The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-02-17

der changed To assured Joy as he saw
her awaiting him. tall and fair and
screncly sweet in her trailing Russian
esque tea gown of ivory plush edged
with dark fur. lie was beside her IN an
instant.
Dear" he said, "you must have
more than suspected have plainly
seen-that ! love you, yet l never
thought TO dare to speakv"
lie was certainly daring q good deal
now; for he had taken both her hands
in his, and proud Miss Tame was let
ting him do IT, She found it strangely
sweet to yield even her pride to this
sudden mastcrful tenderness and fire
that had replaced all his old reserve. rs
he drew her into his arms and kissed
her lips and eyes and chestnut hair.
my queenly sweetheart, my own
wife that will be. How could you ever
fear should think less Of you for your
heavenly goodness in writing the letter
that brought me here to-day?'
She started away from him.
"What letter? ! never wrote you
line in my life. What do you mean?"
but ! received letter from you
THIS dIteTnOOn
II did not write it. Who has dared
make free with my name in this way?
What was the letter like? Oh. is il all
ALA mistake?"
I'm sure it isn't mistake that we
love each other. and are going to be-
very happy now that we know it, how
ever it came about" firmly declared
Mr.. barrow. "As for the letter. here
il is"
Miss Tame took it gingerly, as one
touching snake.
Its my paper, certainly; but what
writing, How could you ever suspect
me Of it? And. oh. Alex, do you really
think should spell three words wrong
on only one page? And the high
flown sentiments. But the matter Is
worst of all. Alex, how could you
help having sense enough to know that
never, never would have asked even
you-to-to marry me?'
She was laughing, blushing, happy
and vcxed all at once.
"Of course know better now" said
Alex, with great meekness; but all the
same I'm profoundly thankful some
/
mistake. / didn't notice the spelling,
and though ! did wonder at the writ
ing little. l never saw any of yours,
and | set down its faults to nervous
ness"
Nervousness. indeed. AS IL any
amount Of that could make me write
such a hand. Who could have done it?
1t must have been some servant who
had access to my desk and stole my
paper. Why, it's downright forgery to
sign my name to a thing like that"'
II didn't signed my own name,
Marion Leslie Tainc," said small
voice.
They turned to behold Marjie-Mar-
jie. very pale and grave and deter
mined, who. true to her appointment,
had arrived on the scene TO find her
lover i'm conversation with her aunt,
and to hear enough to know what her
proposal had done for them.
"You wrote that letter. gaspcd Miss
Tame the elder.
Marie nodded her chestn6 curls.
"Ycs." she owned, in tones that sug-
gcsted repressed sobs, II wrote it. ]
though did take some, because il was
more grown-up looking than mine. !
thought he was my lover; for he's al
ways been so nice to me, and he isn't
near so much older than me as Strath-
more was than Lucille, either. And
Priscilla asked her lover to marry her,
because he didn't ask her himself. and
SO did some other girls in the novels,
and-and SOL thought could, too.
I'm glad did it, anyhow. for Id rather
you and -and-he-should be happy
than l."
The sobs came now in full force: but
Marion had her arms round the tiny
figure and the curly head on her
breast.
'Oh. you poor baby.-you darling bit
of heroiEc.--you blessed little sim
plcton." she cried, sobbing too. "Wha'
have we been thinking of to leave you
to ret such fancics and do such things
out of your books? And yet can't helT
being glad you did it, too. But you'll
learn better now, dearest, and your
; own auntie will look after you, if your
If nobody else does"
1--WE learned better now" said MAJ
lie, solemnly. II didn't know you'd
never have done it, or that he'd want
. TO laugh at me"
II barrow had been inclined to laugh
land it must be owned that for one
perilous moment at first hc had beer
on the brink Of open mirth), the small
shamc-striclxen face Marie lifted would
have cured him Of any desire to do so
..You are mistaken in that last" hi
said, gravely and gently. "A man car
only feel honorcd by the preference o.
! a young lady he respects, even IL hi
/, , cannot fully return it; and, indeed.
: have always loved you as very dcal
, little friend. for your own sake as wei
MS your aunt's. BE sure ! shall nevel
forget how much you have helped me
and that l want you to be good friends
|, with me still. and let me help you for
!, get all the disagreeable part OF this.
!. Marie bestowed on him one long
!, keen. suddenly searching look out o
. her wide. innocent brown eyes. AM
) then gave him her morsci OF q hans
! with heart broken dignity.
Pour years make great difference