The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-10-20

lake 1alrer We9Jner LOT your business L
Malburg. Quite storm to ride in. Gls
you didn't forget to cali and tell me til
news from home"
This show of indifference was quite IN
called for. Squire Linton had not notice.
the widows silk dress; and If he had VS.
not the man to take encouragement iron
TRIES.
''She didn't understand my letter. o
ele didn't mean To. She isn't the womal
to meet man half way thought he, de
jectedly; and only liked her the bette
for it.
Mrs Whalen, you-you don't meal
to say you are permanently engaged?"
Ono, not at all. / shall leave mex
week"
Malvina," said he, clutching at a for
lorn hope" Malvina, you didn't write
and tell me not to call p
Il couldn't very well, Mr.. Linton.
never got your letter till to day"
The Squire's faint heart dropped lower
yet.
"But James, am glad to have you cal
me 'Malvina. 1t sounds like the gooc
old times when you and used to go &c
singing school together"
$50 you remember those old times, Nal
VIVA and how you wouldn't let me be SIS
attentive as / tried to be. You knew what
my mind vas long before spoke word
but there was always somebody between
u.s.
ayes; it was Ann Price," said the wild.
ow, innocently.
Whalen. | had never set eyes on Ann
then. She lived at Martha's Vineyard,
and Peter was the one that introduced Us
the year you were married"
ooh, yes, now 1 remember Well,
James, we both did as we were moved to
do; and am sure you had no reason TO
regret. anything"
True, very true. Ann was noble soul,
far too good for me-. 1 was very fortu-
nate man, Malvina."
eyes, and she was fortunate woman"
quoth Mrs Whalen, with generous
warmth; for she had seen the day when
she envied Ann, and contrasted the de-
ceased Peter not very favorably with
James.
thank you, Malvina. So it isn't-that
Is to say-if you should refuse ne sec
ORd time, it wouldn't be because you real
~ have anything against me? There Is
some consolation in that"
"a second time? No, James Oh, no y
said the widow, tenderly.
"It would be because OF my encum-
brances; my poor, dear little children"
"Well, don't know about that, either,
James"
Mrs Whalen's eyes were suffused; but
Squire Linton dared not look at her.
eyes, and still m ore, because you don't
feel really Inclined toward me; that is
Whist you mean, suppose ?"
81 don't know, James"
Her words were still lower and ten
derer.
Hearts can not be controlled, Malvi-
ne. You never did feel for me as l did
for you In the days that are past, and it
doesn't stand TO reason that You ever can
now. | was fool to think of such 8
thing. l hope you will never lay it up
against me, tut let us be friend, the SAME
as ever"
- g Frjerds. certainly, James," said the
on the comfortable. ' book strait
Eyes. | knew it could be notmug more,
Mslgina; still, can not say I am quite
for this disappointment. Inner
last days Ann looked into the future, and
gTieved for me left without her.
know said she, there is one woman in
the world who could almost fill my place
for you though you need not think it
pains me to say it, for nothing would give
me more satisfaction than to feel sure NAL
vina Whalen would bring up my chill
dren.'"
The widow was weeping.
"Now have hurt your feelings, NAL
vins. / did not intend to allude to such q
painful thing. l hope you won't think
for moment l had any object"
"Any object ?" sobbed the widow (;
" what Object?"
"Why, to work upon your sympathies,
Malvina. / know how tender hearted
you are, and l would sc1rn to take adj
vantage Of 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 dclicately. You
did all you could to soften the blow"
There was convulsive shaking of the
portly figure before him; Mrs. Whalen
was laughing.
az don't refuse before Pm-asked,"
sobbed she, Historically. "And, James
Linton, if you think you've offered your
self TO me this time, any more than you
did before, you are very much mistaken"
The Squire opened his honest, brown
eyes.
What-what did you say, Malvina2 p"
"You merely told me you shouldn't do
it, ard didn't mean to-"
Nnuy ,x,x- daar
1T was just SO sixteen years ago." said
the widow, with bashful glance down
ward. You said you you. Well,
the way. Perhaps might have refused
you, James, perhap % not; but, dear knows,
! never had the chance"
"Malvina Tuner 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
hands. How could she answer without
compromising the deceased Peter?
"Or is now? But, possible or impossi
BILE, you shall have the chance to receive
me this time. offer you my hand with
my whole heart in it. Say no, Malvins.'
"What if don't want to, James >
murmured tie widow.
ooh, Malvina, you wouldn't trifle witt
mep
"You expect me to say No. don't you
james," said she, archly. 1T would bt
such a pity to disappoint you
Actually, nowl' cried James, seizins
her hand rapturously, it does seem t.
me, Malvina, as if you were giving mt
some encouragement
Indeed And it does seem to me
James," returned the widow, frankly
"that you are rather dull, or you wOul'
have seen that am attached to you, an'
have been for some time"
"Now, Malvina, If you say that from
the depths of your soul you make me tn
hsppiest man living"
"rhere, there, James, don't let's b
foolish at our time of life" said Malvins
her heart running over into her face, an
setting it aglow with joy. "Don't let u
| be foolshi must go now and get som