Smyrna times., 1901-10-30


btif1y; "fifty pounds yearly for nearly
five years. 1t is a nice little sum. Will
you please take it with her now?"
Leslie Thomas turned abashed from |
the scornful brown eyes and by way of |
diversion picked up the child, who beat |
him furiously with her little doubled |
fists.
Leslie laughed awkwardly and set
her down.
'She is a little mite" he said. 81
suppose she will not be the worse for a
little more cOddling. What do you say?
Shall we keep the peace for another
twelve months?"
The girl swept him a deep courtesy.
"My lord is gracious" she said, with
mock gratitude; and then, with n sud
den change of manner, she turned from
him. with a sob, and caught the child
passionately to her breast.
Emboldened by strong sense of du-
| ty, which had never troubled him be-
fore the interview with Evas good
friend, Leslie Thomas paid frequent
visits to the little villa at SevenOaks.
Miss Herschel was consulted about a
school in the neighborhOOd for his little
ward, her talents were discussed, her
toys chosen and her pleasures arrang-
ed, and in the mutual interest for the
child's welfare the alteration at their
first meeting was forgotten. and the
two became fast friends-nay, more,
for the fine color in Miss Herschels
cheek deepened to an alarming degree
when the familiar knock came at the
door, and, although Leslie Thomas had
as yet spoken no words but those OF
kindly friendship. his eyes We're uncon
sciOusly eloquent.
But silence could not be maintained
for long, and one day when Leslie haC
! accidentally met her returning from ;
r walk he pUrpOsely returned to the sub
iect of Il boarding school for the hap
less little Eva.
4 This time Miss Herschel maintained
+ her composure and smiled severely. Sh
knew her power now.
"Do you want to be saddled with tn
child all your life?' he demanded.
y IF you put it that way-yes."
: "But you may marry" this anxiOuslJ
u "In such an event." began Miss Hel
t schel, coloring and with a swift, III
n ward glance. "she would still lie in tn
5 care of her guardian"
d Then YOU would leave herr" aske
/ Leslie.
3 "Oh, no. She would still remain 8
!, my little daughter"
II This time her eyes were withdraw
for. with a burst of eloquence, Lesl
ls had caught her in a close embrace.
ID do you really mean it, ROse?'
> murmured at length. Can you real
le look upon me as a lover aftor-aft
le my rudeness to you and my brutali
c to that child|
er Eyes. | think | can" said Rose, SIN
u ing. "even after your brutality b
&c listen. and don't think me quite disi
s. terested with regard to little Eva. II
~ father was once betrothed to me-"
H. ITO you- said Leslie, suddenly ]
W leasing her.
'r- Yes, but you needn't be jealol
dear. 1t was Il most prosaic affair, a
an he afterward fell in love with and IN;
OF ried Evas mother who died, as y
1ll know. soon after the little ones bir
10 Perhaps it was natural for my pc
as Herbert when he knew that he W
'se dying to wish to place the little orph
'e' in my care"
Then you love the child for her
theirs sake?" said Leslie almost rese
40 fully.
me "NO; for her own and for his s
nS memory" said Rose gr1vely. "ls she
lily be your little daughter, too, or o.
er- mine?"
"She shall be ours" said Leslie, W
out some fervor. "She was the means
I'M bringing us together, and for that all
wv owe her a debt of gratitude l 81
never be able to repay"
We Except by being good to her and
lld' adopted mother for the rest of y
ing life" said Miss Herschel, lifting
ant lips temptingly.
'n And Leslie sealed the cOmpact.-I
ny Pictorial Magazine.
ner-