into the country for a few weeks,
Miss Reed, SO good afternoon if don't
chance to see you again"
Good afternoon" returned Barbara,
with frigid bow, as she opened the
Bchoolroom door.
A tiny note was dropped into the let
ter box that same evening addressed to
Mr.. John Grant.
Dear john" it ran; "fm not half
good enough for you, but if you wish it
I'll try"
1t was not perhaps n great achieve
ment in the way of composition for
young lady who had been under Mrs.
Stewards guidance for so long, but it
perfectly satisfied the person it was in
tended for, and much loftier epistles
have often failed in this respect.
MRS. Stewart, that unfortunate legacy
was something to my advantage after
all, Mrs. John Grant said once some
months later. IL don't know what Mrs.
Elizabeth Drake df1 with it, but / do
know would not change with her. The
missing it las brought me far more hap
piness than the getting it ever could" ~
New York World.