Democratic messenger., 1908-03-14

spoken to me about It. But last night
! couldn't help seeing it-there was a
diamond ring on her bureau In a little
white satin ease"
The professor beamed
"And OF course they'll go to house
keeping. Ramsay has always said that
II lie were married he'd have an apart
mcnt
There will he furniture TO see to.
and china and kitchen ware. but the
dear children are 50 cngrussed with
their love affair that they haven't time
for anything practical"
I'VE might look up the things before
hand. and then when the young people
nre ready give them the benefit of our
superior wisdom" the professor sug
gested
After that on Saturday afternoons.
he and Miss Eustis roamed to far parts
Of the city to furniture. china and pic
ture stores and TO brass shops down
on the east side.
There were bookstores. too. where
the professor reveled. What he ques
toned could give more cheerful as.
poets To room than volumes Of limp
red leather aud andirOns Of hammered
brass They even found an apartment
which combined the amazing trilogy
of chcnpness. beauty and light
II was when they were secretly re-
jolcing over this discovery that the
bomb fell. Miss Brent accosted Miss
Eustis at the hour OF klmonos and
candlesticks
"I'ye come TO tell you" she said sim
ply. that I'm going to be married"
Il knew II all along dear" said Ut
tie Miss Eustis. and kissed her The
professor and consider MIR. Sturgis a
splendid fellow"
Amazed laughter broke IN rlpples
across the face OF Helena.
"Mr. Sturgis" she cried. Why, how
perfectly funny! Didn't you know he
was engaged TO girl out west? He
told me so the first night ever met
him And he knows my tiance Mr.
Holbrook. That's what we used 10
talk about when we went walking"
tltll YOU were hoAhAub fN'i phA
Just frlcndsf" Miss Eustis' voice was
very faint She was wondering dimly
how she was ever 10 break the news
TO the professor
Nothing but friends" echoed IIele.
ma Brent and. with an odd little
twitch Of her lips she bent and kissed
Miss Eustis again.
At breakfast Miss Eustis intimated
10 the professor that she had some.
thing to tell him which was OF su.
preme Importance. and they sought
the nearest avenue OF the park.
Spring was In the land The green
grass was like verdant shadow on
the brown earth. and by the fountains
sparrows were twittering noisily. An
ungovernabe lump rose In Miss Eus
It's throat The only romance at which
she had ever assisted was at an end
Briefly she told the professor. while
he listened. agitatec. disappointed and
dismayed
"rhen It's all oyerT" he said.
"All over"
"And had thought OF them In their
own home with all the things We chose
around them"
"Oh. so had t."
The professor looked at Miss Eustis
He had been realizing of late how
pretty she had grown. with the deli
cate. fragile prettiness of late sum
mer rose.
: II came to him with sudden. star
Ting wrench that he would miss their
nothing else IN his meager lonely life.
There rose before him the vision Of the
house that they had planned together.
His hand closed over hers
Elizabeth" he said. "as matchmak.
ers we're distinct failure, unless
you're willing TO retrieve It by marry
Ing me For, after all. that house that
we dreamed OF is our house Our
hearts and souls went into It, not
! theirs"
She had meant to light the flame for
others Instead 1t had been lighted
for her. She gave the professor an H..
lumIncd look
Il believe 1t is SO. John" she said
softly. But. oh" she added n mo-
ment later, they'll say It was they.
not we, who made the match
Let them say returned the pro
fessor happily.
An important Parsonage.