The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1897-07-22

in no hurry. will wait for you to com
posi- yourself"
colorcd guilty.. My heart was nut
tcring in very breathlcss way indeed.
10 strive to compose" myself, whilst
my step'faiher sat watching me, was a
hopeless task; know it was hopeless;
every effort only deferred the desired
effect. ! crossed my feet. then hastily
increased them. pushed back nv hair,
then fol led my hands and tried to look
unconscious that my hair was rough.
And my stcp-father all the time sat
motionlrss. Now and then, at inter
walls. his lingcr-tips tapped on another
soilly; but that was the only sign of i'm
patience that he made. Ills brown eyes
regarded me with a critical hut forbnar-
ing glance; his large, palo. clean
shaver face wore an expression of con-
scions gcntlcncs, and patience.
81 have two very important pieces of
news TO break TO yJu, my dear. But |
have no wish to excite you Sclf-con-
troll, Mabel, is one Of those elementary
virtues without which no character
worthy OF admiration or esteem can be
built. Your poor. dear mamma do
not wish to blame horny strp-father
broke OF and 81 shrd indulgently ~ do
not wish to blame her for your brinr-
lny-np; the w;sest OF us som times err,
and her errors must be plrd )nc |. how
ever much We must regret them. For
your sake mist re rrot tn em ii ,ploro
Lhrin. She undervalucd those h lbits of
sell control which, inculcatcd carly,
ire Inc m 'st helpful factors in proluc-
~ womanly ch iractcr--slich a char
ctrr aS--as. for in ,tancc, our Cousin
Mab"fs strong yet submit ;sivo. sclf.ro-
liant yet dependent, digniilcd yot
meek"
My stcp-fathnr's glance wandered
away from me; he smiled brnignIy. re-
Meeting on virtues which hal not
III had had tho supervision of ynnr
carly education" he sighed. after Il MIN
ute. you and your sisters, Mabel, wonld
have learnt in the nursery, in carly
hnhyhood, those habits which You now
ind It, well.nigh impossible to learn.
Your mind is fussily strong my dear
rNcnsc tho expression. You have no
mental tranquility. Even nj this mo-
mrnl yon are excited and inpatient. l |
nave. as saw Two important pieces Of
news 10 break to yon; bat w.ll wait fo, |
iiv' minutes ar so. Lnlil you have COM
posed Yourself II litIc and cease 10 iidrct |
in iliai nervous manner"
Perhaps the minnlcs that passed he
Tore my step father again addressed me
wer" In actual number only five; know
that they seemed like thirty
You arc saycntccn, Mattel If 7 ro
member correctly" he said. at last.
hrcaking tho sirncc; 'scv,ntccu. ixc
months and live days. Correct mo il
am no exact"
Yes papa. was seventeen on the
first of May"
Nnnngl young" ho mnscd. regard
my me with gentle disfavnr But yoi,r
mother was younger when she married
lrSl. Mabel. my love, have yon oyer
lh"hghi much upon HE subircs of of
we'll may say of marriage, y abcl?"
The question was confusing. IL
ion't know. papa" ! stanimcrcd.
"fnii don know?' he repeated, toll
'rantly. with faint very faint amuso-
n'nl. That Is II very youthful answer.
on are OIL enough, at all events, to
lavo realized that it would ho dcsira-
Die that some OF yon should marry.
our poor dear mother lronaht mo
argc and expensive fnmily: and al
h"ugh have stiivcn To stand in Tho
'la'r OF father 10 you all. and although
Halter myself that my devotion and
'al lrnce have been even more than par
nial yrt yet my purse is hut slender.
laicl, and Twill certainly he cxprdi-
AT mat some of you, at least, shall
marry"
"f yes" answered, doubtfully and
agucly.
II shall be glad il you will toll mo.
ny uoar. u You have any partiality--
aspect esteem- for any person in par
icular?" ;
sasped. did not laugh. though NV $
h"uEhiS flashed forward to the mcr,y q
In'r should presently enjoy when tho 5
Judy door should have closed behind S
IT, and, ont of NV stcp-faihcr's carshot. y
no girls grouped in easy but inclcrant O
ltitudcs around me, | should rcnrat "
MS speech dramatically to an apprcci. n
ave- mlrth'ul audience. by and "
mybrilliancy would he applaudcd II
or tho present. was dumb. G
nd my dumhncss. no doubt. seemed n
olish to my step parent whom words y
svcr failed. {
- bel eve asked you question. y
abel, he oh 'erved, with an air of al II
ost pious patience. n
~ yes papa" a.
~ am waiting, my dear, for your
,swcr.' o,
ne might wait forever ] was meek q
my st"p-fathcrs presence: answered
M III Il small voice, never dared 10 IN
ntritdict him but in Il silent way sc
nld be obstinate. Did he cxpcct mo m
tell him tho secret which was minc hi
own, unshared, which even the oirls al
not guess and never should ruoss
III he guessed it? the thought made We
heart stand sui; forgot my fcas of an
N ana glanced sharply and suspi. SD
'usiy INTO his round, white face.
Our Young ncighbor at the Codars Sc
been often here OF lato.-
You mean Ned?" intcrrogated. in n IN,
'rlcss tone. had thought possessed !
nc dramatic talent, but that careless sii
IL cost me gigantic effort, and, after
. the effort was discernihlc. know en-
flushed. grew hot. then cold.
4 mean Edward Barnet YES. ASH
served, he has been often here of OPP
g."
lie always comes whom he's at home AZ
Sclnimed, hastily. "IGc always did. Az,
comes because he has nothing else TO
llc-he likes 10 come" I'm
Certainly. | have no wish to disputc oa'
"