The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-10-28


but there was always somebody between
u.s."
sYes; it was Ann Price" said the widow
innocently.
"You know very well mean Peter
Whalen. I had never set eyes on Am
then. She lived at Martha's Vineyard,
and Peter was the one that introduced Us
theyear you were married"
"Oh, yes, now rememberi Well, james.
we both did as we were moved to do; and
I am sure you had no reason to regret any
thing"
"Trus, very true. Ann was q noble soul,
far too good for me. l was very FORUM
ate man" /,
"Yes. and she was q fortunate woman,
quoth Mrs. Whalen, with generous warmth;
for she had seen the day when she envled
Ann. and contrasted the deceased Peter not
very tavorably with James.
sfThank you, Malvina. So it isn't-that
is to say-if you should -eiuse me second
time, it wouldn't be because you really
have anything against mer There u
some consolation in that"
ga second timer No, James; oh, no !
said the widow, tenderly.
SIT would be because of my incumbran-
ces; my poor dear little children y
.iWell. 1 don't know about that either,
James"
Mrs. Whalen's eyes were suffused; but
Squire Linton dared not look at her.
.sYes, and still more because you don't
feel really inclined toward me; that is what
you mean supposed"
81 don't know, James.
Her words were still lower and tenderer.
"Hearts cannot be controlled, Malvina-
You never did feel for me as did for you
in the days that are past, and 1t doesn't
stand to reason that you ever can now. l
was fool ia think OF such thing. hope
Won will never lay it up against me, but let
us be frie.4ds the same as ever.
Friends, certainly, James" said the
widow, jumping up to set book straight
on the center-tabie.
"Yes, knew it could be nothing more,
Malvina; still, 1 cannot say that am quite
prepared for this disappointment In her
last days Ann looked into the future, and
erieved for me left without her. know,
she said, there is one woman in the world
who could almost fill my place for you;
though you nesd not think it pains me TO
say it. for nothing would give me more sat
isfaction than to feel sure Malvina Whalen
would bring up my children.
The widow was weeping.
"Noy have hurt your feelings, Malvina.
did not intend to allude to such painful
thing. 1 hope you won't think for mo-
ment had any object
"Any object2 sobbed the widow; "what
object?"
sWhy, to work upon your sympathies,
Malvina. Iknow how tender-hearted you
are, and I would scorn to take advantage oil
your sensibility. No, you have refused me
because you cannot love me, and am the
last man"
'.Refused you? When?"
"Why, Just now. But, Malvina, no one
could have done it more deicately. You
did all you could to soften the blow.
There was a convulsive shaking OF the
portly figure before him; Mrs. Whaien was
laughing.
sI don't refuse before Tm-asked,~ sob,
bed she, hysterics!ly. "And, James Lln'
ton, if you think you've offered yourself tc
me this time, any more than you did be
| fore, you are very much mistaken
The Squire opened his honest brown
eyes. 80
"What-wIat did you say, Malvins 2"
s'You merely told me you shouldn't de
it, and didn't mean to-"
''Now, my dear"
SIT was Just so sixteen years ago" SAID
the widow, With bashful g.ance down
ward. s'You said you-you-: Well, yoI
| minated then that Peter was in the way
Perhaps might have refused you, James
perhaps not; but, dear knows, never haC
the chance-"
ssMalvina Turnerr' cried Squire Linton
with sudden courage; ''you don't mean Z
say there was the faintest possibility
The widow covered her face with be
hands. How could she answer vithou
compromising the deceased Peter?
"0r is now? But, possible or impossl
bic, you shall have the chance to receiv
me this time. l offer you my hand wit
my whole heart in it Say no, Mslvina.
.'What if 1 don't want to, James ?" mul
INJURED the widow.
i ''Oh, Malvins, you wouldn't tribe wit
mer'
.You expect me to say No. don't yor
James?" said she, archly. "It would b
such pity to disappoint you"
Actually, now !" cried James, seiZin
her hand rapturously, sit does seem
me, Malvina, as if you are giving me som
encouragement
nIndeedl And it does seem to m
James," returned the widow frankly, "tbi
, you are rather dull, or you would have see
, that am attached to you, and have bee
for some time
"Now, Malvina, if you say that from IL
! depths of your soul you make me the hal
piest man living"
"There, there, James; don't let's be foo
ish at our time of life" said Malvlna, h
! heart running over into her face, and sc
t ting it aglow with Joy. "Don't let us
{ fooiishl must go now and get son
I light wood; we need little fire on Il
hearth"
3 All this while Mr.. Means was sellir
y cheese, mold and all, with great satisfa
! ton And while Malvina and ''the hapI
D est man living" we're chatting delightful
S by the fireside, Mr.. Means was riding hon
by starlight.
"a fire in the parlorl Well, it's dan
7 night for the time O. year, and Mrs VIII
e len is verv thoughtful of my comfort.
4 declare fort, won't put it off another da
e I'll offer myself to that woman, and msl
her happy; she deserves ii.
Q But the sound of voices Jared on Il
' good mans ears as he approached the pa
n lor.
S Company here? 1 want to know y
q "If you had spoken sooner, James,
never should have come to Malburg
= trial"
D "what do you mean, dear, by coming
o trial?'
g "Why, the truth is. Mr.. Means want
It 70 try my housekeeping, and l thought
would try his house.
/" "You surprise me, Malyina- You Cal
k mean"
n "Yes, James, I am ashamed to confe
g it; but he is wealthy man, highly l
d spectacle, and 1 was uneasy and ambition
le and out of all patience with Dorcas-ai
IS as for you But, James, l have repent
of my folly. 1t has been trial to \
re Means as well as myself. I think We 6
q both satisfied now; at any rate, am"
a = Explain yourself, my dear"
rs "Why, he wants wife who will So
cheese-mould and pork-rinds, like
l. sainted Calista; and / prefer husba
d who won't ask me TO do it.
as "Meaning me? Thank you, my friend
m stYes, James, your soul is above
soup-kettle. Don't know?"
n, .What luck what luck |" thought pC
n Israel Means, tvitching his hair behind
q door. s'Tve gone and overreached mys
., this timel I didn't calculate on WON
being SO uncertain. If I'd only asked l
TO question yesterday.
He hid his face, and groaned. 1t '
IT more than the loss of a hodsekeeper he