The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-12

cousin Fred may help himself if he
can" said Gencvra, audaciously. per
haps you don't know, Jenny, that
Cousin Fred himself me ans to be mar
ricd very soon"
Gcncvicvc turned pale.
"Gcncvra!' cried she. You can't
mean that
Poor little Gencvicvc" consolcd
Gcncvra. but you will not lose your
home. You must come and live with
me and Charley"
'I could not do that" said Genevicvc,
giddy and confused with the uneX-
pcctcd succession of startling news.
II heard the old houscllecpcr talking
to the coachman. when l was waiting,
down behind the shrubbcry, for Capt.
Allairc to come" said Gcncvra, with Il
nod of her pretty head. "Shc said that
he had told her himself and had in
structed her what rooms to prepare
and what alterations to make in the
household arrangements for his com
ing marriage"
II wonder who it can be-" said
Gcncvicve, sadly.
Miss IIilyard. of course" said
Gcncvra, "or else nat beautiful Mrs
st. Dean. But tic least thing he could
have done was to have contidcd i'll us,
think, and that's one reason decided
to clope. And Charley is coming up
this evening, and we are to take the
train to ST. Vincent. and, oh! dear
Jenny" with Il burst of sparkling
tears, the world is so full of happiness
to me-
Aud Gcncvicvc could but carcss the
beautiful, willful young creature who
had taken lifc's helm so rcclilcssly
into her own hands, and hope. in II
choking voice, that she might be very,
very happy.
Cousin Fred listened very philosophic-
ally to Gcnevra's confession, half an
hour later.
Married, are you?" said he. well,
II you had asked my advice. should
have given Il contrary verdict. But,
as you didn't consult me, l shall have
to be like the heavy fathers on the
lairc is clever fellow enough, al
hope you will steady him down, at
last"
So, the wlvmarried pair went
away, rs thoughtlcssly happy as two
school CHI ildrcn out for n picnic. and
Gcncvicvc was left alone with Fred,
to wonder how she could best break to
him the resolution at which She had
arrived. For she knew that she could
never remain ut tho Hill when bcauti-
ful Mrs. st Dean or Abba Ililyard
should either of them be the mistrc IS
there.
1T would kill nc" she thought.
rlaspiug her hands. "l'cs, it would kill
me-"
Mr.. Barnet had turned kindly to her,
and led her to Il seat beside the win
| dow.
"You are pale. Gcncvicvc." he said.
"Your hands are as cold as ice. Surely,
| you do not take this mad freak OF little
| Gypsy's SO bitterly to heart? Never
| fear for her; she's Il butterfly who will
sip honey from all lifc's garden ground
Her nature is light and frothy; far dit
fcrent, Gcncvicvc, from yours. Sill
down, little cousin; have much to SAY
to you"
Now" thought poor Gencvicvc, will
her color changing from scarlet tt
white-''now it is coming! ] shall b,
politely dismissed from the only home
have"
"Gcnevicve," said he, do you thinl
it would be wild and foolish dream
for me to thinl. of marriaEc?'
You? Oh, no." She answered. Try
ing to smile.
"But am three and thirty
"Yon are only in the prime and full
ness OF life" she responded, for ;
man. With women" signing softly
"cvcrything is 80 different. But
Cousin Fred, if you really intend mar
ryinG-"
81 really do" he said, smiling grave
ly.
'Thcn I shall not be longer in YOU