"
"Ida," corrected the young lady.
"I mean Ida."
"That's right, Cousin Ben."
Now that Miss Sinclair's veil was removed, our hero could see that
she was very pretty, and perhaps he felt all the more proud of being
selected as her escort. But on one point he was in the dark.
"May I ask you a question, Ida?" he said. "How is it that you have
chosen me-a stranger, and so young-as your escort? I am only a green
country boy."
"Partly because I like your looks; you look honest and trustworthy."
"Thank you, but I am only a boy."
"That's all the better for me. It would not do for me to accept the
escort of a man, and it would be awkward for me to propose it even
if it would do."
"At any rate, I am lucky to be selected. I hope you will be
satisfied with me."
"I feel sure of it."
"You are spending a great deal of money for me."
"You may feel surprised that I have so much money to spend
independent of my guardian, but he has control only of the property
left by my father. My mother left me thirty thousand dollars, of
which I am sole mistress."
"That is lucky for you."
"Under present circumstances-yes."
Here two ladies entered the parlor, and the conversation was
suspended.
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