The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1903-05-15

"Hetherington?'
Yes. of course, that Is it. Well
Nos u turns out that the man 5
wealth was All sham enc pretense.
lie has bee1 practically BANKRUPT
FOR years. and may thinA myself
lucky that ! was paid ny last term
bill. Or course. shall get nothing
for this term. but fortunately il has
Just commenced.
Then YOU nean that Winnie must
20 Out TO India.
That would be Wild goose
chase" said the schoolmistres with
=. little scornful laugh NO one
knows precisely what mas become OF
MIR. Gordon ~ least, ! have not
Le~n able 70 learn anything OF his
whereabouts. and / fancy more than
one ct his creditors would give I
good round sum 10 get his address,
Then wh"t is ~ become OF Win
ME: ="
THAT is inst what / would 50 very
much like ~ know. / hoped. when
the servant told me sou had come
TO inquire for her. that YOU might
have something 10 propose some
thing I'm the nature OF home 70 Of
fer hcr'
/ shook my head.
Then what is 10 become the poor
child I cannot imagine. She is too
young TO earn her own living much
too Young. J cannot send her 10 the
workhOuse. and yet / cannot be eN
pected 10 keep her here for moth
ing"
~, ono .,,...f.. ,,.,,.,la H., ~ ,,,,..
sonable as 70 expect that YOU would
voluntarily DO a thing Of that kind.
! exclaimed, and the lady looked at
me very sharply 10 see whether |
was speaking ironically before she
replied. Il must try TO get her into
some orphanage, but / fear il Will be
very Gificult."
A she said these words the door
opened and a girl OF about u came
sbyly into the room. She was not
StrilOingly pretty, but her expression
was gentle and sweet and she was
pale as from recent illness.
/ bcckoned her To come TO me. and
without noticing tho young man who
stood hat in hand behind the door
she came close % ny chair wonder
ing. no doubt. who / was and what
l wanted with her
Mrs. NIclrose considerably left us
to ourselves, and my temporary scrv-
amt drew a few steps nearer as soon
IS the door had closer behind her.
My dear" ! said. taking her BY the
hand. there is some one here who
is very anxious 10 see you."
She followed the direction Of my
her hands went up to her breast.
And She nest l knew was that they
were i'm each others arms.
l had forgotten all about The chan
Gerry division Of the high court of
Justice and lis ridiculous injunction.
but ID was scarcely worth remember
ing now when there was no one who
cared 10 enforce it, Perhaps if
had had the use Of my limbs | might
have thought it necessary to go out
of the room or ut least to turn my
back. As il was might have shut
my ewes. but this did not occur TO
me. j was most touching and beau
tiful to watch the innocent raptures
of the two young lovers. There was
no time for words. and il WAS plain
that they had a better language than
any verbal one \ broken sentence
now and then was all they seemed TO
need. The lads face was radiant.
his eyes burning. his whole frame
quivering with excitement: and as
for Winnie. she seemed to be literally
in great draughts Of happiness.
~ | looked I made mp my mind
"Hethcrington. my boy" said l.
'bc good enough 10 retire for a few
moments to the other end Of the |
room or outside of the door. which /
ever YOU prefer. Winnie, come here"
She came close up to me and l |
said. Give me your hand"
She put her slender little hand in !
mine.
Il know your story. my child, said /
l. but YOU do not even know my /
name. As YOU see / am an old man, /
at least compared to you. and Grip /
pie. / have an aunt who keeps house /
for me. Would YOU like 10 make |
your home with me. Winnie? Ii may |
not be for very long. for / can see
that the day is not far off when you |
viii want 10 hy away 10 q little nest /
Of your own. But till that time
comes will Won let me be your
father? l know just how You are
feeling about Ned there, but YOU
know marriage Is = serious thing and
there ought TO be some one 10 see
to things for You. VIII you let me
be that some one?"
Her bonny brown eyes opened
wider with surprise. and then a
pleased look came into them. Final
lv she bent down. rested her arm ON
my shoulder and lightly kissed me on
the cheek. London Sphere.