The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-08-06
POPULAR TALES.
From Forney's Weekly Press.
now SHE WON HIM.
BY CECILIA l.. WHITLEY.

Mr.. s. took up pen and Alice took
herself out, greatly amazed at her employ.
ers manner of euding the conversation. Stop
ping on the outer landing to collect her be-
wildered thoughts, she asked herself:
Can this be all he had to say? only to re-
prove me for that miserable past folly and in
such a way?'
What pair of fools!' cogitated the old
editor in his turn. "A couple of nnnies
Jus; as if was blind. Ha! ha! she is SEN
sible little thing, and, by Jove. she loves the
boy we'll enough to sacrifice her silly little
woman heart for his sake, or mine, perhaps,
bless her! But she shan't: I'll not allow it
Let the boy win her, and take care of her,
like O man. If the rascal don't speak soon,
I'll-Ill-why, I'll marry her myself Allen
don't want any of your die away young ladies
for a wife, to hirt and worry his life out.
How well that dear boy ofmine knows me-
aud the girl-well, well, she will in time.
Ten to one but he is waiting on the lower
stairs to take her home. All. me! well they
arc young, and in love- Their sun is bright,
and am not the cloud to obscure it.
The old man smiled as he lit hiscigar, and
thought of those two young people very ten
derly all the way to his quiet home.
Mr.. s. was right. Allen was waiting
for Alice on the stairs Doubtless his
thoughtful sire had given him slight hint
to that effect, and with coniident-I am
going with you, he laid her passive hand on
his arm.
Silently they walked along the pleasant
street he in vain tryingto read the new expires.
sion of her sad, averted face. Presently he
asked, with something of his fathers abrupt
ness.
Alice when will you marry me?
Her surprise was too great for words. AT
ter moment she found voice,
'Mr. s.. you forget my station and
yours. You should never speak such words
to one so poor as |, for will never
Nonsense! he interrupted, Il love you,
and YOU love me, and what more is necessa-
ry? ! have fixed my heart on you, Alice.
we will have glorious life together. ! see
its dawn Frightening all around US, even
now. | can give you wealth, station, love;
oh! boundless love, that shall take lifetime
to fathom; and you bless me in return with
your splendid beauty, perfect truth, and pure
affections-a heart all my own: love unsul-
lied to sanctity my home; companion for
my mature manhood; a mate to share my
dawning fame-all this to be embodied in
the three sweet words, Alice, my wife,
But your father, he will never consent,
reminded Alice, while her heart was repeat
ing the sweet love-picture he had drawn.
My father is the best man in the world,
dear Alice. He knows your worth, and that
| love you. think can now find a solu-
tion of your changed manner. My father
has been making your acquaintance in his &C.
centric way and, like thousands of others,
you misunderstood him entirely. Am l not
right?'
Alice related the conversation that had
taken place between them, and acknowledged
that she had greatly misjudged his kind ma
ture but that Mr.. s. certainly seemed to
warn her against thinking too kindly of his
son.
Allen laughed.
MY dear old father! it was only his way
of introducing himself to his future daughter.
Doubtless he was recalling his own young
DAYS, and the time when he loved aud mar
ried my mother who was poor girl, Alice,
but she made his life rich with blessings. She
is dead now, and her memory is the dearest
thing in the world to him. You will soon
learn to love my father OUR father, Alice,
from this hour.
Thus my friend was betrothed, and life all
sparkle with the new hopes growing from
the ashes of old despair. That same evening
Allen walked into his fathers study, and
said, with earnest voice;