Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-01-17
TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, Pa JANUARY Ii. 1861 1s@

lO-mOffOW Is New ears, ana have
an offering to lay at your feet, my
little friend, that you may not alto
, gether despise. | haye'long--n 40
is.3 " Good afternoon y lds7sa as.T
.Nellie,s g y voice interrupted them
She was followed soon by her lover
and the tete0-tete was not resumed
1t was late before all the visitors had
departed and Nellie threw hei self al
her sisters feet s.a-esas .5 ..r
" Well, old Humdrum must see how
Harold and ] stand, and if he DONE
send me something nice tomorrow
he's too mean to live" "--E a.E-sF
4" Oh, Nellie, don't talk so" "aztgz
" Was he proposing, Aggie, as
came in ? l did not see him till it
was too late to get away, Or should
have kept Harold in the parlor a
while longer" ,raE .-g.ls
r." Please. Nell. .sr.s~ ... 20.
well, won't tease you You
are the dearest of all sisters after
all, and may be sure of the best
room in my future home, and all the
love your madcap. sister can give to
~, ~ l-9.,,-.l .rr.l1am- 4sE a-5raa
Thanks, dear but ] never can
consent to be dependent upon Mr..
Granville" ..- .......
Stuff and nonsense You may
sew your dear fingers off if that will
ease your conscience. Pm sure it
will be as well to sew for me and
Harold as for old Mr.. Lawrence"
But" ... 80 ......-.-
"There, don't say a word To-
morrow l will convince you by all
the rules of logic that il would be
barbarous cruelty to desert me, but
now Pm too sleepy. Good night
But by the way, won't the old maids
tongues run ? Harold and / will be
served up all over the village with
pepper sauce. Good night. Pleas,
ant dreams to YOU" ..... .. .....
And of what was Mr.. Lawrence
thinking in these same long hours,
when he tossed upon . sIecpless
couch ? He was recalling hours
spent with his own world hardened
heart, now grown soft and tender in
the light of Agnes snHile'and the mu-
sic of her voice He was thinking
of her pure Christian patience, her
resignation to suffering, he quiet in
dustry, her unwsvering cheerfulness.
Then he thought of his new home,
whose large rooms were furnished
and ready for occupants, and he fam
cied her presence making the house
home, her taste adorning the rooms
and her smile, welcoming the master
when he entered and less selfishly
he looked forward to the life of ease
and rest he meant to offer her restor-
ing the light to her eyes and the
bloom to her cheeks. aH u aaa#s. al
New Years day dawned bright and
clear. The sisters were seated in
their little sitting-room after break
fast, when Mr.. Lawrences' servant
handed in a small package ..
Upon being opened it was found
to contain a set of diamonds of ex-
quisite purity, beautifully set, tiny
note for Helen, and letter for Al G.
mes. u.H at laa fas.aas l
"Oh, Aggie are they not superb?
And for me see, my name Is on the
card inside. But and, as she
read, her cheeks grew crimson, {" is
not this spiteful?" and read aloud
"Will Miss Helen accept the ac-
companying jewels, if they are hand
some enough to save old Humdrum
from the charge of meauness p -
Read your letter, Agnes. Of
course, as he sends you nothing, he
offers you himself as a New Years
gift" ...r.. f. .-a.1 r.H--
There was a long pause, then
cry from Agnes -.. -.-sl
God is very good to me I
What is it, Aggie ?" r A
Sit here, Nellie. Do you remem-
Der how often father and aunt lizzie
used to speak of our uncle ?" .a.-
The one who sometimes sent us
presents from Europe, Asia or Africa
as the case might be 2" .U
Yes-look p and she pointed to
the signature at the foot of the let.
ter.
Lawrence Hastings" read Nellie.
You don't mean" ..'-s'-ti1''
Yes, Nellie, yes. Our own dear
uncle, wanted to win our love before
he made himself known. And Nell
lie, the house On the bill, the new
house, he has settled it upon me, with
an income of two thousand year
for life, only asking me to let hun be
my guest there" 'aE"- doll
And you consent ?n a.a .sl ass
He was there in the doorway ask
ing the question. g a ar-avlf5-
Nell looked up with comical look
half terror, half penitence.
=" am sorry" she said advancing
to meet him. ---g IN. e
He kissed her tenderly. " Never
mind perhaps I am a little prosy.-
You will stay with us till you are
married, aud l promise yoH as hand
some a trosseau. as New York can
furnish /; but here" and he turned to
Agnes, "I look for some comfort af-
ter a lonely, wandering life" ~ a@14 =
She gave him fearful but happy
smile. aE r.Eu aast1 asifzua lsi&.
You love me, Agnes 7" he said
gently. L....--.l ..- ..... 49,.
+" AS fondly as you can desire" -'
"Then you will accept my offer IL
Come, the. carriage is at the door,
your home is now ready fer you. ~ !.
invited Harold to dine at the new
house today, SO you viii come at
once, to make a home and the be-
ginning of new life for "Old Hum