The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-08-04


..An' O. course shed oughter think
it over WELL" added Mrs. Marley.
"Oh, certainly-to be surel"
When Harry Ayenei came home from
the city that evening he found his
uncle in brown study.
Harry" quoth the widower.
''Yes. uncle"
.<'ve been thinking"
so / should conclude. sir from the
H-shaped wrinkle between youI
brows," laughed the young merchant.
''Well and what has been the topic OF
your meditations. Uncle Joe?"
why, was thinking what would be-
come of us if Mrs. Hawkhurst were tc
take it into her head to leave US.
Harry opened wide his merry hazel
eyes at the idea.
What made you think Of such
thing, sir?, he asked.
"Oh, / don't know. She has good
place here; but one couldn't expect her
to be cmtented with housekeeper's
situation always, Harry"
.fNo, to be sure not
"She has been very essential to our
domestic happiness, Harry" went on
Mr.. Avenel.
"Yes-I grant you that, Uncle Joe. .
"And | really don't know how we
could manage to exist without her"
Raise her salary, uncle" suggest
ed Harry.
NO. l hardly think that would ans
wer my purpose; but. Harry
Well, Uncle?"
Mr.. Avenel looked sheepish. Cant
you imagine any other way of keeping
her here?" he asked.
Harry stared at his uncle Mr.. Ave
mel felt disposed to give him hearty
shake for his stupidity.
"Oh!" cried the young man, with a
sudden dawning of lucidity over the
darkness of his brain "You don't
matrimony, uncle?"
Yes, do" quoth Mr. Avenefs stout
1y. Would you object, Harry?%
81 uncle?"
Because you are the only person in
terested beside myself-and her"
My greatest interest, uncle, is to see
you happy" the young man answered.
wrineing the elders hand. "And--if I.
too. should conclude to marry at. no
very distant day
why then" cried Mr. Avenel, gay
1y, we can all live together, just as we
do now. and be the happiest family in
the world"
And he went into the house, whist
ling as he went, John Anderson, my
10, john" as blithely as boy of six
teen.
Juliet Hawkhurst was standing by
the little side garden gate that evening,
thoughtfully watching, over her right
shoulder, of course, the slender silver
crescent of the new moon. Juliet had
certainly blossomed into perfect little
rose of maiden, during the years she
had been an inmate of Avenel place
She was fair-haired ard rosy, with long
eyelashes, deep blue eyes full of shad-
owed purple CLEANS, and a complexion
like rose-colored satin; and, moreover.
there was in her every movement a
self-posSessed grace and dignity of
mien that was inexpressibly charming.
Juliet Hawkhurst had been born a lady,
but untoward fate had made a house.
keepers daughter of her. AS she stood
there, leaning over the iron rail of the
gate, footstep sounded behind her.
t'Julietl'
She turned with a little rose blush
and smile she fain would have con-
cealed, and Harry Avenel came up and
stood close beside her.
Little elf, you thought you had
hidden away from me, but you see |
have contrived to find you out, even
here What makes you blush and get
SO confused?"
DO II" And Juliet fixed her gaze
very steadfastiy on the green turf at
her feet, where a single yellow dande-
lion was closing its eye of downy gold
for the night.
"Listen" eried Harry, triumphant
ly. I've got piece of news for you"
What is it,"
What should you think of step
father, Ell, little one?"
Juliet looked up this time in real aud
genuine astonishment.
"A stepfather, Harry"
"My uncle has confided to me this
evening that he thinks of marrying,
Juliet, and from all / can gather, the
bride is none other than your mother
So when we are married there will be-
nice little family circle of us, eh?"
And the most audacious young man
belted her slender waist with his arm,
and ventured to draw her little closer
to him.
"Oh, but, Harry, you are all wrong, .
cried Juliet, crimsoning and smiling
like June flower. IL meant to tell
you of it, but somehow the words
would not come to my lips. Your un-
Gle told me also that he had concluded
to marry again, and-he asked me to be
his wife"
''The-misehief he did" cried Harry,
starting back as if some one had
struck him a blow. "Youi Why, Ju-
liet, you are young enough to be his
daughters"
Perhaps am" said Juliet, meekly.
"And what did you tell him? You
accepted him, of course? He is rich
and am poor. and all the girls like
gold"
Harry"
"Tell me quickly. Juliet" he cried,
almost passionately. Don't keep me
longer in suspense
Il told him. Juliet answered, inno-
Gently, that had already promised