Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1895-09-06
did you tell him who / ams" said

NuAoo NlOulUu, WHGu DIG lSlul HSNt dlVs
| Lilith shook her head
II 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 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. 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 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 a
man whom she recognized instantly,
although 1t was ten years since she had
seen him. The years which had
changed. her from marriageable girl
to settled old maid, seemed to have
passed over Ralph Trevor without leay-
ing trace behind on his handsome
face or splendid figure. 1t seemed to
cha ot
help caring for such man and making
excuses for his heartlessness in the
past, but she was grieyed 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, when her niece
entered, and shade Of annoyance
passed over the girls beautiful face.
Yes, see him somewhere or other
every day." she said, quietly. He is
always on the lookout for me, and fol-
lows me everywhere"
..But If you do not like them, dear
you can easily put a stop to his atten-
tions by telling him so" said her aunt.
Lilith blushed a little.
II will do SO if you wish, auntie."
you must please yourself entirely,
dear. ] have told you something of his
character 1t is for you to 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 a girls wilfulness
would not make her ruin her lifelong
happiness. Perhaps, after all, Ralph
Trevor would make her a good hus-
band, since she had money, and there
was no fear Of her losing it, as she her
self had done ten years before. She
could understand only too well the at
traction that he must have for young
and romantic girl. but she wondered a
little that it could have made Lilith
forget the injury he had done to the
aunt she undoubtedly loved.
s'Why did you not ask him in?'' she
asked; and Lilith flushed again.
II thought that you would not like
to meet him, auntie. am afraid thai
I have had to tell a lot of stories to ac-
count to him for my refusal
Aunt Eleanor sighed, and asked NJ
more questions.
She was not surprised when, weeh
later, the girl came to her with a face
flushed with triumph, and note in her
hand, the writing of which Miss Mon
ton recognized at once, although it was
SO long since she had received a letter
. r d
in the same hand.
"Mr. Trevor insists on coming to-
morrow to see you, auntie, and asks
whether you will give me up to him,
she said II must write and put him of
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 to delay his
visit.
your are going to trust your. hap
piness in his hands, then, dear?" said
her aunt, when she had read it.
II am sure that he really loves me-
answered Lilith.
e
81 want you to take me to the
Academy, auntie, this afternoon. We
have not seen Mr.. Trevor's pictures
vet" 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
81 shall leave my answer" said
Lilith, and as her aunt's gentle eyes
questioned her, she went on:
Here is the answer. auntie. 1t is
only photograph of yourself taken
ten years ago. think that he will I'M
derstand. and | hope you do not think
me a very wicked girl for having tried
to make him feel a little of the pain he
gave you SO long ago"