k. The poor woman had
never dared to dream of owning such a thing. Her heart stood still and
she turned and took Nora in her arms, kissing her fondly. Then she shook
Mr. Casey's hand as though she would never stop.

"Mr. Casey, you are too generous. I have always loved sables, but I never
expected to own a set. I don't know how to thank you for your kindness."

"Say nothing about it," replied the man. "Nora and I consider it a
privilege if ye'll wear our gifts, don't we, Nora?"

"Indeed we do," replied the girl. "There are so many things that you do
for me, Mrs. Hollister, that money can not compensate."

Ethel was now eighteen. One evening Harvey Bigelow invited her to the
theatre. On their way home he asked her if she ever could care for him
enough to become his wife.

"Oh, Harvey!" gasped Ethel, "I am so sorry. Why did you spoil our
lovely friendship? I'll have to answer 'no,' and I dislike to hurt
your feelings."

"That's all right, little girl," said Harvey, swallowing hard. "I was an
ass to even imagine that you could care for me, but you see I'm coming on
so well that I shall soon put out my sign, and I felt that you might be
such a help to me; that is, if you could care for me a little bit."

"And there are so many nice girls," she said, "waiting for just such a
good man as yourself."

"But, Ethel, I don't want any girl. I want one. If I can't have her I
guess I'll stay single. Anyway, I suppose a man needs to practice a lot
before he marries. There's a couple of years in the Hospital. But I'm
glad I know the truth, Ethel. By Jove! it's off my chest. I've tried to
speak of it before but I couldn't."

"I wish I could say 'yes,' Harvey; but can't we still remain the good
pals that we are?"

"Why, sure," replied the man, and he took her hand. "A man needs a woman
friend, don't you think?"

"Yes," replied Ethel, "and I hope to prove my friendship for you."

Ethel never spoke of her proposal, nor did Harvey; but there was a firmer
bond between them than formerly.

Patty wrote often. "You never saw two people so in love as Papa and
Kate. It is wonderful and remarkably right. I only feel sorry to think
that through all of these years they might have been so happy, and I'm
sure papa kept single for me. How selfish daughters are, Ethel; and at
the same time how little they realize that they are selfish."

Ethel folded the letter and said:

"What she writes is true. You and Papa might have had all of the