The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-07-19

familiarly, an action that caused me to
start in alarm. 1--WE are relatives, and
] believe that relatives ought to be in
terested in each other. What's the use
in people having relations if they are
going to act toward them as they would
toward strangers?"
l still felt little uneasiness on ac-
count of his act of familiarity and | did
not vouchsafe any reply to his remark.
If he understood my feelings he chose
to ignore the fact, for seemingly taking
no notice of my embarrassment, he
went on:
81 presume You have not been over
whelmcd with attentions from your rel
atives, for / understand you have
known very few and that those few
have not been extraordinarily kind to
you. By the way, how did you like the
reception Laura gave you yesterday?
was surprised beyond measure by
the abrupt question. and / could not
have answered it if had desired to do
so. Besides, had no wish to answer
it, because could not in truth say any
thing favorable, and did not want to
either speak unfavorably or utter q
falsehood So l maintained silence,
feeling as uncomfortable as possible.
81 can easily guess what you think"
he continued, directly. "You did not
find her manner the most pleasant, l
know, and her reception was not exact
ly what one would like. Your cousin
is a queer woman, Miss Owens, very
queer woman. You are relation, and
for that reason do not mind speaking
to you as ! would not to stranger, or
to one not connected with us. | will
say to you that Laura is not only
queer woman, but she is a disappoint-
ment to me. 1t hurt me to see her treat
you so coldly, because know how you
must feel. want my wlfe's people to
feel welcome at my house just as mine
are, and do my best to make them feel
so. try to make up what she lacks,
but you know it is impossible for one to
remove the unpleasantness another's
conduct creates"
He paused, but did not look at me. l
thought his face very serious and earn
est; and his appearance, together with
the sadness of his tone, touched my
heart. pitied him, and forgetting the
liberty he had taken with me moment
before, | increased my esteem for him.
! believed that he was good man, and
that in his attentions to me he was
striving to make up for the cold indif-
ference of his wife. felt truly graft
fed to him, and tried to thank him for
his consideration of me, but he waved
my words away, saying:
"You owe me nothing, Miss Owens.
have done nothing more than 1t was
my duty to do, You are entirely alone
in the world, and of course somebody
must take an interest in you. You came
to Laura expecting her assistance and
friendship, and failing to receive them,
why, then it devolves on me to, in some
manner, make good what she with
holds. | am very glad to have the
power Of favoring one who is connected
with my wife, and do not want you to
feel that you are under any obligations
to me, for you are not"
was deeply sensible of Mr.. Demands
kindness, and | resolved that would
avail myself of every opportunity to
show my appreciation of it. would
exert myself to the utmost to aid him
with my services and on every occasion
! would make such return as could for
his beuevolencc. | resolved to tax his
generosity as little as possible, and to
lose no opportunity of showing him
how truly grateful l was for his good
ness.
With this feeling for my employer I
began work for him. found my duties
light and pleasant, and when i had
learned to adapt myself to it my posi-
ton proved as agreeable as l could
wish. / was independent of charity,
and out of the reach of abuse, and |
was quite happy.