Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-05-03
fc0allnil,a h,om 6r,t panel


foreign letters and papers
'I'm going to speak my mind, as always dol" |
said Mr.. Bonsal ~ want to know what you
mean to do about Nancy ~
"AbOut Naneyl" repeated my uncle, with
little start "What about Nancy ~
'Aye, what about her that's Just It. OF
course you can't go on as you do now. 1t was
we'll enough when the old lady was alive; but |
her death changes all that, and folks will talk
Nancy's an old maid, to be sure-forty, If she's !
an hour"
"Thirty-fve!" I" said my uncle, correcting him
"Well, five yeaTB don't matter much. She's an |
old maid, as said. Still folks will and do talk,
and you ought to get rid of her The truth is, |
McFarane, you ought to marry again; and of |
course you can't with Nancy IN the house"
"You think so"
"Why, of course, not. There's Miss Regina
Schuyler, now. She'd jump at the chance to
marry you; but you don't suppose she would
sot up housekeeping with Nancy Howard, do
you 2"
81 must beg, Bonsall, that you will not bring
Miss Schuyers name into question" said my
uncle. "Such liberties are not to be taken with
respectable young ladies'"
"Lberty not, she would have you in a min
ute. And there's another thing about it. Nancy
Howard Is dead in love with you, herself, and OF
course you can't marry her-that is out of the
question"
"Nancy IIowardw repeated my uncle, in a
tone of bewildermcnt.
ITO be sure, man. Any one but you would
have seen it, though Nancy is not the woman to
throw herself at any mans head, I'll say that for
her My wife has known it this long time, aud
can see II too. She is old, and poor, and plain,
and in delicate health besides. SO, OF course, all
you can do is to get rid of her. Send her home
TO her native place with pension, marry Regina
Schuyler, and begin life anew.
"Docs Mrs Bousall really think that-that Miss
Howard cntertains such scntiments?" asked my
uncle, rs Mr.. Bonsall paused moment: "Wo-
men see such things more clearly than men,"
"Of course she does She was talking of il last
night Nancy ought to have change says She
If she don't she'll 80 of like her sister. She's
quiet, patient creature says she; 'but 1t is easy to
see what ails her. Now, you see, her being con-
sumptivc is another reason why you can't marry
her. So, there! Pve spoken my mind l al
ways do; and hope you will have sense enough
10 act upon it.'
81 shall certainly act upon it tr' said my uu-
Gle, calmly.
"And soon, hope - said Mr.. Bonsal ris-
ing. "The sooner the better"
1.-The sooner the better - echoed my uncle.
Il quite agree with you. Thank you BOnsall,
thank yOu!" .l
81 think 1 did good piece of work this
morning :" said Mr.. BOnSall to his wife, as he
was preparing to go out II spoke to McFar-
lane about Nancy 70 And he repeated the SUD
stance Of the conversation. Mrs. BOnsall was
aquiet, kind-hearted woman but like heI
husband, she sometimes spoke her mind. She
did on this occasion.
''BOnsalI, you are an idiot Most men are
in such mattOrs, and you are perfect one"
Mr.. BOnsaIl looked as If some one had thrown
wet towel in his face. "Why, Mary Anne
What's that fOr?'' sts5 e.stf1as
''Youll find out soon enough Go along do
and leave me in peace" s.
Mr.. BOnsall was always very meek wheI
his wife took these rare fits of plain speaking
and he shut the door without another word
Mrs, Bonsall sat looking at the fire with al
expression Of veXatiOn, which gradually chan
ged to one OF kindness,
After al ,it might be. worse" said she
speaking to the 1iTe Nancy Is good soul
and as sweet as honey. She will make hin
happy, and be happy herself, and it will b
good for the boy. But think see BOnsall
lace wheu he hears it -
2 For two hours my uncle sat looking thrOugl
his office window without even thinking OF hl
letters. Then he drew q deep breath, as o
Que relieved of a doubt, and turned to his col
TespOndence. He did not go home to dinner
but left the Office early, stopping at florists
where he bought some beautiful hOthOus
flowers, and two nice hyacinth bulbs in pEei
ty glasses, which last no sent to Mrs. Saun
ders.
Father, may go up and see Tom Saur
ders?" asked Alck, after tea, Aunt Name
was sitting at her workable, fresh and nes
from top to toe. She was composed as usua
but my uncle fancied he observed a sligf
change in her manner towards himself. PrOl
ably Alexis remarks might have disturbe
her little.
particularly how Mrs, Saunders finds hersei
quite forgot it this morning. l was the MOI
ready to let Alick 60 as 1 wish TO consult 70
on o matter of great Importance to US both.
And then, in his usual kind, somewhat form;
manner, he opened the subject. He was d'
siriOus he said, of going abroad for some tint
perhaps for some years. He Thought til
change would be good for Alick, whs show e
signs Of delicate lungs. to
Aunt Nancy heart fluttered, and her cole
went and came but she had long been sehOO
ed In self-eOntrOl, and she made no other sig
"1t won't be for long I" said the quiet, ,bFeal
ing heart to itself, little guessing what was
store.
My uncle continued, I don't know exactl
how he worded II, but he made lt plain th;
neither he or the boy could live without Nanc.
Would Nancy consent to become his wife, an
be mother 70 Alick In fact, as she had Ion
been in name And so IN an hour the matte
was all settled. Z ~ iis3b"
ave are asked to wedding l'' said Mr.
BOnsaH, 10 her husband some six weeks afte
ward.
"a yeddIng--whose weddlng?" asked NJ
B0nsall, not greatly interested.
'Nancy HOWardsP'
Nancy HOward's-YOu don't mean
The Idea which occurred TO Mr.. Bonsall ta1r
struck him dumb. li erat
"Yes Nancy and Mcfarland" /" answer'
his wife, enjoying her lords discontinue.
They are to be married at st. Paul's, We
quietly, aud sail far Europe as soon as pos
.The deuce they are. And after an sa
After all you said 70 him ~ echoed Nj
bonsaiL The moment you told me WI
you said to him, and especially as 10 Name.
being talked about, knew you had made
match; You could have got him 70 marry