The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1894-08-08
CHAPTER VIII

gate, and, after calling out hannan,
said that, If 1t was entirely convenient
to the family, she would return in an
hour or two, dine, and spend portion
of the afternoon with them.
Certainly, Sister Julia. I'll be de-
lighted to have you; SO win Cullen,
am sure. How are you?''
''Not at all well, Hannah, thank you; |
but thought drive out here wouldn't
do any harm, and then ! wanted to see
you and Cullen and have some talk
with you, him particularly"
Cullen was sent for in good time to
meet the visitor.
"Oh, Cullen! sister looks wretchedly.
We must treat her just as if nothing
had happened-you especially"
"Why, of course, Hannah. Sister
doubtless knows that couldn't pos
sibly have anything against her, who
has no more to do in this mean busi-
ness than any saint in Heaven. /
hope she's brought no message from
her husband; for with him shall have
nothing to do, either personally or by
proxy. But shall pay entire respect
to her feelings"
"You don't mean, do you, Cullen,
that if she was to tell you that she had
persuaded brother to offer some sort
of settlement that would-that
wouldn't seem to be too far out of the
way, that-that at least you wouldn't
consider it?"
''Ive told you, Hannah, and now
tell you again, that I'll take nothing
from brother as gift, and nothing
under that will. I will take from
fathers estate, besides what he
| virtually gave me in his lifetime,
nothing less than the half of it, and I
wouldn't take that except for feeling
entirely convinced that father in
tended should have it"
Poor Sister Julia! know her feel
ings will be sorely hurt"
"0h, Hannahl dolet me be trusted to
treat sister Alright. declare you pain
me by what you show of your thoughts
and wishes in this thing"
"Cullen, you know well enough that
I don't wish for anything more than
what would be right. You have family,
and-but, as you don't like me to, l
will not mention the subject again,
hard as it is to endure in silence such
state Of things"
"0h, well. my little girl, we will
have no hard feelings with each other
about it. / hope, and indeed rather
believe, that it will be adjusted some
how, and that in a way not expected
by anybody. I've put the case In Ar
thurs hands, and whatever is possible
he will do. AS for sister, she is too
Just and sensible to take offense or feel
hurt by anything feel as If | owed to
myself to do or not"
The meal passed pleasantly, despite
the feebleness Of the guest. Her words
and manners, as always, were the nat
ural outcome of womanhood that had
had good opportunities for its culture.
The shade upon her face, hardly deep
er than what long had been habitual,
indicated neither embarrassment nor
regret for any special cause. She did
not try to conceal her admiration for
the perfect health and excellent beauty
of Hannah.
"Oh, Hannah" more than once she
said, ''you do look so well! No wonder
you and brother think so much of each
other. AS for Pearce, he is just per-
feet"
II thank you, sister," said Cullen,
"for all three of us. / think myself
that Hannah is hard to beat, and,
since the boy has come, we don't see
very well what we could do without
him."
II hope he'll become more and more
q comfort to you, brother"
After dinner she said
Hannah, dear, want to have some
little special conversation with you
both together and separately. Perhaps
I'd as well have it first with brother
If you and he please"
Certainly, Sis Julia. I've got some
things to look after in the yard and
garden, and will leave you and Cullen
for awhile. Don't hurry. You and l
can have our chat at any time. wish
you could spend the night with us. We
, would do our best to make you COM
, Portable"
"Oh, dear, no, child! can't do that.
Well call you after awhile"
, AS Hannah, leading the child, was
going ont, Julia said:
I "What blessing, Cullen, you two
have in each other, and what another
/ In Pearcel How various are human
: livesl"
i Then, not waiting for his answer, she
D quickly said:
!. "Cullen, within this last month TX
I been-wait little while"
r And she broke into sobblng. Aftel
r recovering, she, sadly smiling, contin
( ued:
h "Bless the good God for tearsl Nov
l can 90 on. For the last month hav,
4 been so entirely unhappy that hav'
8 not only wished but prayed to be takel
!, out OF this life sooner than have beel
n expecting. / don't know whether o
n not you were very greatly surprised q
n the contents of your fathers will, bu
d must believe SO; because he SCENE,
% TO have got fully reconciled to you an,
s Hannah both, and suspected wa
70 more fond of you than of your brother
d want us to talk with each other abou
b it in as much confidence as-as is cor
If sistent with the different relations W
a. bear to Mr.. Amerson. Can we mo-
10 Cullen?"
r. Certainly, sister. You may spea
o with what freedom you feel to be pr,
dent, and what you say will have m
d full respect and proper consideration