Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-01-19

been more heart ana SOUL wrapped up II
Edith Winthrop. Gradually she had be-
come part and parcel of his very existence
tho sunshine and glsdness of his. life.
When he left her, he felt Q blank in, his ex-
istcnce, and that blank was not filled up
till he saw her again And Edith knew all
this-knew Of the old mans love; knew
too, Of other love for her, and Of her. love
for some one else Not that she did moi
indeed love Mr.. Jeffery. For the MATES
Of that Edith had said often enough e
herself, !" 80 love mamma
/ On this aftemoon-A bright December
|day--Mr sJeffeTy took . chair close to
Edith Winfhrop's side. Yes, she was
very beautiful more beautiful, to the old
mans eye, than any form which he had
ever beheld. gt eas
Edith, my dear, you know what ! an,
going to say TO your
And Edith Winthrop bowed her head,
for she knew full well L.,
"Tf you wish me not to speak, I promise
you will never speak Of it again"
But Edith wished him, she said, 20
speak,
/" You know" he went on, show dear
how incxpressibly dear you have become
to me. God knows, my darling, If you
become my wife, / will do all that mortal
can for your happiness, When spoke To
you last, you asked me to wait fortnight
That fortnight has passed--it is two weeks
ago to-day. Am / too punctual, Edith
Nay, will wait until you tell me-"
|, "Mr. Jeffery," was the reply IN a low
voice, nothing I can do can ever suffi-
ciently thank yc'i for--can ever show how
grateful am--for all your more than kind
mess. We owe II to you that we still have
mother living. The shock which came
upon her at poor papa's misfortune first,
and then his DEATH, would have utterly
overcome hef, had II not been for what
yot have done. You ask me- Do love
yong' You know we all love you very,
very much indeed But"
7 And here Edith was silent. What was
she to say +? How was she TO proceed
She had said she loved MIR. Jeffery, and
she had spoken the strict truth; but was it
the love which wife should bear towards
her husband And yetcould husband ever
be found more noble, more sclf-denying?
And as she thought Of this, the burden of
the old song, AN old mans darling"
came into her mind. = ie..s
"Then, Edith, will you be my wife
i
you to-day will you answer it now?"
Then came the answer, in a low tone:
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, Edith, happier than ever was before
in my life. "sse7 '7Tlte 6'.~ 800. .as
1T was all settled between Mr.. Jeffery
and Edth-had, indeed, been understood
from the very frst--there was to be no
break up in the family at Lily Lodge. The
Lodge they were, indeed, TO leave; but
they were all going to be together at Mr..
Jcffcry's neV house in the country, about
twenty miles from London.
The young sailor cousin, Edward Ger
vayse-Ned, as he was always called-had
been called suddenly away from Hamp-
stead the very day after the events Just
mentioned had occurred Edith had
had time, or perhaps inclination, to pro
claim the new relations which she and Mr..
JeTery mutually occupied Ned Gervaysc
was once more 1t Lily Lodge to spend his
Christmas. Since he had been away he
had come In for slice OF luck, to use his
own expression. The communicating of
a coast guard station had fallen vacant, and
the post had been, offered to him. sa
Mr. Edward Gervayse arrived ut Lily
Lodge In the very highest spirits. He was
a young gentleman OF ,impnlsive tempem.
ment, 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 a
certain young lady Practically he con-
sidercd that declaration had been already
made Edward Gervayse had never told
his cousin Edith Withr0ps that he loved
her; he had deemed such an expression Of
sentiment to be superfluous; but Edith he
felt convinced, was perfectly well aware of
the real state of the case.
It was the day before Christmas eve, and
they were busy decking the small rooms at
Lily Lodge with holly and mistletoe. Ed
ward Geryayse had only jpstarrived; ClsrA
was out, but Edith was awaiting his arrival
upstairs. There was little struggle car
ried on underneath a piece Of the shrub
which the ancient Druids used to--as the
modern housemaid does worship. But
EuNiuu Nv ONCE thW from Tic seiIOuS look
about his cousins face, that she was in a
serious humor
Edward, DEAR" she said, I" am so glad
l have been the first to see you; for /
should not like you to have heard what |
have to tell you from any other lips than
mine"
Stay" saidy Ned Gsrvayse; I'let me tell
you first what have to say"
And Ned attempted to repeat the cous-
inlysalute but his lips paused ginsmid air.
HS was gorely puzzled at Edits stf.nge,
absent, fearful look but he went on, told
her everything told her ofthe luck which
had befallen him, and why he esteemed it
a lick-told her how often he had bpged
plainly to ask her, as he did now, to be
his wife, but how till now he had delayed,
because he felt II would be wrong-told
her #'hflsg 'oi q 20 eaA' Nff"s0
q But Edith Winthrop hurst into tears.
Ned, dearest," she said, 1T cannot be-"
And then Edith Winthrop told Edward
Gcrvayse everything. l9 "a s a.8so3
I Ned said few words in reply At first, it
Is true, he laughed the notion ID scorn
Edith was simply in sport--she could not
mean II. But then he found she not only
could. but did. Edward Gcrvayse was on
the point Of giving utterance to some.
words Of bitter anger; but he checked
himself when he looked down and cav
y 49, AL 4 =.