Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-10-27

could have done It more delicately. Yoa
did ell you could to soften the blow"
There was . convplsive shaking Of the
port!y figure before him; ArA Whalea
was Laughing.
81 don't refuse before Tm-asked,"
sobbed she, hysterically. aAnd, James
Linton, II you think you've offered your.
self to me this time, any more than you
did before, y0u are very much mistaken. !"
The Squire opened his honest, brown
What-what did you say, Malvina p
You merely told me you shouldn't do
It, and didn't mean to-
Now, my dear"
1t was Just 30 sixteen years ago. said
the widow, with bashful glance down.
ward. You said you you. Well,
you intimsted then that Peter wss ia
the way. Perhaps might have refused
You, James, perhaos not; but, dear knows,
/ never had the chance"
"Malvina Turner cried Squire Lin.
ton, with sudden courage; "you don't
mean to say there was the faintest posi-.
bility!"
The widow covered her face with her
banda How could she answer without
compromising the deceased Peterf
"Or ID nowi But, possible or impossi.
bic, you shall have the chance to receive
me this time. offer you my hand with
my whole heart in it. Say no, Malvina."
"What il I don't want to, James /"
murmured the widow.
"Oh, Malvina, you wouldn't trihe with
mew
"You expect me to say No. don't you,
Jsmes?" said she, archly. at would be
such .tp1 pity to disspp0iGt yoq
me, Mslvins, a. if you were giving me
Indeed! And it does seem to me,
James," returned the widow, frankly,
shat you are rather dull, or you would
have seen that am attached to you, and
have been for some time"
SHOW, Malvina, If you say that from
the depths of your soul you make me the
happiess man living"
her heart running over into her face, and
setting it aglow with joy. "Don't let US
be foOlishl Unjust go now and get some
light wood; we need little fire on the
hearth"
All this while MI. Means was selling
cheese, mold and all, with great satisfac-
ton. And while Malyina and the hap.
piest man living" were chatting delight
ing home by starlight.
damp night for the time o. year, and Mrs.
10 pl.$f Of Fnr
declare fort, won't put it of another
day; I'll offer myself TO that woman, and
make her happy; she deserves it,"
good mans ears as he approached the
parlor.
Company hereg want to known
If you had spoken sooner, James, I
should never have come to Malburg on
trial"
what do you mean, dear, by coming
on trial? ?"
"why, the truth is, Mr.. Means wanted
to try my housekeeping, and thought !
would try his house"
"You surprise me, Malvina. You can't
mean -"
Yes, James, am ashamed to confess
it but he is wealthy man, highly re-
fPgSt9p1I, 0AA L WOO OAC0cy 0AA OAADA-
tious, and out OF all patience with Dorcas
and as for you But, James, I have
Of my folly. 1t has been trial
to Mr.. Means IS well as myself. think
we are both satisfied now; at any rate,
I am"
Explain yourself, my dear"
"Why, he wants wife who will save
cheese mold and pork.rind, like his saint.
ed Cslista; and prefer husband who
won't ask me to doit."
meaning mel Thank you, my friend"
eyes, James, your soul ia above the
soup. kettle. Don't knowW
"Whst luck! what luck !" thought poor
Israel Means, twitching his hair behind
the door. "I've gone and overreached
myself this timel l didn't calculate On
women being so uncertain! If I'd only
asked the question yesterday"
He hid his face, and groaned. 1t was
more than the loss of housekeeper he
bewailed, for love had seized him. like q
spasm of neuralgia, quite unexpectedly.
Finding fault with such . splendid
specimen Of q womani Not cent did
make by 1t, either She was good enough
a. she was, without any of my interior.
ence. never want to see another NOR.
sci of pork Why didn't get her con.
sent before she boiled that good. for moth.
ing soupi But it's all over with you now,