The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-08-09


upon myself, Remember, speak as a
friend and as the representative of my
mother, and if I wound you or touch
your pride, beg forgiveness in ad-
vance. VIII You hear me?"
81 suppose So" answered, wonder
lngly. II cannot comprehend your
meaning, and haven't the least idea
what it is you wish to say"
"Then I'll tell you. You remember
you wrote to my mother something
about scene in your room one night
In which your employer fgured?'
nodded in the affirmative.
"You remember, too" he continued,
shat you expressed some uneasiness
on account of his conduct"
l nodded again, and almost breath
lcssly waited for him to proceed.
WELL" he went on, presently, your
letter caused my mother much anxiety,
nnd she would not rest until promised
to come to see you and talk with you
for her. She said you were SO unsus-
pecting, and knew SO little of the world,
Ind were SO innocent yourself, that peo-
pie could easily impose on your conf
dence.
81 realized the truth Of her remarks,
and feeling it my duty undertook to
comply with her requests. So | am
here, and, to come to the point at once,
am here for the purpose Of warning
you against Mr.. BERNARD. Beware of
| him, Miss Owens, for your own Sake
Do not permit him, on the strength of
relationship, to become too familiar.
I Remember that in spite of your inno-
cence and purity, designing, unscrup-
ulous man may do you much harm. BY
his enforced attentions, and his public
( ly exhibited preferences, he can fur
! nish food to slauderous minds and do
much to injure your reputation. Be-
ware of your employer, Miss Owens,
and keep the proper distance between
you"
| was not as much surprised at Mr..
Cornell's utterances as one might sup
pose. had already entertained some
thing Of the same idea, and his speech
only served to confirm me in it. OF
course ordinarily it would have been a
bold thing for young man to speak to
young lady as he had to me, and II
anyone else had presumed to address
me so should have been shocked and
+ angered, but not so with Charles Cor
nell. AS have once remarked, his air
and bearing impressed me on first sight
with the idea Of his being the natural
champion, friend and defender OF the
weak, and it did not appear to me at all
that he was overstepping the bounds of
propriety in saying what he did. There
was hearty earnestness, modesty
and friendliness in his manner which
precluded all thought of his having any
other object save that of advancing the
happiness of humanity.
Charles Cornell was not like other
young men. His mind was so lofty, and
his thoughts so mature, that few heads
.whitened by the SIMS of fifty summers
were more serious and sensible. Though
his disposition was lively, and interest
ing, his thoughts were never trihing or
in ally way ungentlemanly. His advice
Or suggestions came to me as from one
possessing wisdom and knowledge far
superior to mine, and therefore excited
no feeling Of resentment in my bosom
| / realized how ignorant and inexperi
enced was, and how utterly incapable
of controlling my own destiny.
We had walked in silence little way
when Mr., Cornell resumed, saying
kindly:
81 trust, Miss Owens, that I have moi
wounded you by speaking as l have?'
''No, not at ALL" replied.
"And you do not think hard of mep'
he continued.
"No: but. on the contrary, I thanh
you with all my heart for the interes
you manifest in me-"
'And you will be careful, too?" HI
asked.
"Yes, I shall be careful to keep thu
proper distance between Mr.. Bernard
and myself"
"Then am content, and can satisf,
my mother and set her mind at rest
She loves you very much, andi as great
ly concerned for you as she would be
fora daughter; and there is never day
and scarcely an hour, believe, tina
she does not think of you. She speak
of you often, and always with the ten
derest solicitude."
"She cannot love me more than d
her" I replied "She is more like
mother to me than anyone / ever knew
and l often think l would give tn
world to have such mother"
Mr.. Cornell glanced at my face wit
curious light beaming from his eyes
His countenance was flushed and agita
ted.
do you really think that?" he que.
toned, with unwonted eagernes.
would you really like to have a mothe
like miner
81 should, indeed" replied. ST
feel her love, to share her kindness an
sympathy, and to be guided and guarl
ed by her counsel would be the yer
greatest OF happiness"
My companion claspcd my arm tigh
", and his hand trembled. looked u
into his face and saw that it wa
: flushed and hot. He was excited phys
cally and mentally. He half drew m
to him and opened his lips to speal
For an instant he gazed fixedly into m
/ eyes, and l began to tremble, to,
Then he relaxed his grasp. and. aver
, ing bis gaze, walked on.
( was relieved by his change Of d,