The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-05-23
HOW l MARRIED In SPITE OF
Myself.
IC0SCLUDED,i

CONCLUDED.
"How tiresome you are, Hetty! said |
Alice, warmly, and blushiug a painful Grim.
son.
Well, it was silly of Hetty, and before me,
too; but | was so glad to see the blush that |
did not notice the little show of temper. |
Between you and me, reader, she had once |
or twice before shown that she had temper. !
went home, bordering, on the way, what |
| should do. | could no. dine there with
my heart bursting with NV secret, and feel
ing 1t might explode at any moment. Then
there was cousin Willie, too If be should
pay my beautiful Alice any attention
might not be able te control my feelings So
| determined to write TO her, ask my fate,
al go up before dinner for my answer; if !
were accepted, have a merry Christmas if
rejected, go home, and-snd-weH. nearly
die of a broken heart.
| was delighted with the idea, and almost
ran home to put it into execution. But how
easy to get pen, ink and paper how diff
cul, to write tore up letter after letter
again and again tried, but the hopelessness
of expressing my feelings Was great Should
leave it, and go and say my say in person?
No, no, | could not do do that. Ny tongue
would cleave to my mouth; the very
of articulation Here goes, | said AT 1851:
| will write !, off at once, and ! won't read
it over. IN
s,op slr.sag. How was | to begin? If |
we're doing it personally, | might try the
affect of "A lice" spoken Ia low deep tone;
but i: looks so cool on paper. Therefore, l
began again my dear Miss Gordon, -
csn't remember my words, though no
doubt nay wife does but know my letter
was very tender, and, hoped, very earnest
aud impressive.
was once more puzzled how to end my
epistie, but at last decided on
believe me, dear, dear Miss Gordon,
waiting in trembling hope and fear, yours
in life and death-yours only and forever,
"PHttiP GwYNNE.'
This dispatch to Miss Gordon enclosing
note iar the Young ladys papa, TO be
delivered at her discretion. You may
believe scarcely closed my eyes all that
night.
Next day, Christmas day, | was to buoy
to attend church; but | got clear about
o'clock, and, hastily dressed myself, started
for Sir. Gordon's. He met me warmly.
Come in here" my dear fellow, said he;
Il can't tell you how pleased she is,-my
wife, mean And am quite satisfied as
to money and worldly affairs. Quite. Old
Thorn pson $ is a good practice. We might
have settlement, you know but thst'H be
all right. Rather you have her than an earl
God bless you am proud TO call you son
I've spoken 20 her. She loves you, nv boy,
loves you dearly, she says, and has done
50 long. And now that you are one Of the
family, | may as we'll tell you secret. Ny
youngest daughter is engaged 100. Ges,
Alice and my nephew William are going To
make a match OF it. Don't look so aston
ished. She'll make him q good wife; ior
though she - a year younger than deaf
Het;y, she looks older, you know, and /;
more steady and sedate. But Hetty's dear
girl, aud wall, l am sure, make you happy
Don't speak, don't speak There, III send
her in" Aud off the lawyer bolted, in
his usual jerky way, before | could speak a
word.
Was mad ? Was | dreaming? Alice
the Younger Alice engaged i-Hetty Low
ing me dearly l--Hetty coming to me Ye
powers, what on earth was !! all about
How could have been such fool? A
thousand little hitherto unnoticed facts
crowded on my brain, confirming the state
ment How could have trusted appear
auces so utterly, and taken her for the eldest
without being certain? She engaged and
Wild, merry, sweet Hetty loving me It
ztil would not enter my brain. W hat should
do Get up, bolt, and explain after
wards?
/ sprsng 10 obey my Impulse as | did so,
the door opened, and, with downcast eyes
aud rosy bushes, Hettv came ia. | rushed,
eagerly toward her and grssped her hands.
/ would confess ell, thought. 'Hetty," |
began. She mistooh my actions, my words,
for affection. She came nearer to me, re,
sp0nded TO my clasp, and then, overcome by
shyness, hid her pretty curly head on my
shoulder. Ny embarrassment momeutarily
increased. "Oh, Hetty, Hetty," l began
once more.
Dear Philip" she whispered, IN reply tt
what she deemed affection. Il am so hspPy
Philip
Whist could I do? Tell her it WAS all
mistake, and thus blight the bright young
life and heart forever? Ia that one seconC
I made great decision. My chances o
happiness had fed would sacrifice my
self and marry her. and she should never
know the truth.
beut down and whispered, "God bless
you, Hetsy, will try and make you happy;
and | kissed the wild. teszing merry girl,
now so gentle, so winning, sweet. could
not rudeIy break her heart.
she looked up. and then hid her face
again on my shoulder, and chung to me to
hide her emotion. Was it not possible TO
love her? Ought | not to be thankful
Had ! married AHce-no, ! mean proposed
to her-I should only have been rejected,
and gone away miserable: now ! had real
true heart to love me. Surely. surely, in
time might re turn her affection.
Can you be happy with me, Hetty
asked
"Oh, Philip, indeed l can" she replied.
81 always feared you laughed at me,
said
81 only laughed to hide my feelings" sale
Hetty.
II am not rich, Hetty," | continued
II will be a careful little wife, Philip, she
said
81 am not worthy of you," l said.
ayes you are she exclaimed; ~ am not
worthy of you
There was no escape for me. She wouldn't
see me in any worst hight. She would love
We sat down side by side. She prattled
10 me now Alice and Willie mad long loved
each other, but that it had never been set
tied thing TIL now, Tor his position had not
been such that he could marry.
And Alice Ia so glad for me-" went on
Hetty, little thinking what my feelings were.
"She says you re Just the kind of n man she
would like tor q brother. ! gu know 1t would
not do for US both 10 want you Tor q husband
-eh Phillip"
No, dearest" / stammered, sit would
not"
could not talk to her; but she seemed
not to mind my silence. We sat hand IN
hand, dreaming, thinking. lnwsrdly ! Wa
repeating my letter to Charles somers, tell
rug MIN all about my love for Alice No"
] must hasten to tell him that it was betty
] .rl:-l