The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-12-11

vsrandah. Glancing furtively back, saw
that he was leaning against one of the pill.
lars, shading his face with bis hands.
At the garden gate met little boy. He
was the only child of widow''lsdy who lived
. short distance up the road.
Miss Crawford, he said, 'can have some
flowers for Map
Certainly. child. will help you to gath
er them. Is your mother sickS'
Yes ma'am; she is very lonesome. Won't
you come and sec her?'
Yes, will, Eddy. l shall 20 with you
right away.
The little fellow caught my hand; and a
joyous light shons in his eyes.
For two hours sat by the beside Of Mrs.
my heart. ! almost regretted having spoken
to Mr.. Emerson as did. During her long
illness, was constant visitor, and when
they laid her in the quiet grave, much of her
patience, md her strong Christian faith had
passed over to me ~ an inheritance for my
Watching.
l took the little orphan home with me.
became deeply interested in him, and in en-
desvoring to beausify his life, l beaut,fied
my own. surrounded myself with every
day acsualisiss; l stored my mind, sehooled
my temper; l laborsd with my hands; and
the quietness in my soul was my bountiful
reward.
Months passed on. Mr.. Emerson noticed
the change in me. lie did not speak to me At
all; but whenever l met him, there was q
kindlier glow in his eyes. One day came
up to him, and laying my hand on his
shoulder said,
'John, you may speak to me again. You
may say anything you please.
Mr.. Emerson caught my hand, and as
looked up in bis face, l, for the first time in
my life, thought him handsome.
Did do right? Did sacrifice any
pride?
We daily grew more and more intimate.
lie seemed to be silently moulding my char
acter. He directed my studies. He opened
to my view new sources Of profit and beau
ty sat within bis spiritual radiance, and he
was gradually becoming dearer to me than
life itself. 1t was something grand to lean
on one so stern, so just, 90 positive, and yet
90 kind withal.
'Kate will you be my wife?'
This was said SO abruptly, that startled.
I felt my cheek tingle, and dured not look
up into his face. 1t had come ~, last; and
just in the blunt manner in which nobody
but he would have said it. lie Was in every
sense a practical man.
Did YOU not tell me, Mr.. Emerson, asked
I, shat my love or my hatred was nothing
to you.'
| had not forgotten that. wouldn't have
been a woman II had.
Il did, Kate. That vas long ago. Your
love is very much to me now.'
Il am very sorry for this, john
'Why?' he asked in "stonishmcns.
because do not love you
'You do love me, Kate; warmly, passion
ately.'
There it was! The same positveness, the
same assurance.
'You loved me long ago, kate-nnd yor
know it,
1T is as much as l can do to pardon suci
presumption
lit is no presumption, Kate. You do lov'
me, and you will be my wife,
! This was the first time he had eve1
spoken to me either passionateIy or vehe
mently.
'Oh, denrn | sighed. Such n man as 20,
are! have no will Of my own any more.
tossed with my foot among the fallel
leaves for a fcw moments, and then looking
straight into his eyes, said:
'Well, John, will be your wife,
And this is the episode.