The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1868-10-30
GEORGE MARTLW,S WIFE.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

An aunt from the country oh,
George, can never endure the lnfic.
ton p
Emily Penford paused in her occupa.
ton of fastening blue ribbon upon the
crown of a jaunty straw bonnet, for
Emily was but q milliDer's girl, pretty
and graceful though she was, and just
at present she was doing "extra work" "
to earn money to buy sundery articles Of
dress, termed by ladies "trousseau."
For Emily Penford was engaged to be
married and the stalwart, nobly framed
young man who sat beside her, care
iessly playing with her spools and scis-
sors, and tape-measure, was George
Martin, who would hardly at that mo.
ment have exchanged places with the
Crown Prince of Russia. What though
he was but a jourueymau carpenter?
didn't he some day look forward to the
dignity Of shop of his own and was
he not stropgsas Vulcan, and handsome
as Appolo2 2 And more than this, had
not pretty Emily Penford promised to
be his wifeY
George Martin looked at the gather
ing cloud on Emily's forehead with con-
siderable perplexity.
"Well, Emmy, I'm sorry myself; l
know it would be far more pleasant to
live by ourselves, but my poor old uncle
is dead, and Aunt Bridget is all alone
In the world, and / somehow feel as it
we're my duty to make home for the
old lady. You see, l am the only rela-
ton she has except Cousin Isabella's
folks, and they utterly refuse to be bur.
dened with any such piece ofan.iquity."
"They are a great deal better able to
afford it than U.S." pouted Emily:
"Better able Of course they are, but
I've always found through life that it is
not alone the 'best able people who are
willing to assume the duties and respon.
sibiI;tias Tho nlattor ia plain enough
Isabella and her husband decline to dc
ANYTHING for Aunt Bridget, and L can't
see the old lady homeless, or In want, SC
lorg as l have cup to drink, or crus'
to eat, So l have written to her tC
come and live with us, as soon as We
were married"
"Without consulting me ?"
"Without consulting you-tor there
was no time to be lost, and l knew N.
little Emily would not fail to acquiesc'
in what / considered best. There
nlentv of room YOU know, for l hav,
rented whole floor, and"
"There will be plenty of room" sail
Emily, with her cherry lips compresse'
in manner George Martin had neve
before Witnessed, and her blue eye
sparkling, with omnibus light, "ior
YOUR Aunt Bridget comes to hive In tha
house, l never shall"
"Emily Why my darling"
"Don't call me your earling," sal
Emily, impatienty withdrawing her han
from Georges grasp. "a man wh
wants to burden his wife's home wit
disagreeable, oldfashioned relation
against her wishes-a man who Is
sel6shly inconsiaerate with regard
his wife's comfort, should be more sp
ring of his afsctionate terms"
"Of one thing you may be eertal
George Martin, l shall not marry y(
| if L have to marry your aunt also"
George looked into the pretty, indi
nant face with a grieved and startle
look, of one who has Unexpectedly foul
a foul insect in tn e heart of rose.
emily, I cant give up my old aun
my mothers only sister, who broug
her up, aud bestowed more than pate
nal care upon her, while quito young.
every well-then Of course you o
prepared to given up"
@Do you mean to say, Emily, after
our affection, the " eeks of our engat
uent, the happy evenings we hS
spent together, you would cast me avn
rather than make the triAing sacrifice
ask ? Do you mean that / shall und'
stand you thus, Emily"
~ do"
"Then I have read your chArae
wrongly, all along, ard l suppose {
engagement is at an end Z"
II suppose so too," said Emily, tr
ming off the raveled edges of a ri6l
bow, wi tn a hand that never tremp
the least.
Goodbye, Emily-I suppose, n
l ought to say M iss Penford'"
"Good-bye, Mr.. Martin"
Honest George went down the rt
way with an odd, stunned feeling, &c
alas, to resolve itself into active pain
the world had suddenly turned it
the wrong way, and the sun unexp
edly risen in the west, he could not b
been more puzzled, confused or be
dered. If Emily-the Emily he
deemed 80 perfectly faultless-Was