Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-12-21
,ion of his nrivate affairsY

| Yes, yes. he mas done so. but
Charles is Just little shy, just a little
slow in expressing himself. | thought
that would pave the way for him. Two
women can arrange these things so much
better. Men sometimes have a difficulty
in making themselves clear"
Il really hardly follow you. Mrs West
macott," cried Clara in despair
He has no profession, but he has nice
tastes. He reads Browning every night
And he is most amazingly strong. When
he was younger, we used to put on the
gloves together, but cannot persuade
him to now, for he says he cannot play
light enough. l should allow him e5O0,
which should be enough at first"
my dear Mrs. Westmacott," cried
Clara, Il assure you that have not the
least idea what it is that you are talk
ing Of"
do you think your sister Ida would
have my nephew Charles?"
Her sister IdaI Quite little thrill of
relief and of pleasure ran through her at
the thought. Ida and Charles Westma-
cottI She had never thought of it. And
yet they had been good deal together.
They had played tennis. They had
shared the tandem tricycle.. Again came
the thrill of joy, and close at its heels
the cold questionings of conscience.
Why this joy? What was the real source
of it? Was it that deep down, some
where pushed back in the black recesses
of the soul, there was the thought lurk-
ing that if Charles prospered in his WOO
ing then Harold Denver would still be
free? How mean, how unmaidenly. how
unsisterly the thought! She crushed it
down and thrust it aside, but still it
would push up its wicked little head.
| She crimsoned with shame at her own
baseness as she turned once more to her
companion.
81 really do not know" she said.
'She is not engaged"
"Not that know Of"
"You speak hesitatingly."
Because am not sure. But he may
ask. She cannot but be fattered."
"Quite SO. | tell him that it is the
most practical compliment which man
can pay to woman. He is little shy,
but when he sets himself to do it he will
do it. He is very much in love with her.
1 assure you. These little lively people
always do attract the slow and heavy
ones, which is natures device for the
neutralizing of bores But they are all
going in. l think if you will allow me
that will just take the opportunity to
tell him that, as far as you know, there
is no positive obstacle in the way"
GAS far as l know" Clara repeated as
the widow moved away to where the
players were grouped round the net or
sauntering slowly toward the house.
She rose to follow her, but her head was
in a whirl with new thoughts, and she
sat down again. Which would be best
sor Ida-Harold or Charles? She thought
it over with as much solicitude as
mother who plans for her only child.
Harold had seemed to her to be in many
ways the noblest and best young man
whom she had known. If ever she was
to love a man, it would be such man as
that. But she must not think of herself.
She had reason to believe that both of
these men loved her sister. Which would
be the best for her? But perhaps the
matter was already decided. She could
not forget the scrap of conversation
which she had heard the night before,
nor the secret which her sister had re-
fused to confde to her. If Ida would
not tell her, there was but one person
who could She raised her eyes, and
| there was Harold Denver standing be-
| fore her.
"You were lost in your thoughts" said
he. smiling. Il hope that they were
pleasant ones"
"Oh, l was planning" said she, rising.
st seems rather a waste of time, as
rule, for things have way of working
themselves out just as you least expect"
"What were you planning, then%
"The future"
"Whose?"
"Oh, my own and Ida's."
"And was | included in your joint fu-
tures?"
81 hope all our friends were included"
Don't go in" said he as she began to
move slowly toward the house. 81
want to have word. Let us stroll up
and down the lawn. Perhaps you are
cold. If you are. / could bring you out
shawl"
"Oh, no. am not cold"
81 was speaking to your sister Ida last
night" She noticed that there was a
slight quiver in his voice, and glancing
up at his dark, clear cut face she saw
that he was very grave. She felt that it
was settled-that he had come to ask
her for her sisters hand.
''She is a charming GIRL" said he after
a pause.
"Indeed she is" cried Clara warmly.
"And no one who has not lived with her
and known her intimately can tell how
charming and good she is. She is like
sunbeam in the house."
mo one who was not good could be
absolutely happy, as she seems to be.
Heavens last gift, think, is a mind SO
pure and a spirit so high that it is un-
able even to see what is impure and evil
in the world around us. For as long as
we can see it, how can we be truly hap
py?"
''She has deeper side also. She does
not turn it to the world, and it is not
natural that she should, for she is very
young. But she thinks and has aspira-
tions of her own"
"You cannot admire her more than
do. Indeed, Miss Walker, l only ask to
be brought into near relationship with
her and to feel that there is permanent
bond between u.s."
TO BE CONTINUED.
Got Even With the Preacher.
A lawyer of this city tells a story of
how he got even with a preacher. 1t
was on the occasion of his second mar
riage. After concluding the ceremony
the minister took advantage of the
privilege accorded him by custom of
kissing the bride. While so engaged
the groom suddenly imprinted a re-
sounding kiss ON the cheek of the min
ister's wife, who was standing immedi
ately behind the wedding party.
The lady was indignant, and the min
lister asked for an explanation. Coolly