The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-12

leading business man in Bumpton. was
i: he who had shortened that peevish old
woman's outing? Would she bear him
any malice for staring at her? Not after
she knew-which she soon would. now.
He advanced with exaggerated heel
taps. They must think he had but just
passed through the small latchless gate.
Mrs. Hartridge gave a nervous little
scream as his tall figure doomed into sight.
He barred his head promptly.
"A thousand pardons. l should have
waited until morning. But my time is
| limited. Mrs. Hartridge, l believe"
''Y es sir. and you"
This will explain" He was standing
near enough to the invalid now to place
letter in her hand. 1T is from Mr.
Goodloe."
She extended it to her daughter. :,
take it into the hall, Mamie, and read
! it. Any friend of MIR. Goodloes Is wei
come. Sit down."
Miss Hartridge had gone with the let
ter into the hall. A lamp stood on a
table against the inner wall. From where
he sat in the outer darkness Johnston
saw her turn the letter over several times,
open it, read it, then stand motionless for
few seconds: Presently she reioined
them and addressed herself TO her
mother. There was Brightness in her
voice and manner quite appalling.
| MIR. Goodloe introduces Mr.. Lemuel
Johnston from New York, mother. He
says that Mr.. Johnston is making a col
lection of standard theological works.
and he thought that we might like to dis
pose of fathers library"
The widows voice quivered with eager
ness.
I'VE might, don't you think, Mamie?
We have no use on earth for them.
and -"
Il think" said Miss Hartridge, without
any sign OF tbaw, that this is a trans
action which can very well be postponed
until tomorrow. You know, mother,
the idea is quite new to u.s."
Her impersonel treatment of himself
was crushing to Johnston. She stood
| facing her mother. Her delicately re-
! fined profile, outlined against the lamp
light in the hall, was turned toward him.
"But the gentleman's time may be of
some Importance, daughter"
II imagine not. He has been at Mount
ain View House several weeks. / have
been waiting on him at table. He did
not impress me as being at all rushed.
L think we will not do anything o-nig ht,
mother"
Johnston laughed and left his chair.
And 1t Is but fair, madam, that
should wait in my turn. With your per-
mission, Mrs. Hartridge, L will call again
in the morning"
do so. And in the mean time Mamie
can look up the catalogue her father
| made. " Ill you want any OF the books,
slr? =" There was a note of pathetic eager
ness In the question. For the first time
in his life LemueI consciously exulted in
! his wealth. He answered munificently:
las many as you can spare me-"
! And then he went away, rejecting
! gratefully on the luminous expedient
| that had suddenly transformed him into
an ardent bibllomaniac and given him
access TO his dream wife.
| Although Miss Hartridge showed her.
self capable and business-like when it
came to an examination of the Reverend
Josiah's library, the transaction lam
| gulshed IN AL astonishing manner.
Morning after morning found and left
| the trade unoccOmplished. Mrs. Hart
ridge com planned bitterly about the mans
fastidiousness.
| 81 am sure II your dear father knew
anything at all, Nancy, he knew books"
And Nannies would answer, Eyes,
mother" wfR demure inconseouence
| that LETT everything just where it was be-
fore.
| But one cannot haggle over the most
| extensive business transaction for ever,
and, after week of dalliance among the
reverend gentleman's musty tones 1t &C.
| CURED to Johnston that matters must be
| brought to head, and that he must do it.
stammering before the demure little
| mountain maiden in way none of his
city friends would have credited.
| 1T seems so absurd, you know, Miss
Hartridge, to tell you that L have been
looking for you for months; that If had
never found you L never would have
asked any woman to be- my wife,"
at is absurd, you KNOW" she an
| swered with calm conviction.
Then he had to tell her all about his
| dream. Not an easy thing to do, with
her steady, almost reproachful eyes hold
ing him.
Il don't half like it," she said, when
the time came that she mustspeak. ''Yo GU
think you are in love with me because |
| I'll into your dream frame better than
anyone you have met SO far. Possibly,
| if you continue your search you will find
someone who will answer your specifica-
tions mucn better. y GU have never really
fallen in love with me, Nancy Hartridge,
at ALL" What arguments he used to con-
vince her that II was her own dear self
that he needed for the absolute rounding
of his life only the dusty tones could re-
veal, and they never will.
Later on in the evening, when Mrs.
Hartridge had gone into her own room
to shed those maternal tears that are al
ways in order when one is requested 10
! give well-beloved child into the keep
| ing OF q Stranger, Miss haTtrlQge SAID
| cruelty:
ENTHUSIASTICALLY you were the most
disagreeable man at table L ever had to
! do for"
That was because" said Johnston,
gravely, sit CALLED me to see my wife
ministering to lot of gluttons."
Mamie laughed musicslly and nestled
closer to his side. 1t was very sweet 10
! her, this new sense OF shelter and rest
Lille had been apportioned her along
rather bleak lines. But she acted well
! her part.
October had set the mountain side
afame, when Mr.. aud Mrs. Hyde, turn
ing their faces skyward from Bar Har-
Dor soiourn of month, found avail ting
them some cards.
They were cards of invitation to a re-
cepton to be given by Mr.. and Mrs.
| Lemuel Johnston on an early day. Mrs.
Rueben gasped:
Actually married! Why, who on
earth to. do you suppose Pr
His dream wife. perhaps"
Never He has forgotten that rub
bishy nonsense long ago. OF course she
is everything that one was not. pll
wager dozen pair OF kid gloves that she
is tall, scraggy, black haired and-1ash-
ionable.'
You are describing Miss Reynolds.
What color shall the gloves be?
You believe then that l will win ?'
mot impossible. You can put it into
cigars for me-"
The night OF the reception came. Be-
fore starting for the house that Lemuel
had taken, Mrs. Hyde refreshed her
memory from that memorable letter OF
his to her husband. This describes an
angel" she said. tiingng it back into the
desk. "A perfect beauty"
It's barely possible Mrs Johnston
comes up to it. | hope she does for LENS
| iIo hicr-soI1lnA lou hon tod