The Yale expositor., 1895-09-06


You are crying, dear?"
"Yes, auntie, for YOU"
She flung her arms around Miss Mon
toms neck as she spoke, and kissed her.
81 am glad that know, auntie," she
said and walked out of the room with
her face little whittier than usual. and
her beautiful eyes still full OF tears.
When Ralph Trevor paid his
promised call, Aunt Eleanor was out,
and Lilith saw him alone.
did you tell him who ann" said
Miss Monitor, when she returned, ard
Lilith shook her head.
81 only told him that he must not
come to the house again, auntie."
She seemed unnaturally reticent
about what had passed. and her aunt
sighed as she thought that the man
who had ruined her own happiness, had
also caused her idolized niece q heart
ache, and she soon ceased to question
her.
II am sure that / did right" she
said to herself. half afraid lest her own
resentment against the artist had rem
dered her unjust. "a man who could
be so calculating could not make Lilith
happy, even If she knew nothing of the
past. l am glad that she realizes the
fact"
a few days afterward, however, she
was called to alter her opinion with
regard to Lilith's wisdom. Her niece
had gone out for a stroll with no COM
panion but her dogs, and as Miss Mon
ton looked out of the window awaiting
her return, she was startled to see her
bidding "Good-by" at the gate to
man whom she recognized instantly,
although it was ten years since l. had
seen him. The years which had
changed her from a manageable girl
to a settled old maid, seemed to have
passed over Ralph Trevor without leav-
ing a trace behind on his handsome
face or splendid figure. 1t seemed to
her, as she looked, that Lilith could not
help caring for such a man and making
excuses for his heartlessness in the
past, but she was grieved to think that
her revelation had had the effect Of los
ing her Lilith's confidence.
II see that Mr.. Trevor brought you
home, dear" she said, VIXEN her niece
entered, and shade of annoyance
passed over the girls beautiful face.
"Yes, see him somewhere or other
every day" she said, quietly. "Iie is
always on the lookout for me. and fol-
lows me everywhere"
But If you do not like them, dear,
you can easily put stop to his a1ten-
lions by telling him So" said her aunt
Lilith blushed little.
IT will do 80 IL you wish, auntie."
you must please yourself entirely,
dear / have told you something of his
character. 1t Ia for you 10 decide
whether you can trust your happiness
in his hands"
Lilith thanked her without giving
any definite reply, and her aunt sighed
and hoped that girls wilfulness
would not make her ruin her lifelong
happiness. Perhaps, after all, Ralph
Trevor would make her Il good hus-
band, since she had money, anu :, =,
was no fear of her LOSING re her
self had done ten years DclOre. She
could understand only too VIZ the az.
traction that he must have for young
and romantic girl, but che wondered a
little that it could have made Lilith
forget the injury he had done 70 the
aunt she undoubtedly loved.
"Why did you not ask him ?" she
asked; and Lilit Nr5.ei again.
II thought that yen Nolld not like
to meet him, auntie. | am afraid that
have had TO tel Lot Q, stories to ac-
count to him for my refusal"
Aunt Eleanor sighed, and asked no
more questions.
She was not surprised when, q week
later, the girl cane TO her with a face
| flushed with triumph, and a note iI her
hand, the writing OF which Miss Nov
ton recognized at once, although 1t wes
so long since she had received letter
in the same hand.
MIR. Trevor insists or coming to-
morrow to sec you, auntie, and asks
whether you will give me up TO him.
she said. II must write and put him Off
till the following day. as We have
promised to go to Richmond"
and what must / tell him when
see him, dear?"
For answer Lilith read her the note
she had already written % delay his
visit.
your are going to trust your hap
piness in his hands, then, dear?" said
her aunt, when she had read 1t.
IT am sure that he really loves me-"
answered Lilith.
81 want you to take me to the
Academy, auntie, this afternoon. We
have not seen Mr.. Trevor's pictures
yet" said Lilith, two days later, and
her aunt looked up in surprise.
But you have asked Mr.. Trevor to
come at four. dear. for your reply"
Il shall leave my answer" said
Lilith. and as her aunt's gentle eyes
questioned her, she went on:
"Elara ie tho auowar au~iia " la