The Somerset reporter., 1897-09-09

requires no great erudition to under
| stand, but only, what is quite as rare,
a humble heart A certain saying in
that book, But thou hast mercy
upon all and winkest at the sing of
men, because they should amend,
came into his mind, and the trouble of
this poor circus girl was very real to
him. She wiped her eyes with gayly
bordered pocket handkerchief and said:
What would Idly do?"
The scholar pondered for a moment,
then said diftidently and with extreme
shyness: Il think that she would not
show that she minded; that she would
try to be always sweet and good tenn
pered and gracious, above all to Mile.
What 's-her-name. DON let him think
himself so precious, my child. We all
value what is hard to obtain. He's too
sure of you or he wouldn't tease you.
If you are wise and if he is worth hay
ing-if he's worthy of you and of your
good father-you'll find that all this
nonsense will come to an end as a tale
that is told. "
1t was long speech for the scholar
to make. He flushed little as he made
it, and the circus girl gazed at him ad-
miringly, exclaiming:
You are KNOWN old cove. "
The scholar shook his head and said
humbly: Il fear l am ignorant in these
matters. have only known three WON
EN- intimately in my life-my mother,
my wife and my daughter. "
us that what your daughter did
the young Idly as is just married?' she
asked eagerly
L don't know what she did" an
swered the scholar gently. And indeed
it was true, for the engagement had
come upon him as bolt from the blue
while he was thinking of Phyllis as
still in pinafores.
WAS she very ard to please?" per-
sisted the girl
Had Phyllis been hard to please? the
scholar asked himself He did not
know. 1t had not taken long to please
her, anyhow, so he said, Il don't know
if she was hard to please, but | know
that whatever she did was right and
sweet and womanly, and you can do
all that yourself, my dear.
81 wish | was Idly" sighed the
circus girl, but father says as one can
be as good girl in a troop as if one
was Scripture reader, q do l see as
you're sky pilot by yer ehoker What
do you say?"
II quite agree with your father. He
must be most sensible man, and
wish knew him. Believe me, circus
lady can be just as useful u lady as any
other if she will only try, and | am
sure you'll try. "
The girl rose from her seat, so did
the scholar She held out her hand to
him, and he took it, and the old man
and the girl looked into each other $
eyes.
"Goodby," said the girl 'Im glad
| came, though you are so iggorant
about love poshins. -"
I IN very glad you came, -" said the
scholar heartily, "and, believe me- you
need no love poshins. You are quite
charming enough without. The girl
flushed up to the roots of the furze
brush. Then the scholar said, "Would
you like some rosesP' The girl said,
Please, sir, " III the shyest, smallest
voice, and the scholar held the door
open for her to pass out. Then he fol.
lowed her across the hall and through
the open front door. He took his prun-
ing knife from his pocket and he cut her
a great bunch of the roses that were
famed throughout the county. Then he
walked down the drive with her. and
at the lodge gate he babe her goodby
She started down the road and then,
looking back and seeing him still stand
ing at the gate, she ran back, saying
breathlessly; Il wish you'd come and
see me ride. can jump through the
oops beautiful, can. should like to
show yer -
The scholars eyes were very kind,
but he shook his head saying: I'm
getting an old man, my dear hardly
ever go out at night.
But there's matinee-an afternoon
show, she explained, this afternoon.
The scholar wayered, then the be-
seeching blue eyes caught his and held
them. Phyllis would like me to, u he
muttered; then, Il will come and see
you ride this afternoon.
Il shall look out for you, mind, "
said the girl Don't you forget. "
The scholar did not forget-he went
Windsor Magazine.