Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-06-16
THE LAST ExPEDIENT.
By 4 BAsHrUL YOuNc NAN.

. ~ "oO ~ my IIttle seven OV
nine room, hemmed in. as it were by the
roar and tumult of the hotel in the prsv
gloom of the octuber evening.
All alone in the world; and there was
Jones IN the next room, cooling to his fat
baby; and L knew, just as we'll as if the
partition had beer glass instead OF lath and
mortar, just how Mrs. Jones was leaning
cheek close to his.
l caught myself wondering, in sort Of
ecstatlc state, bow 1t would seem If I were
married man, and there was little work
basket on my table, and pair of small
slippers alongside my Boots, and IL Isabel
Shows fair curls were glistening in the
light OF the gas-burner / couldn't stand
u another minute. Up / jumped, determ-
iDed TO 60 to Isabel's then and there, and
ask her if she wouldn't take the most miser.
aba OF lonely seamps for her husbandl
The cheerful parlors were in cosy glow
Ct gaelight aud fire shine; old Mr.. Snow
was dozing. as usual, with q red silk hand.
kerchief over his bald head; and Mrs. Snow,
with two other dragons in spectscles and
false fronts. was deep in the contents of a
mamoth 'DOrces basket each female ap,
parently trying to out talk the rest. Bless
them was thankful to Dorces basket
for once in my life! Isabel sat by a shad.
ed light in the back parlor, stitching away
at green worsted parrot in wilderness
of canvas upon little sofa that Just held
two, took the other seat, and we dis
coursed in mysterious whispering about the
weather. at length the conversation grew
TO close, and we were silent. Miss Isa-
bell! began, nervously lingering her ivo-
ry bodkin, and resolving to put an end to
this suspense.
Isabel lifted the long friDges of her eve
lsshes; the soft beam of her blue eyes made
q poltroon of me at once. :.
DON'T it take you a long time to finish
these elaborate pieces Of worsted work. /
suffered. E.. -e-
She msde some laughing rely. What
it was l don't remember, tor was mental
ly cudgeling myself as coWardly, sneak.
ing villain, and gOading myself on to
second charge.
Miss Isabel, / have been wishing to tell
you this long time, but never could screw
up my courage. that
Why didn't go on-wbat demon DOS
sessed me to stop aud fdget there, aud
finish the auspicious beginning with-'that
Pye decided to get new Panama hat this
sumner, just like that you thought so pre.-
tT.'
Miserable poltroon that l was. had
not even resolution to resume the CONVEX.
sation until Isabella herself commenced
talking about her lack Of occupation.
1 do get enDui,' sighed she, Just for
some object to absorb my attention besides
D0rees baskets and embroidery IS
Wh- IA I
90, and propose myself for the vacant post?
Because was blOckhead-isn't that rea.
son enough?
i am thinking Seriously said Isabel,
after she had put in three sparkling black
beads for the parrots eye, of adopting some
sweet little child to love and take care of.
Do you suppose you could inquire ronnd
at the institutions and fDd one for me-a
little boyP
: sPsFbaPs 50; at all events I'll try z quoth
!, suddeD f"eeiS~tiHn breaking through
the thick fog that surrounded my BRAN
Suppose ! look around ard call to morrow
evening?
't should be SO delighted .
When took leave, she laid her little
hand in mine; it was soft and warm, like
q lIly.petal stepped in sunshine. ANY other
man with particle of pluck about him
would have given it a squeeze.
The next evening, after two long hours
at my dressing glass, went braveIy to
Shows bospitsble domicile, determined,
not exactly to do or die. but to WOO or dieI
was desperate, and desperate man is
equal to most emergencies. The room 10.
to which l was shown was empty but lisa.
bePs workbasket lay on the table and close
beside was a small china vase, with a svray
of scarlet autumn leaves and bunch of
wild blue asters placed 10 water. Had some
miscreant of lover placed them there p
The bare possiblityset my heart to throb-
bling 6Dd inspired me with desire to
th-a ash somebody
A little football on the carpet-Isabel was
beside me.
We'll, Mr.. Anderson, have you brought
the little fellow | am to adOptP
Yes. Miss Isabel
of course it is boyP
We'll. it is a boy equivocated, but
oh, cbarmingn interrupted Isabel clap
ping Der bands.
lie be bright and intelligent
'ToleTably so; but terrible bsshful.'
oh, / shall soon cure him of that
'PVe no doubt YOU will, Miss IsabeI.'
Dear little fellow where il hep she
asked.
Don't say little. Miss Isabel; be is pref.
ty we'll grown for bis sge,' remarked,
enjoying the scene intensely.
Don't keep me in suspense = she cried
Il want to tErow my arms round him and
kiss him
Indeed, Miss Isabell,' l modestly an
swered, Il don't think you could do better
thing-donP let me stand in the wayv
But whore is hef
'IIerel'
I DONE understood you, Mr.. Anderson
Miss Isabel, am the person that wants
to be adopted Will you take me, not as
an orphan but as husband p
{ There it was out-and | was not bit
the worse for it. On the contrary I had
boldly put my arm round her waist and
drawn Ter so close to me, that her only
way OF avoiding my eager gaze into her
eyes was to hide them on my shoulder.
isabel-my only loEe--yOu will not
break my hearth
No. she whispered, under her breath.
Then promise you will be mineP
Isabel promised. She has since told me
that it was because she was surprised to
see the facility with which hitherto bash
tui man pleaded his cause, that she didn't
know what else to dol
Be that as it may, the kettle is singing
on the ire this bright evening, the parrot
hangs 10 gold frame over my writing ta-
Ole, and my lovely wife sits just opposite
With black eyed boy on her lap, scarcely
three months old, who entirely precludes
the necessity Of adopting any one else in
to the family.
don't envy Jones now-his baby isn't
naii as pretty as mine. And as for bis wife,
she's nowhere BY the side Of Isabel!
Dryden's wife complained to him that he
was always reading. and took little notice
Of her.
IL wish" said she, II was a book, and
then | should enjoy more Of your compa-