Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-01-26
A CHANGE OF HEART.

kum's only Brother had died, leaving a
son in his Charge. This son was Harry
Unkum, Il youth of great promise and of
glowing anticipations.
The widow was Mrs. Mary Folger. In
the other years she had not only been a
warm pc, oual friend of the Unkums, but
her estate joined the Unkum estate, and
she also owned a large share of the Fol
Ecrvillc mills. left her by her husband
while the rest of that valuable property
had descended to Harry.
1t had been the earnest desire of the
Unkum now deceased that his son should
wed with the daughter of his near and
dear friend.
Il am satisfied" pursued Mrs. EAgcr,
that Harry will never marry my Child
The very fact that his father and | have
had the moose so long prepared for him
inclincs him to avoid it. And yet l doubt
if he will find better wife. Lizzie is Il
good girl"
"Shc S an angel" cried Uncle Tim,
"and vastly too good for the graceless
scamp"
81 should not care so much" said the
widow f"clngly, only that Lizzie has
regarded Harry as the man who was to
| be her husband, and she has learned to
love him"
"And," added Uncle Tim emphaticaly,
Il am sure that Harry loves her, only he
will not bring himself to acknowledge it.
| Mrs. Folger, if you and Lizzie will come
and spend week at my house, think
can bring Master Harry to his senses"
"Now, Master Harry" said Uncle Tim
in nm abrupt manner, Il want one thing
distinctly understood. Mrs. Folger and
! her daughter will arrive this evening, and
| would know if you have any claim upon
Lizzie Folger's hand or heart"
''No. sir" answered the nephew.
"That is all. We shall now know how
to receive and entertain our guests"
Toward evening Mrs. Folger and her
daughter arrived.
Harry greeted her as an old playmate,
and after tea he sang with her and talked
of the bygone schoodays. But Lizzie
was not over and above sociable and when
/ in the bright moonlight of the August
| evening they walked out upon the piazza
/ she took his uncle's arm instead of his,
and he was forced to offer his arm to the
! mother.
On the following day Uncle Tim caused
his span of grays to be htchcd to the
light buggy, and as the team appeared at
! the door Lizzie came out arrayed for
ride Uncle Tim calamity handed her to
! her seat, and. having placed himself by
| her side, he took the reins and drove Off.
1t was late in the afternoon when the
grayS, upon their return, came prancing
TO the door. Uncle Tim leaped out with
wonderful agility, and, having handed
| Lizzie to the piazza, he kissed her upon
her dimpled cheek, eXclaiming in a most
cXubcrant manner as he did so:
BLESS you, my darling! You are an
angelw
And Lizzie looked up and smiled and
pattcd him upon the cheek in return.
Harry had been standing upon the pi-
nzza, and he muttcred something very
far from a blessing.
Daring the forenoon of the third day
Uncle Tim met his nephew in the hall
and called him into the library.
Harry, my boy" he said, with glow
ing face, Il have deemed it my duty 70
let You know that there is soon to be
change in our household. l am ging 20
| give it a mistress"
Il don't understand"
"Haven't you got eyes? What dye
suppose | brought Lizzie Folger here
for?'
do you mean that-that you are going
to make her your wife,"
"And what do you find wonderful in
that"
at your agc?'
at my age! What dye mean by that?
At my age. am only 52-in the prime
of life. was never younger in health
and viGor. Confound your impudence! \
girl of sense looks for supporter and
| protector in husband"
Harry began to open his eyes to the
true state of his own heart. The thing
which he had regarded as set apart espe-
cially for him and which he might take
into possession at any time he had not
been anxious to claim, but now that he
saw the prize in the hands of another he
was startled into new estimate of the
value of the boon he had sighted.
In the evening Harry followed Lizzie
into the garden. lie had resolved to do a
desperate thing and was prepared to be
plain and outSpokcn. He urged her to sit
down, and as he took seat by her side
he found her trembling.
"IIas my uncle asked you for your
hand"
"IIe has"
"And have you given him favorable
ansWer?'
"My answer has not been unfavora-
be'
ooh, Lizzie! I had not thought this Of
YOU"
"How? Not thought what"
"That you could thus slight me-"
"Slght you? do not understand"
"Ycs-yOu do ndPrstand-no-dOnt go
nway-don't leave me. l have loved you,
Lizzie"
"You-you loved me?'
Eyes. Here on my knees | confess it."
"IndcCd. Harry, you must not. YOU
YOU
lie was eloquent and impassioned, so
much that ere long LiZzic's head was pill
lowed upon his bosom and one of her
nrms twncd about his neck.
"And You will not give your hand to
my uncc|
'IIe never asked it for himself, Har.
ry"
what. not for himself"
"No; he asked me for my hand but it
was for you he wanted it,"
But" Gaspcd the lover, "what did he
bean by telling me that he was going to
make you mistress of his house"
Gle told me-" answered Lizzie, that
If ever became your wife should have
this old mansion"
"IIcllo. What's all this? How now?
What does this mean"
II was Uncle Tim who spoke.
Harry caught the situation at glance.
"IIncle Tim" said he, 81 surrender."-