The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-04-13

> fui-mOre beautiful TO the OIQ mans eve
than he had ever beheld.
/" Edith, my dear, do You know what I
going to say to your
+ And Edith bowed her head, for she
knew full well.
IF you wish me not to speak, prom
Use you / will never speak of it again"
But Edith wished him. she said, to
speak.
"You know he went on = how mex
pressibly dear you have become to me-
God knows, my darling, if you become
my wife I will do all that mortal can for
your happiness. When I spoke to you
last you asked nue. to wait a fortnight,
That fortnight 4 has passed, it was two
weeks ago today. Am too punctual,
Edith? Nay, | will wait till you tell
me"
/ Mr.. jeffrey" was the reply, in a low
voice, nothing | can do can ever suffi-
|ciently thank you--can ever show how
grateful I amor all your Kindness.
We owe it to you that we have still a.
lmother living. The shock which came
Iupon her at poor papa's misfortune at
first, and then his death had it not been
for what you have done would have kill
az " ",
very much indeed But"
And here Edith was silent What was
she to say? She had said she loved Mr..
Jeffrey, and she had told the strict truth /;
but was it the love that wife should
bear her husband? And yet could hus-
band be found more noble, more self de-
nying? And as she thought of this, the
burden Of the old song, an old mans
darling, came into her mind. aoo
Then, Edith, will you be my wife?
i This is the question which came to ask
you to day; will you answer it now ?"
!, Then came the answer, in very low
4. tone; s9 astp.1
il 6 1t is not much Of return; but such
! as can give you, do give you"
Thank you, my darling was the an
swer. And the old man kissed the fore
head OF his fair young love. Do not
talk about return; you have given me
more than can ever deserve. You have
made me happier than ever was before
in my life" If naaa
1t was all settled between Mr.. Jeffre :
and Edith-had indeed, been understood
from the very first-there was to be no
break up in the family circle of Lily
: Lodge. They were all to be together at
Mr.. Jeffrey's new house in the country,
about twenty miles from London.
: The young sailor COUSIN, Edward Ger
vayse-Ned, as he was called-had been
called away from Hampstead the very
day after the events just mentioned had
occurred, before Edith had time, or per-
haps inclination, to proclaim the new
relations which she and Mr.. Jeffrey mu-
}tually occupied. Ned Gervayse was once
more at Lilly Lodge to spend his Christ
mas Since he had been away he had
come In for a luck, to use his own express
! sion. The commandership of coast
, guard station had fallen vacant, and the
3 post had been offered to him.
Mr.. Edward Gervayse arrived at Lily
Lodge in the very highest spirits. He
& wasa young gentleman Of impulsive tenn
] permanent, and he determined that on the
. strength of his promotion he would make
! a certain declaration, IN terms as explicit
' as the English language permitted, to q
v certain young lady. Practically he con
e sidered that declaration had been already
e made. Edward Gervayse had never told
!. his cousin Edith that he aloved her, he
o had deemed such an expression of serti
B ment to be superfuous but Edith, hi
+ felt convinced, was perfectly we'll aware
J. of the real state of the case.
| 1t was the day before Christmas eve
n and they were busy decking the small
!. rooms at Lilly Lodge with holly and mis-
| tletoe Ned Gervayse had only just ar
\ asved; Clara was out, but Edith wa.
& waiting his arrival up stairs. There wa,
! a struggle carried on underneath piece
OF the shrub which the ancient Druids
+ used to, as the modern housemaid does
!: worship. But Edward at once saw from
! the serious look about his COUSINS face
that she was in a serious humor.
D Edward, DEAR" she said, 81 am SC
7 glad, / have been first to see you, fol
t should not like you to have heard what
b have to tell you from any other lips
B than mine" ia G
"Stay," said Ned Gervayse, "let me tell
you first what have to say"
l And Ned attempted to repeat the cou.
E sinly salute; but his lips paused in mid
/ air. He was sorely puzzled at Edith's
t strange, absent, fearful look; but he
| went on, told her everything, told her
| of the luck which had befallen him, and
: why AO CSlCCiuCu ~ AuCA-tOlu uGI HOW
/; often he had longed plainly to ask her,
as he did now, to be his wife, but how
till now he had delayed, because he felt
) it would be wrong, told her
But Edith Winthrop burst into tears.
"Ned, dearest" she said, it cannot
, be-"
And then Edith told Edward Gervayse
, everything. e
/ Ned said few words in reply. At first,
it is true, he laughed the notion to scorn.