The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-10-24

the cause OF III al. Clara, Inis is my
son Robert.
Possibly the widow, had she seen the
impression that Clara produced on her
lover. would have felt less secure in her
CONQUEST. For Clara had improved in
spirits since her residence with Mr..
Arson, and was even prettier than when
she first came there.
That night, over social bottle of
wine, the father explained to his son the
manner in which he found Clara,
and the light and happiness she had
brought to their home.
"And / formed plan in reference to
her." concluded Mr.. Wilson.
"What is it ?" asked Robert.
"You shall marry her"
Impossible"
"Why?"
Thus brought to the point, Robert
confessed his engagement to Mrs. Nor
row.
"How old is she ?" asked Mr.. Arson.
"Thirty,"
"And YOU are twenty six-how alb
surd People willlaugh at you. Clara
is young, pretty, and l know she will
love you"
But love the widow"
"Nonsense"
Father -
"There, my boy, don't take oflense.
| only meant that you have mistaken
admiration for love. That you really
love a woman four years your senior,
and widow at that, is absurd. You
think you do, but you don't. Now, |
@n11 hot / 4 -
another word shall be said on the sub
ject for one month. AT the end of that
time, if you persist in marrying Mrs.
Morrow, l shall marry Clara myself"
q agree, replied Robert.
The month passed quickly, and at its
close the situation was about like this:
Robert was fenced between love for
Clara and his duty to the widow; Clara
is deeply in love with Robert; Mrs.
Morrow was troubled by a certain fall
ing-off in her lovers ardor, and Mr..
Arson, who had steadily refused to see
the widow, hoped for the best of his plan.
The father and son met after supper.
"Well, Robert" said the former, "the
month is up. What have you decided
on doing?"
we always VI
each other" began Robert.
Certainly"
And 1 shall not hide anything from
you now. L love Clara, and believe she
loves me, but 1 am engaged to Mrs.
Morrow, and cannot honorably break
the engagement.
"Then leave the matter entirely
to me-"
What will you do 2"
81 will secure your release by the
widow"
"By fair means ?"
"By her free consent.
And so the interview closed
On the following day Mr.. Arson
sought the home of the widow. She
was in, and upon learning who he was
welcomed him cordially She asked
him to be seated upon the sofa, upon
which she also gracefully sank Mr..
Arson had made up his mind to be brief
and business-like; but the gorgeous
widow quite upset him before he even had
preached the subject of his sons en-
gagement. They came to speak of him
naturally at last, however, and the wild
over saw his opportunity.
You love my son ?"
"What a question, Mr.. Anson," she
replied, showing her perfect teeth in
bewitching smile; "am l not going to
marry him ?"
81 hope not"
"Sir = and even the widows pretty
frown captivated him.
81 beg your pardon" he added crest
fallen, " | mean that L came to talk the
matter over with you. Do you think
the match is altogether good one?"
81 See" and her eyes dropped APP
propriately, you object because L am
comparatively poor" " Indeed ! do not.
The financial aspect of the affair has
never been considered by ne. -
The widow here pierced him with
look of gratitude.
at was the difference in, in" he
stammered
In social position ?" suggested the
widow.
No, no"
"Ah [ see. You mean in age?
Yes" he replied, sheepishly. You
OWNED the reason, and | will be per-
fectly frank with you. My son is very
dear to me, and it has been the dream
of my life TO see him happily married
to some beautiful and loving woman"
Here the widow turned her glorious
eyes full upon Mr.. Arson, and managed
to show her arm, which happened to be
inclosed in a loose sleeve. 1t was par
ticularly round, smooth arm, and as
smooth as possible.
q beg your PARDON" hastily con-
tinued Mr.. Arson 81 know that you
are good, beautiful and lovable but"
"But / am too old am thirty. Not
so very old, either, although / do feel
older than Robert. My love for him
has been largely of the guardian sort
have petted and admired him as
mother might. And he loves me-
" But not exactly as he should wife.
He loves another woman not hand
somer or better woman, my dear
madam, but one younger and better
suited to be his wife.
The widow burst into tears-presum-
ably, at least, as she buried her eyes in
her handkerchief, and her bosom rose
and fell unanimously The widowers
courage quite forsoOk him at this, to
him, unexpected crisis. A pretty
woman in tears is a melting object, and
the effect upon the widower was all