The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-10-21
T WIS a

cart. But my mother died when was only
sixteen, and my father was going TO marry
again. did not like the looks of his intended,
so l thought L would get place before she
came. and have no quarrel.
f" There was very nice young man, appren-
ticed TO builder, living close TO rs, and he
used always to walk with me OF Sundays. He
was three years older than /, and coming out
Of his time He was always wanting me to say
l would marry him soon rs he could make 4
home for me and dare say, ma am, gave
him too much encouragement.
!" soon got place some miles from c.,
and only SAW him now and then for 4 little
while on Sundays until one day he came very
smart, quite 4 buck, and asked me TO come
out: so | got leave. And then he went on
more than ever; how he had served his time,
and had good wages rs n journeyman, and
could do very well for me, and soon he should
be master himself, and SO on But said
- John, | respect and love you very much,
and should like 10 be your wife, but we are
very young and you've got nothing, nor
neither, ana nothing but grief could come OF
it,
Il was wrong ma am, rs 1t fell ont, and
I've often thought so; but thought did
what was best then. He was very angry;
could not help that. And when l would not
alter, says he:
.. Miss Bunker he had always called me
Polly before you know Miss Bunker, if you
won't, some one must, for am going TO marry
directly.
:" So said, plainly, Pray marry when you
like: | shall always love and respect you.
"And about two months after, he married
4 very respectable girl, and made 4 very good
husband, and got on in business TO have seve-
raj houses of his own, and had six children,
boys and girls. / was always friendly with
him: and fourteen years after, when Mrs.
Wake was dying, l nursed her Tor tnree
weeks, poor dear. and laid her out. John,
who had always been very kind 10 her, seemed
sorry hut didn't think he cared so much
about losing her rs l should have expected.
"Wcll, about six weeks after, was staying
with my aunt 1t @, when he comes III
and SAYS:
".Polly, you know never loved anybody
but vou You can't say can t keep you COM
Portable; so you'll have me nowE But l
said:
No, John, 1 can't. could never be 4
stcnmother 10 YOUR children. l might have
children of my own, and then folks might
think | made Il difference.
:. He begged me very hard, but would not
hear of it. I'd had four oilers, and got used
to saving no. But never felt rs if l could
marry any one but Mr.. Wake. So he took up
his hat, gave me Il kiss, which let him do,
and said, Just rs he said when he first asked
me:
go If you won't, some one else must. want
Il mother now for my poor children.
:" / was glad TO have it over, for it was hard
work.
u thought had better go away; so I got
n place in London us ladys maid. l got t
from seeing it in the Times 1t was good
place-a nice young lady living with her
uncle. They had 4 fine place in Berkshire,
and travelled Il good deal, and stayed about III
great houses: but before the year was up my
young lady got ill, and it turned to consump-
ton We went To- Nice. She WAS 4 sweet
Young lady: but il was the same old story
weaker and palcr every day more gentle and
more loving and her uncle breaking of his
heart. He was very good man, ana sal mp
all night with her once or twice week; for
lie used 10 turn ME out OF the room and make
me 20 to bed sometimes.
..At last she died and was buried there.
Master shut himself up FOR about fortnight
in his room, and no one saw him but MIR.
Wabbles-that WAS his own man. Somehow
or other her came TO know that master was
going on TO Rome-that'S the great place for
PapiSts, you know. ma'am-and l did not
want TO go there. Besides, | only wanted TO
see the master TO let me leave, as l wasn't
wanted any more there.
''At last he sent for mo mp to his room, and
he did not say as he used TO in Miss Eliinor's
room, Sit down Polly He hardly looked
up, but just said
80 Polly, l shall never, never forget your
goodness to Eliinor. II any woman on earth
could he 4 comforter in life and death, it is
you; will you be my wife and comfort me
- was 20 taken aback, ma am, that don't
know exactly what ! said but | soon came
round. and told him how much / respected
HIM, ana ltll sTlttlul, DUl Ill'lL 1 CONltl not
accept Il station in which | should always be
looked down upon. and for which l wasn't
lit ] told him il could not b., and the best
proof OF regard ! could give him would be
never 10 say what he had told me, and 10 pre-
vent him doing ANYTHING so rash while h. was
so cut up about dear Miss Ellnor ; and then
could not help crying myself, and ran out OF
the room.
Mr.. Wabbies met me crying in the pas
sage, and thought lie had been listening At
the door.
"sWky. Miss Bunker. you havnt got your
warning after all you ve been doing OFF,
- Yes, | have, says l.
't And what has he given you for II"
"'Mr. Wabbles, he hasn't given me any
thing at all
"'Oh, what Il shame says he I'd ask
him if | was YOU
:. SO | saw he had not heard.
1.-TWO days more passed, and he sent for me
again.
=. Polly said he, II know you are right,
but shall never meet with your like. will
say no more about ii. But you must let me
show you that have appreciated services no
money could ever pay for. You know would
have given you other proofs
'''Sir, | said, i want nothing but my
wages l am too proud, and have too mu oh
regard for you, To let you he reproached on my
account: but l am not too proud To accept be- |
n"iils from yoG If you wish it
so h" paid me my wages, gave me twenty |
pounds for my Journey Ct told Mr.. Wabbles
iha;J and then gave me a letter and said
When you get to London give that to
MesSrs. - a., and then wait for al an
sWer.'
II got safely to town. and next day went to
McssrS. - x -. and one of the clerks took
The note and l saw the gentleman. And he
said he had got an annuity tor me OF forty
pounds Il year. l have IL now; but l never
knew it ill that minute, and never thanked
the master for it, The letter wrote him came
back to me. He went to Rome, took 4 fever,
and died in about 4 week.
- used 10 hear from John Wake every now
and then. He soon found Il very decent
woman for his wife. She had no children, and
took care Of his, and brought them up very
well but she knew AL about me and him
somehow and she wasn't like his first wife,
md didn't like me, and J think that made
him write less often. ! could not make up my
mind 10 marry, for plenty would have liked
my annuity, and L wasn't SO plain then
neither. And | got into family did not
like so / took TO nursing, and spent year III
ST. Brides Hospital. and the doctors sad i
was the best nurse there. l understand All
about it, and like nursing, ma am, and have
done a great deal of it with rich and poor.
But ! am getting on in life, and find taking
care of old ladies and old gentlemen suits me
better now. And it's profitable, TOO for you
see that l can be depended on, and that tetches
money.
We'll l had not seen John for five years,
and | thought perhaps we might never meet
again but one day last week who should come
in upon me but himself; and about the hrst
words that he spoke Were: Well, Polly, how
are you?' pretty well, thank you John,
and you look we'll" so l am says he;
- and have plenty of money now and houses,
and all my children are settled in life have
given up the building, and only do surveying
lust 10 do something. My poor wife Is gone
didn't write 10 tell you: now can you IND
RI Y pretencc 10 refuse me? "
no" says l, '.John; if, now you see me,
you are sure its quite what you wish, am
willing 10 marry. You know | have always
loved You, and never listened 10 any one else
We got enough 10 keep me and be beholden 10
I'M [ III. h,l 1 IN