Prettiest of All

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1387, 26 July 1905, Page 4

Prettiest of All

: nvill';;;: ;: ! ' -ifesOLßlMßi-'YXNMR-VEaR iEXPRKSSBS HIS ■*' THANKS * * In tho afternoon, having had nearly three hours' refreshing Bleep, Clarenoo looked so much better that the pbjsioian pronounoed all danger past, aud said good uuraing, with no inedtoino fiuther than genlie tonics, would soon, aot his pitaent , onhisfoet again. The girls had a short interview with Clarence, but did not tell him of any of their lato troubles, and then thoy took their leave of him, promising to iJ come and see him on tno Dext day. He Bcetncd pleased and contented witb this promise, and they went to the housekeeper's room to got their shawls and hats, But> in tho meantime, Mr. Van per Veer had returned, and heard from the lips of the doctor what a wonderfully good effoot tho visit of the young women had . upon his patient, and his confidence now ' in his entire and rapid recovery. 11 1 never saw such a wonderful chanpe, t* sa'd the doctor " Clarence is all right now, hui I would noli liko to have these visits stopped Buddenly. If thoy oomo once a day it will relievo his mind, and ho will . get along nicely." - v " They shall come," said the rich man; " they shall come." And meoting them as they' wero going *<■ away, he said: i ' "Come into my library a moment, * young ladioa, I want to thank joa for saving my dear boy; for, aided by Heaven's goodness, I do feel that you saved him." " We need no thanks, good Mr. Van der ' Veer, for doing our duty. Mr. Claronoo was good to os in our hour of distress."' " Yes Voltay told me something of it. And he gives you the most exalted character too, lam glad to have it in my power to befnend you. Come h tho library, both of your; T want to talk with you a , Uittle." lhd girls could not refuso so kind an invitation, given so gently and respectfully. Bo'thoy went into the room, fall of large, r well-filed book cases, and with many rare ' paintings on tho walls: some of thorn tho r r work of the elder, and others tho work of ? ' the younger Van der Veer. And the old mastors were also reprebentcd, and 1 Maud's eyes brightened with true appreci--1 ~- 1 ation a 9 her glanoe rested upon them. " I love paintings, poetry, flowers, all , things of beauty," Baid Maud, impulsivot' ly. Thonas if recollectinghorsolf, she ',<, , said:"But we who toil for our daily < ■ bread see but littlo of such things," ' " You use ohoice language, as does youi f ' companion also. You surely have bad a chance to become educated, Your man ners—l say it without flattery-are thosi of ladies" " We have been both fortunate and un fortunate, sir. Both of "us had lad; mothers, refined and well oducated; n , that we were very fortunate, But the; 1 ( both are dead, and m that is our saddes misfortune." , '"You do not speak of fathers." 1 " 1 never saw mine; he perished at sea with my only brother, so my mother said while I was yet a little baby. Poor Grac lost her father only a year before he mother died, and poor Grace came to liv * with/ my mother and myself. We wer together when my mother died, have boei ever since. To our mothers wo owo all ou education, for neither of us have been t school. We, have used our needles fo support these last three years. It ho been ;bard work to ko6p up sometimei but Heaven has been good to ui, and w live." '•God will bless those who look up I ' Him for aid, my good girls. But wo o •arth, who are able, have something to c ii that aid, and you must not think would wound for an instant your delicac when for you and good little Grace I mal this present," , He reaohod out a large roll of bills, ui counted, for Maud to take. 1 She drew back blushing. "Good Mr Vao der Vepr, I acknov. > ledge that we are poor and I hope it is m wicked to be proud, but wo are "too proi to take any money whioh wt have n earned." " Miss Maudjyou and Grace havo eam< this money, tiet me explain. Two da ago on my return, I had called into coi sulfation with my family physician one New York's most famous doctot He told his opinion on my so: case. He said there was no hopo for hu I would rather die myself than to lo that boy, My regular physician, wl watched him in his delirium*, and hea him wildly call iwo namos( saw ono ho, onlv. If the persons who repre;enti those names could be found, peihaps thi might work a change" "I paid tbo great doctor his too lot tl

; ; BT JULIA EDWARDS. 'v ! :'-v »V •>•':•■:»,: : v :-' -

ohsultation, and two professional visits, m( I paid.it without a.murmur, though his ,j M words almost broke my heart. > Then - Voltay came, hoard,what l iny physician said, and told me (he could find you, He did, and. Heaven blessi him -for • it. .You' oame, .the ohange has been a wonder; the precious lifo of my boy is 6afe, and can you hurt lie by refusing so Blight a reooinpense - for so great a good ?", ~.' "Wo do not wish to hurt your .feelings, air." " Then take this money. Get better olotb.es; change your quarters, bring that mute friend with you—Vdltay'told me all about her also! Ido not ask you to come to my housD. for Clarence and Tare unmarried; you are.young and very lair And the world.w unjust. But you oan rent good rooms.in a safe aud healthy quarter of tho city; and if you will labor, Clarence and I will find occupation foi' jou, whioh will give you tiuio for reading and study. Yon love pninHngs—perhaps have yourself a tasto for art, and may bo come an artist. Lot mo bo truly a friend to you both and yuu will make me very happy."' "Wewill, sir," sobbed Grace, "Who could refuso such goodness?" _ '_ And Maud was so softened by his kind -, and earnest manner, his ovidautt bchb'o of } the great .benefit ho had reoeived from their visit, that sho accepted the money, which he again pressed upon her, saying: ~ "1 tike it, sir, in the-spirit whioh prompts you to press it upon us, aud I will apply it jnst as you have advised." "Thank you, my good girls, I feol so much relieved now. Come to mo to- { morrow, aud, after you havo ohoored up * Clarence, you and Grace come inhere and tell me all your plans. lam an old man, and I cauholp ybu. ; Monoy ,is so plentiful with me that'l cannot spend half my incoino; and when I seb jou iu » nice quarters, fooling contented and happy, a it will make me 'feci younger by years. g Ah I that look, Miss Maud -I have caught 6 it now. In the color of your eyes, the a general contour otyour feature?, your very t smile, you look very much like Clarence q did when be was well.'.lt is a most e singular coincidence." - Maud thought so, too; but sho, with Grace, now took her leave, for it was I growing late. £ But thoy did not have to walk homo. Voltay was there ■ with his carriage, and ho insisted so kindly on their riding that ■ tbey could not refuse, And to them it was 1 uxury to speed 'over the rough pavements in a softcushioned carriage, bohind twe thoroughbred hoses, so last that they could j scarcely count the houses they went by. . Maud was unusually thoughful and silent now, but tbo flood-gates of converse 1 , tion were for a wonder opoued to Graco, i j and she talked about poor Claronce aud i . his good, kind old father, evory minuto \ till the coach stopped before the door of the house leased by vinegnr-laced, eourhearted old Mother Flrqt. '