The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-09

II think one misses great deal by being an
only child. There must have been no end of
lu1' going On among seven unruly brethren
sometimes"
Ycs, sometimes, you say; but it was not
Always Eun and the weakest had to go to the
vail and generally stayed there But we
were pretty good atured lot taken alto
sether believe and it's very pleasant to go
PACK tc the old home between voyages and
ma four or five of them there to make
things lively"
Yes very pleasant
And Hilda sighed a little
In all that bright picture of the beautiful
mouse and gay life before her, there was no
touch Of true LONELINESS, no tie of family
love, except her father, who was absorbed to
the eyebrows in business always; and just
now IL came across her mind how very much
she mad missed in her life in having had no
home-life at all to look back upon. Riches
could buy much. but not this sunny memory
ana. in this one particular Raymond Grant
while avowing his poverty, was richer far
than She
She was silent while she tried to fancy the
greeting that would welcome the sailor son
When ne reached his home and it seemed to
her that there must be a warm corner in
many of the hearts for the man who was
standing by her side with the sunshine from
the dazzling waters reflected in the dark eyes
that looked, to her, so steadfast and loyal
He turned them upon her suddenly as he
prepared to go.
Il hope I have not bored you past forgive
ness; but you should not have allowed me to
run on about myself and my people in that
shameless fashion, Miss Marston. I don't
know why l should have troubled you like
this
He raised his cap and bowed
MT. Grant" said Hilda, quickly as he
withdrew, and then she flushed and hest
tated.
She was about to rectify that little mistake
ne mad made in confounding her personality
with Nellie Marston's then she thought bet
ter OF 1t, and as he looked back with "a
You called me?
She answered swiftly
"No-yes-only to ask if you had practised
the sonata for tonight, Mr.. Grant? Not had
Tune? Wen, perhaps tomorrow, then''
After all, why confess herself the heiress?
She had fancy to make friend of Ray
mond Grant for she felt that he could be
true as steel-perhaps even warm and tender
II his friendship were won.
Robert Faversham had only during the last
TWO years been renowned for his luck in
speculation, and the great wealth he had won
thereby.
But, during those two years his daughter
blessed with a good deal of quiet. common
sense. and ready perception of character
mad had ample time to note some of the
effects her accession to wealth had had
upon her acquaintance; and many men and
women who had looked upon 'Faversham
the diamond merchant and his daughter
as very ordinary mortals, and had disdained
to cultivate them two years ago. were now
quite eager to call them friends and boast
of the intimacylbetw rsr ~ anln1
How many proposals she had received dur
ing that time she had never yet kept count Of
pul quite sefaeS' OF lmpecuniouS younger
sons, and gentlemen whose extravagant
tastes were far in excess of their modest ma
rlmony, and one two honest young fellows
VINO, undazzed by the heiress had been won
by the girl herself, had all received polite
refusal at the hands of Hilda Faversham or
her father; and now, at nineteen and half
Hilda was able to ayoW herself heartwbo1e
and fancy free.
castor Vlllefranche, with his old chateau
IN Normandy, and his handsome dark face
his ready wit and fascinating manners
amused and entertained her; but when he
had laid himself and his title at her feet in
strictly business-like interview with her
father, at CaIetown, that gentleman had left
the decision entirely in Hilda's hands
He had no objection to seeing his daughter
countess, although a foreign one: but he
MAD fancy that Hilda, with her undoubted
good looks and charm should find a prize in
the matrimonial lottery in London instead
He knew that CASTOR had very little be-
SIDES an impoverished estate and great
rambling country chateau and he was per
fectly aware that rich marriage was a nee
esslty to the man who asked him for his
daughter; but he some liking for the voune
Frenchman, and had left the matter in abey-
ance for another six months, before deciding
his fate definitely
Let the child have month or two of tho
London season, and see life Bit he had
said, as he ushered CASTOR from his study
1T will do her no harm; on the contrary.
1T will educate her for the position I intend
her to fill one day.
Then if you choose to come tn mo og.;r
when get to town. and Hida says Yes to
you, will consent to your marriage 7 can
give her enough to set you both UP in life in
very tair way, and know Hilda would be
GOOD wife to any man. although I saw jti'
And so the count, having more time on his
hands than he knew what to do with and
peihs IN no way anxious to return to Paris.