The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-02-02

| D~t, ohaA pm AliSit was ltIb
with an income Of about two hundred
pounds year and eight children, only
one of whom, Frances, could be said to
have completed her education.
Frances felt that she must manage to
cara money somehow or other at once to
assist her mother and sisters. But how?
Few questions, alas, more difficult.
After everything in turn had been duly
considered there seemed nothing she was
really fitted for. She did not even know
enough to continue the education of her
younger sisters. She had no special tai
ent, and if earn she must had yet to
learn how to earn. In this dilemma one
solution only offered itself. Mr.. Fitz-
hardy generously came forward with
the proposal which her changed manner
had prevented him from making before.
Frances could not help being deeply
touched by the way in which the offer
was made. The mother of his wife
should never pinch or starve he said; he
would undertake TO double the small
means already at her disposal, and be-
sides this Edith should have that two
Years abroad which her father had prom
| ised her.
1t was sore temptation. Frances
had no hope that she might ever be so
fortunate as to regain the affection of
the man she loved. She knew she had
slain all that by one vain, foolish speech.
He had gone away and would not come
back until he was heart whole again.
But still--she loved him She knew
now that it was indeed John Smith,
Junior, the Diapers son, whom She
fastidious and refined as she prided her
self upon being-loved with her whole
soul and strength. Loving him so pas
sionately she dare not become the wife
Of another man. II should despise my
SELF" she thought; II should grow to
hate him. And SO Mr.. Fitzhardy had
to take his refusal, softened by many ex-
pressions OF regard and heartfelt thanks.
When he pressed TO know the reasor-
| If there were any one else-she stopped
him with pale lips. confessing faltering-
ly, Don't ask; have been very unhap-
Ply; have no heart to give--I shall never
marry; or ut any rate, not for very
long time" And with this he had to be
| content
Then came kind Mrs. Smith Frances
was obliged to see her, Mrs. Lisle being
still quite unfit to face visitors. The
good woman had come on a mission of
friendliness. II should like to get to the
| bottom of that business about Johnny"
she said to herself as she rolled along
the road to town in her luxurious car
riage. There's hitch somewhere, I'm
~ hot - 4 l. n-..l
| out where it is, | must try and make
friends with the girl. Pretty dearl /
like her little naughty 'stand-off' ways;
| my Johnny deserves q wife who can
hold her head high-he's a gentleman.
| bless him, and ought to marry lady. /
wonder if it's the shop that sticks in her
throat?-or, perhaps, even-oh, non
sense | can make her like us if try,
I'll be bound. I'll ask her to come and
stay at The Grange for bit, just till
they've had time to look about them.
Poor, dear DR.. Lislel what mercy it
was that Providence spared him until
Johns leg was nice and sound again"
Here she wiped away tear Of graft
tude
In this mood, it was no wonder that
Frances found her most sympathetic
listener to the sad details of their loss.
The girl met her in o softened state of
feeling too-compunction for the con-
temptuous manner in which she had
spoken of the poor soul to her son;
some natural tenderness toward the
mother of the man she loved, as well as
that stripping of conventionalities
| which is the common effect of the near
approach of death or any great sorrow.
These made the innate craving in her
for love and sympathy leap out toward
that intense sympathy in poor, vulgar
Mrs. Smith, which brought the tears to
her eyes and the culver into her voice,
and Frances recognized fully that it was
possible to reap much comfort and con-
ISOLATION from words among which the
letter H" was chiefly conspicuous by
its absence.
Indeed she hardly noticed now the de-
ficiencies which had so often made her
shudder. 1t was heart going out to
heart, the weak and sorrow stricken ap-
pealing to the strong and sympathetic
Mrs. Smith had tact too. She said not
a word of her son and his troubles, but
simply drew the girl out to speak of her
own griefs and sorrowed with her The
question of visit to The Grange was
negatived at once. II cannot spare the
time" said Frances. II must find en-
ployment of some kind without delay"
Here was grand opportunity. .'Then,
my dear" replied her visitor. 81 think /
know exactly what will suit you. am
looking out for a nice young lady to
come and live with me and I've "a
daughter to me in fact. You see l am
very lonely. Mr. Smith is away all day
at business and-and my son nearly al
ways off on his travels. or If not he has
q mans place to make in tho world and
can't be always tied to tresome old
woman's apron string. Now. want some
ono who will be tender to my failings, and
put me in the right way, too, when l
make little slips. Mr.. Smith, he's SO
anxious for me to be all right, and some |
how | think it's easier for the men;
they're always out and about, noticing |
things. And the loneliness is trying. |
All! it's not easy always to be happy, |
even in big house full of fine things, |
was much of a hand at fancy work; be-
sides, what's the good, when can buy it |
ever SO much better done; nor books
either; they do make me that sleepy |
No! what | want is Just something |
young and pretty about me to take an |
interest in. Now, what do you say? |
You see, you'd be earning something, |
which would be real help to your
nofl1ar mud 1 can'f tell ynr, what a [