The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-06-07

Msdgr's music hour was from $40 10
q and shs wouh net practice properly
unless her teacher would CONSENT 10
stay 20 dinner. Tho children all claim.
cd her al a llnared spirit and called
her "Ress@ for which they were stern.
ly and intellectually rsprimandsd hy
their ps~n,, who finally followed their
example and called her by that name
himself.
IN the month of July the Walkers
went TO their summer cottage on lake
some twenty miles from the city.
You need a vacation more than any
one said John Walker abruptly 10
Hess one day "Nou must ~ with na"
Thank you very much" said the siri
gratefully ~Irs Kind In you 10 ask mc.
but Of course cant accept"
why notT' hs demanded "Your
father IL going wcst ON an extended
business trip. and he won't need you"
Tho Girl hlushed. hesitated aud then
sald frankly;
why, you see, Of course. II would
FtHAlt hs hu iiknAs but VIVA sNu s"sWf
people would talk they wouldn't ap.
prove"
She began 10 founder In her explana.
tion, and John suddenly ccmprshsndcd.
Il see." he laughed. noddins. hut
you see you have como o. seem 20 mo
like one OF my own-my eighth girl I
call you-but | suppose you are grown
up enough for chapcron"
Il am twenty years Old she said
with dignity.
'Indeed A great age. Well. ! have
a second cousin, mock, elderly Wild
ow, whom tho children rule firmly.
presume she would like month or 30
at the cottage"
so II was finally arranged.
From that time on John Walker sud
denly regarded his chlldrcn's teacher in
a new light.
Il wonder II a beautiful young girl
like Bess could come 10 care for an old
duiYer like me-" he pondered. Il had
supposed that she considered mo an old
man.
A thrill stirred within him AZ hc
looked up at the fair young face gazing
happily over the waters Of the lake on
the first night Of their arrival.
"Bessl' he said suddenly.
But the children had also calle1
"Besn," and she was away for romp
on the beach.
"She is only child. after oil" no
thought, with sigh.
In the Walker boathouse was a cnnoo
which the children were forbidden to
use, but Bess one Sunday morning ven.
tured forth alone In II. She managed
II very skillfully. but ON her return "
sudden wind came up and made the
lake choppy. She had oil she could do
to keep her little craft right side up.
John Walker coming out on tho We
randa OF the cottage, saw her danger
and rushed TO the boathouso, intending
to row out after her, Another emotion
besides anxiety surged within him, ana
he knew now that he loved this play.
mate OF his children,
She was making great progress with
her tiny canoe, and ~ he rowsd out
from the boathouse she was landing nc
the pier.
II was very merry, winsome face.
alight with the excitement and danger.
that wns lifted 20 his.
In the reaction from his fright h0
was beginning 10 censure her when no
was interrupted by Madge, who had
appeared upon the scene and who In
stantly resented hcr fathers lecture.
"You shall not scold herf" sho cried
hotly. IL wanted her for our step.
mother, but I'll give her up II you
aren't going TO be nice TO her"
Bess turned red and pale by turns.
"Ill race you TO tho house, Madgc."
she cried, and they were away.
"Bess," said John softly when no had
succeeded In getting an interview, "ns
l said. I had thought OF you M my
eighth girl. don't want TO think Of
you as stepmotber, but do want
you to be my wife and companion to
the girls because love you. WIN you
try and care for mef'
The verdict OF the world was that
John Walker had eight girls now and
needed a woman In his house more
than ever. ~