Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-11-28


"Be his wife!" Cora Hills face was
very pale as she said this.
81 think he will ask you, dear. He
will be kind, good husband, Cora"
"Too kind, too good to have me for
a wifei could respect him, 1 do now !!
1 can give him gratitude beyond meas
ure, and could be dutiful and affec-
tionate, but-Oh, help me, auntie, help
mer'
'My darling no one can help you."
'He is so good to Jennie, to Eddy.
Such a brother for them should recon-
cile me to anything. For their sake 1
could marry him, and be good, true
wife, know that. But he deserves
more than thatn'
Sadly her listener echoed the words.
He certainly deserved love for love
when he married.
The friends talked together far into
the night, but it was like circle of con-
versation, returning ever to the same
theme. When they separated, it was
with a vague idea of waiting till the
words were spoken that would force
decision, before the decision should be
made.
The work of preparing the new home
went forward rapidly. The loveliest of
flowers were selected for a conservatory;
Jennie was in ecstasies at being allowed
to choose all the things for her own
room; guest chamber was prepared
according to Cora's taste; a nursery ar
ranged for Eddy, and before Thanks
givingall was ready and the masterof the
house issued his invitations for family
dinner party, requesting as favor that
his lady guests would put aside their
mourning for that day. Still the mo-
mentous words were not spoken.
Henrietta was in her own room, ar
ranging her soft brown hair, and con-
templating the glories of new black
silk dress, with rich blue satin trim
mings, soft lace and pretty ribbons,
when Cora tapped at the door.
"Let me come in; am all ready, and
the children have already started. The
carriage will back for you and me. Jen-
ME looked very pretty in her crimson
dress, and Eddy is picture in his new
suit of velveteen, and crazy over his
first pair of pants"
"Your dress is becoming, too"
1t was a silk of the most beautiful
violet color, with a great deal of soft
white lace about it. In the golden curls
the young girl had twisted violet rib
bons, and the color suited her fair beau
ty admirably. But the ladies were We
ry pale, and had no holiday smiles
they spoke but little, yet in each heart
was a deep, unexpressed fear and SYM
pathy.
They found their host waiting for
them in handsome drawing room, and
the children wandering about, ad-
miring everything, especially their own
reflections in the long mirrors.
But they could scarcely believe their |
own eyes when they looked at Mr..
Jameson. Dressed with care and taste
his hair cut to the usual gentlemanly
length, his beard gone, he looked like
another man. The disproportionate
size of his head seemed diminished one
half by the loss of the enormous mass
of hair, and his kindly smile had lost
nothing OF its charm, as he advanced
to meet the ladies.
sit is time my masquerading ceased"
he said, in gentle, courteous tones.-l
"Cora, my dear, will you read this let
ter?'
"This!" cried the astonished girl, |
"this is the letter wrote to Uncle James |
Reed when mamma died.
Exactly! That is the letter that
brought me from San Francisco, and
that you thought so unkindly left un-
answered"
"And you are Uncle James?'
az am your uncle, my dear, and now
plead for me that the lady who has so
long given you an aunt's love and
care, will in truth become your aunt.
Can you, Henrietta, love this queer lit
tie man?''
Could she love him? He must have
read the perfect happiness in her eyes
for he bent over her hand, and raised
it to his lips.
"My whole life shall thank you," he
said; and Cora took the children to the |
other end of the long room to tell them
the wonderful news.
There were no pale cheeks or sad eyes |
in the group gathered around the table |
loaded with Thanksgiving luxuries. |
Cora was full of gleeful mischief-a new
element in her conversation-and Aunt
Henrietta full of blooming confusion at
the new emphasis the children gave the |
familiar name. Jennie, now a young
lady, declares to this day that from
he very first she suspected there was,
some secret reason for the extraorii-
nary kindness of "That Queer Little
Man.,