The Van Buren press., 1896-01-04

dress, at the thin little figure, the tired,
but smiling eyes, and forebore to speak.
81 wonder what she'd do with half the
blessings most women have?" she
thought.
1t happened in the most curious way,
just three nights later, that big DR..
Grimes, passing the Yarwood cottage,
stopped in the shadow of the fir-tree
to gaze in at the little studio; and at
that same instant, Miss Yarwood, lean
ing over her china-kiln, more tired than
ever, and just little "shaky" from
loss of sleep and appetite, suddenly
gave out entirely, and fell, teacups,
pin-trays and all, against her kiln, and
on, in heap of tinkling porcelain, to
the floor. Curiously, too, DR.. Grimes
forgot all about his ridiculous shyness
of the little woman, vaulted her fence
tfir-tree, too, he afterward thought,
SO great had been his haste), and in
half a flying minute reached her side,
lifted her out of her pitiful ruins, and
sat her bolt upright upon chair.
She had not fainted-not she. She
was only a trifle dazed, and mot very
strong as she explained. She felt
there was some explanation called for,
for there was absolutely no misunder-
standing the fact that the big doctor,
having sat her upon her chair, had
shaken her soundly.
".Not very strong indeed" IAN
other shakel Il have heard about it'll
Miss Nora says you need guardian,
and l am come to be he His voice was
harsh and angry.
Don't you know, know, you are kill
| ing yourself?" Then it came over him
suddenly just how pale and thin and
| pitifully small she looked, this mis-
guided bread-winner, and he looked
about wildly until his eyes rested upon
a pillow across in the little window
scat. He strode after it; then he put
1t gently back of her head.
Ibid I-shake you, you frail little
mite of a woman? l might have killed
you; the Lord only knows how easily
| could do it. And rather than hurt
| Al HttlI VI NOui ictd
He stopped and ooked unsteadily at
her, for his eyes were swimming in
sudden tears. And Miss Alice felt a
strange yearning in her heart toward
| this man whom she had selected to be
dear Morals lover.
"You didn't--shake me-very hard,
| guess" she stammered. 81 must
have provoked you to it, falling clum-
silly like that"
He stopped her short. "What sort OF
an old party do you think me, anyhow
Miss Alice? Would you believe thing
| told you as solemn truth?"
"Oh, | would" she cried, looking
steadily into the kind, gray eyes.
"Then please believe that l love you
| from my very heart, and that, old
| bachelor as | am, | shall always be, un'
less you let me come as business man
ager of this firm. As Mrs. Grimes you
may paint teacups for me alone, ano
I'll promise unbounded admiration and
prompt pay. VIII you be my wife
Alice. and let the love and care of life
time atone for the ugly gruffness I've
shown to-night?"
He was holding both her hands, and
kneelng there perilously on thosf
broken bits of the fine arts, could loob
straight into the big, brown eyes.
"I thought | had given all my heart
to-to Robert-but that was long ago
and"
"And now?'
'And now you-you remind me OF
HMM being so grand and good, i meau
so much so that believe, in time"
''How much time?" cried this impa
tient lover. Don't you know that since
that first day in the lealSy, Osgooo
shanty I've thought of you day ant
night, and loved you until I've been 4
perfect old fool? How much time
Can't you love me in five minutes
Now?n
And the little woman, moved by som;
impulse, leaned suddenly forward anC
tremulously kissed the gray-sprinkle'
hair of the doctor. That kiss installed
the new business manager.
When Miss Nora came in, five minutes
later. two happier people she was sur'
she had never seen. But it was only Il
her pillow she confided. and in the deaf
ur night, that not until she saw the big
doctors protecting arm about the littl'
spinster did she take much stock il
that special providence. ."-Demoresti
Magazine.
Absent indedness.