The suburban citizen., 1901-09-14


lngenlously altered to fit herself.
Her place, as defined in few
words by Mrs, Button, was to be that
Of a companion and reader. as the
| elder lady's sight was falling. Jessie
deeply appreciated her kindness. and
they soon became used to each other.
Within a few weeks of her entrance
into the household. Miss pallama, as
Mrs. Button always called her 70 the
servants. had made herself an indls-
pens0ble element TO the generous
lady's comfort and enjoyment.
Mrs Button, quick and keen OF OBJ
| servatlon as she was, had learned no
more Of the young strangers motives
than at first, only two peculiaritIes
having developed on her part. One
was her eagCrness to sean the news
papers; the other her anxiety to avoid
the front windows, and TO keep out
of the way of any but the members
Of the household
1t was in Difference to this last de-
sire that. after reading over her letters
one morning, Mrs. Button said to
her:
Jessie, my dear, am sorry to tell
you that l shall have 4 guest for a
week or two, because l fear his pres
ence will ban.sh you 10 your own
apartment"
Jessie changed color.
You are kind to console? ;lc, dear
madam" she said.
Mrs Button nodded.
Il am very fond of the young man
expect. His mother was my best
friend in girlLood, and her boy is very
dear to me; but We were getting on
with our readings so nicely that wish
his visit had been earlier or later"
Jessie answered her kind smile with
a look Of deep gratitude.
as he win be here to dinner, he
says. this is our last morning together
for little while, at all events
so pray let us enjoy our book"
True to his promise, the stranger
arrived half an hour before the dinner
hour, and was shown TO his room
like a familiar guest. He was young
man OF frank and attractive appear
ance, not yet thirty, and evidently
when in good spirits, what is general
! ly termed excellent company.
He was not In happy mental con
dition at present, however, as Mrs
Button, soon discovered,
why, my dear Milton" she ex-
claimed before they were half through
dinner, "whnt has become of your
appetite and your usual good humor?
You surprise ana distress me. l was
impressed by something sad in your
letter but hoped it was imaginary on
my part. Now, however, 1 see that
| you look Ill. and seem like one bereft
Of hope, and you tell me that within
this very week you have fallen heir to
q nice round sum from an eccentric
aunt who had lived a hermit's life"
That IL true. Mrs Button" an
swered Milton Arlington, "and Aunt
! Mary's legacy. lad 1t come earlier,
would have been the greatest blessing
l could ask from Heaven, since ii
would have given me the means of
marrying the only woman l ever did
or ever shall love"
And Is she now lost to you?"
He bowed his head, bit his lips
nervOusly, and changed the subject.
Milton Arlington had chosen his
profession rather late, and was a
preacher Of only one year and a half's
standing. He was thoroughly in
earnest, fine speaker, and was be-
ginning to be known; but his income
was yet quite small, and his private
means had been almost swallowed up
in building up his church.
A few evenings later he entered
Mrs Buttons drawing room, flung
himself, with a listless air, into an
easy chair. and looked at his hostess
with the dull, hopeless look that was
| becoming habitual to his fine eyes.
do you know. Mrs Button" he
said, Il am accusing myself of selfish
ness in remaining here. You are my
| mothers Oldest friend and owe it to
you to be frank, so l viii confess that
my object In coming was to catch
| glimpse, If possible, of--Of Jessie ST.
John, the girl loved, before her hand
was irretrievably given to another. /
was drawn by species of torment
l could not resist to haunt the outside
Of the mansion in which my favored
rival lives. 1t belongs to his father,
Jessie's guardian, and the maker Of
the match. 1 felt sure from the first
that the poor girl never favored the
arrangement, and that / could win her
If was rich enough to speak my love;
but remember, Mrs. Button, she Is an
heiress, ana what motive would be
given to 4 penniless wooer, as | was
! them"
But yOI are not now, Miltonr cried
Mrs. Button, eagerly. You have
money now: why need you fear 70
offer yourselfY'
1T Is too late-too lnten groaned the
young man. There was n wedding
mt the Jackson's mansion last night,
and she Is Jacob Jackson's wife now"
NO, no!' cried n joyous voice as the
door, and, to Mrs Buttons supreme