The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-09-13

had actually come 10 see her tiny Miss
Hetty grew pink 20 the tips Of her lit
tie ears until Mrs Wilmarth found her.
self wondering II Il could be possible
that Miss Hopkins We're really pretty
attef al. While the clear.eycd matron
watched the delighted hostess and her
big, handsome brother as they quite
forgot her over their tea-cups and the
famous pictures a sudden new Hight
came into her eyes and the match
making spirit inherent ln every happily
married woman quietly began lis dex-
ferrous work
Things went on famously. II was
the major who advised that the collec-
ton u paintings be- kept for a time
and exhibited one day IN the week for
the orphans. When Miss lletty shrink.
lngly demurred be- pointed out that the
children would be- the galners In the
end. and ~ she relented That winter
Z found the whole nelghh0rhO0d In the
throes of an extrayagnnt social whlrl.
for there was an unusual number Of
/ pink aud white debutnnies. with the
/ Etill more unusual accompaniment OF
handsome. eligible men. Before she
knew Il Miss Hopkins found herself In
the very midst OF the mad Iolllty. even
/ laying aside her allhlack gowns for
those with hints Of violet about the
throat and wrists. No tea was quite
perfect without the dear little artists
I presence. no girl felt quite satisfied II
I she had not had a chat with Miss Hop.
| kins between the dances. aud even the
/ hroad.shouldered. ircsh.yoiced boys
/ liked Ia creep into the s0ftly-shaded
] little studio 10 accompany lts owner
/ home al dusk. Her Monday after.
moons grew famous aud the orphans on
the corner had enough new shoes and
quilts aud real puddlngs for Sunday
/ dinners 90 make item eyerlasilngly
grateful Ia the happy hearts Ia the tiny
| brown house ou the next street
Miss Hopkins always had the pretti
T est girls IN town 10 pour on these ocn.
sions. and generally someone with a
really good voice ~ an unusually skill
ful touch On the violin could h. found
a. make music Then. too. the pictures
themselves could bear repeated visits
Tor the poor. sweet old man grew very
dear 90 them all now that be- was not
there In the flesh 10 trouble them. Fur
thcrmorc. u was almost az good as 60
Ing 90 confession 10 creep up. Silly
aud gently. before the last Of them all
where Miss Hopkins always kept u
bunch Of fresh violcts standing be-
meath the sweet little canvas, with NJ
live morning glories aud lbs sleeping
man.
And then. the best thing Of II all q,
little Miss llctiy. was the major. IA,
tall courily major. who was NJ attent
i've 10 her and seemed Ia enjoy being
with her more than any man ln al bel
life had done When a woman wait,
until she II thrty-slX before she loves
the result II going 10 b. terrible In 10.
intensity. Mrs. Wilmarih saw II. aud
tremblcd excepting for the fact that
her brother really seemed Ia see no ON,
else but Miss lietty. except. Of course
the girls-nll that seasons buds VIII,
I locked about the major because b,
was ~ different from ordinary men
Miss lietty knew u. aud held hei
breath The boys aud girls saw H.
aud smiled glccfully In fact. every
body seemed e. recognize II except N,
man himself. who went blindly on
heaplng poor, fuitcrlng Miss llcit,
with compliments aud making opef
love to all The young iris who CAV,
him his tea. and sat IN opeu-eyed AT
mlmtiun AZ be- related his thrilling sto
rles Of army life on Western plains
HUT nc last. even the major knew II
and his great. manly. lnnocent hear
felt like lead II was one hlustcrlns
evening late Ia the winter. aud thai
mighty military man was tiampng val
innily along the street on his way q
MIS-. Wllmarth's Hut ns be- parsed thi
little brown cottage be- noticed th,
light within and. turning ~ the nm
even hoaul walk be- rang the old.fash
ioned hell hmyely: Tor the puzzled ma
jur had all NJ once made q mighty ~
solve. aud when be- once decided 10 4,
thing be- never rctWaied, whether 4
was to take an enemys camp or hmv,
q woman.
Strange To say. he found Miss Ilett,
alone there la the warm. rusy litll,
rOom. with IT. queer old china. giIstcn
ing silyer. odd pictures aud rich. rus
set-hound books The tiny little host
ess saw the detcrn lhation Ia her call
eT's face. aud sunk into her deep chair
knitting her beautifully kept fingers Ia
gcthcr In desperate hope and fear.
The major refused the proncrtl tea
almost gruiiiy. thrust his hands int,
his pockets thled another chair. an,
finally strule across tO the tiny, low
window. aud with his hack hrnyel,
turned toward her, he began:
MY dear-fricnd. l-er-l want
ask you something tonight feel tia
we have known each other well enough
Tor me not 90 be- afmld now. Nv deal
Miss-lle lefty" nnd he wheeled about
facing her ~ abruptly that she almus
gasped. tell me honestly. as though
you wer speaking Tor yourself tel
me. am too old to marryY
She had been looking for Il 10
months hut when Il came she felt thl
little hrpwn house rDck cruelty. IN,
upeu tire. against which her great
handsome maio- was outlined Ike
magnificent Ock Of rfurc. swan be-
lNlf htl, uhu utf NMh voice rNpliltt
miles away when she finally foun,
courage 10 answer:
I'VE love with our hearts. major. an,
our hearts never grow old"
She saw the fine. strong face beam
aud he came tn her very close.
seemed 20 her. although she could no
have put out her hand aud tuuchc,
him, and the soft lamplight Tell on Ill
beautiful silver hair like a holy henc
dlction. lmmediicly her thoughts wen
back 10 that faroft day OF long agu
when this same hair was heavy am
brown aud he had kissed her
Then his voice recalled her % IN
present. and she heard him say:
You can never know how glad sol
have made mc by saying that: IA
there Is no woman In the world who's
opinion ! value morc Stlll. Ia an m,
doubt this winter I have often fcarel
that Il would be- wrong for me to tab
unto me n wife. ! have. maybe. onl
very few years yet 10 live" he added
looking at her appcalinrly. And agai