Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-05-30

''I NEVER SAW YoU LOOK BETTER"
unexpected was the attitude taken by
her. Difficulties in his mind having
appertained only to calculations as to
what would be best for himself, doubt
suddenly raised, added to the sight of
her beauty, which never before had
seemed SO enticing, created and every
moment stimulated eagerness to have
her. Blundering in his words, he re-
piled:
"Why, of course, Hannah, Julia-I
don't know what reason she had for It
but she seemed to believe that-thet
you and born would be likely-that
Is, In time-that both of us might
think such thing, in all the circum-
stances, the best thing to do"
Then, according to your notion,
Sister Julia. who in all her previous
lifetime kept herself outside Of schemes
Of every sort, undertook, while on her
deathbed, one for you and for me, and
even, as you say, was anxious about
It."
"Why, Hannah, you-you know what
sort of woman Julia WASP"
"Yes," she answered, looking upward
reverently. II knew her partly before
her last swift decline, but not until
then did / know how far she was
above the lot in which she lived. That
her end was not long ago, suppose
was because the good God meant to
show to her what, for His sake, she
could endure. Knowing the blessed
ness of suffering to an innocent spirit,
He let II fall upon her in many ways;
but the sorest pang no doubt was
when she was led to suspect something
between you and me. That it should
have moved her to feel and to express
such a wish as you report showed that
she was absolutely ripe for the King
dom of Heaven. ! would wonder at
your repeating her words to me, except
that from what know of you I could
not wonder at anything you would do
on the line of comprising any purpose
Of your own"
Her calmness was as of one disposed
almost to smile.
"Hannah," he spoke rapidly, "such
talk surprises me more than any
What can you mean?"
"How came Sister Julia to suppose
that I'd marry you9 Did you tell her
you thought so?'
"I did not. l suppose-Ive told you
what / suppose about it. Julia was
worried about the way father had left
his will, and I've no doubt she thought
that was the best way to make things
equal between us"
"Did she know of that scene in the
garden when you behaved SO to me the
last time was at your house before
Cullen died?"
"Of course she didn't"
But she did She saw IL, and that
was what made her ask you to marry
me after her death, and as soon as pos
sible. Did you promise her that you
would do SOP"
"My Lord, Hannah! How could
man, a man that had any feeling, make
such promise to-at such time as
that-and in such circumstances2"
Ibid she intimate to you that unless
you made some sort of compromise
about your fathers estate you might
have to submit to terms different from
what now l understand you to pro-
pose2"
"She did not. She was very anxious
for settlement, and"
Didn't warn you in any way? How
ever, that is n question that perhaps
ought not to have asked. ] take 1t
back noticed that you didn't show
any regret when told you of Julia's
seeing you kiss me in the garden"
"Why, there was no great harm In
that, Hannah"
"She thought there was, and that
was why she advised you as she did.
What is your opinion now as to whether
told Cullen of it or not?"
"You may have told him for all 1
know"
"You didn't believe at the time /
would tell him, that warrant"
mo, didn't"
but did tell him; yet not until he
was taken sick. did not before main
ly because it would have incensed him
SO that he might have killed you. ]
am thankful that did not, and that
the telling, except for moment, took
nothing from the peace of his dying.
In your terms to me now," she con-
tinued. with coldness that awed him,
did you intend to include any allow
ance for Cullen's chi'1?"
Lord, Hannah, isn't Pearce your
child too?"
Let me make q proposal in my
turn"
There was something approaching
cunning in the kindly smile with which
she submitted her terms.
If you will go to the courthouse,
take that will and destroy it, or If you
will make over to me and Pearce half
the property left by your father
will"
She paused, as n willy trader, after
some tentative words Of proposal,
waits and watches their effect.
''Oh, Hannahl That's a great deal
harder than had anv idea YOU would