The Republican., 1900-11-29

them after; but, don't know!"
/ "A trial has come to us in our first
happiness, Aunt Roey," said the young
man. ''At least | feel it almost more
of trial than can go through. AL
thea is very brave. She seems to think
we have love enough to bear up under
it, some way"
| what does he mean, Althea?'
"We came over to tell you about it,
Aunt Roey. Wilfred's brother, who
died last year, left his little girl to his
charge. He has just found out about
it. Her grandmother has been keep
ing it from him"
"She wanted to keep the child with
her, but she has grown very feeble in
the last few months, and, suppose, as
am to have a home, she decided to
let me know" Wilfred replied.
How old is the child?" asked Aunt
Roey.
Twelve years DID, said Althea.
The most difficult and disagreeable
age. When did you hear about this?'
Not till yesterday. We sat up half
the night talking about it and think
ing we never could undertake it.
want you to go over and see mother.
She is simply wild over it. She even
wants me to give up Wilfred entirely"
"When does your charge come to
you?" asked Aunt Roey.
"That is the tragedy of it, Aunt
Roey; she says she is coming to our
wedding" said Althea. 1--WE are not
going to have each other at all! She
will be here tonight"
"Oh. she is good one!" Wilfred
! laughed. 81 know what a self-willed
child she was at five years old. l
haven't seen her since, but imagine
she has made steady progress
Here come the girls. said Althea,
looking out of the window.
Althea's three sisters came in the
gate between the hedge and marched
solemnly up tie walk and into the
room.
"Howis mother this morning, girls?'
asked Althea. anXiously.
"She says we needn't go on with
your sewing until Wilfred has disposed
of that child" replied Carolyn.
Aunt Roey rose and went to the
door. Children, stay here until re-
turn" she said.
Mrs. Winthrop sat in her darkened
room nursing her thought of the bur
den that had come to her daughter on
the eve of her marriage.
"Now, Roey, you needn't come over
here and argue with me!' she said, as
| her sister came into the room.
81 should never have consented to
Althea's marriage, when she is so
young, but for you
And you must listen to me now
Charlotte" said Roey, drawing a chair
to her sisters side.
"It will not do any good for you to
talk. | will never consent to my baby
| being burdened in this way. | was
reasonable. l asked Wilfred to have
the child boarded somewhere. but he
says she must be with him. l should
think anyone could see his first duty
is to Althea."
There is a perfect understanding
between Wilfred and Althea. She has
consented to their having the child
with them. Do you wish to rob Al
thea of happiness that you have
been denied?''
81 do not know what you mean"
"If you had ever had the unselfsh
love for anyone that Althea has for
Wilfred you would be a stronger wom-
an than yoI are"
Althea's mother got up quickly and
walked to the window. She stood
there motionless and silent for a long
time.
Tell the girls to come back and go
on with Althea's sewing" she said,
gently. 81 always have forgotten my
self for my children, Roey."
you are forgetting yourself for
them now, God bless you" Roey re-
piled, and hurried away.
1t was dusk when the train drew
up to the little station at Saranac.
Wilfred and Althea, who had come to-
gether to meet their charge, saw her
first as she ran down the long plat
form toward them.
Uncle Wilfred!" exclaimed the lit
tie girl, and threw her arms about
him. so, o you look so much like
papa!"
Dora, this is Althea,' Wilfred re-
piled.
The child stood tiptoe and
scanned Althea's face earnestly.
isn't she pretty, Uncle Wilfred?
was frightened to pieces to see you!"
she added. And you are not sorry
came to the wedding, are you?
Grandma said you wouldn't like it if
I came. I had real tussle with
grandma to come, and finally l had
to run away"
Wilfred was silent. AS the child
walked on before them to the carriage
he pressed Althea's hand.
"I've a good mind to ship her back
on the morning train" he whispered.
so, no; you couldn't do that!'
eyes, l could. 1t will do her good
to refuse to uphold her in such dis
obedience"