The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-12-06

entertainment and his useful hints and gud
ancc were improving Cora in the selection Of
her own music and the management Of hcl
glorious young voice.
i lie did not rest until another change had
been made One day he came home with 4
roll of music to be copied for a friend, and
Cora was instructed in this accomplishment
and furnished with sufficient employment, at
. far prices, to allow her to give up one pupil
after another till all were provided with
teachers who paid more attention to tunes and
less to solid instruction.
When the spring opened, and fine days
shonc, Mr. jameson had a delightful habit OF
coming suddenly to the door with large
easy hack, bunding the whole tamily-Eddy
included-inside and driving far out into the
lovely country, where he would produce
mysterious luncheons, and picnic in shady
spots, and was always full of fun, jest, and
| Kindness.
| 1t would make my tale too long were to
attempt to describe half the eccentric kind
ness and generosity of the queer little man
/ his love for the children, his respectful atten,
ton to Miss Henrietta and his tender care for
| Cora.
| He had been an inmate of 1857" for nearly
a wear when one day he invited his landlady
to take a walk with him, and thus accosted
| her:
Miss Henrietta, | am thinking Of getting
married and want you to tell me how to
furnish my house. Come in, and see it,"
They had left the small streets long before
| he spoke, and stood before IA large, handsome
house, in n fashionable neighborhood,
II mean TO make this house as perfect as
possible for my BRIDE" he said, opening door
after door; this must be Jennie's room, this
for Eddy
Then it is Cora?" said Henrietta and as
she spoke her head sank for she feared her
kind friend was counting disappointment.
| Cora" he cried; "ah, yes, Cora will live
here, of course. Now will you help me? |
must have carpets, and curtains, crockery,
and thousand things Of whose very names
| ! am ignorant | am anxious to move in
time for a THANKSGIVING dinner to com
memorate the day when first saw-Cora."
OF course she would help him. They went
from store to store, consulting, arranging and
ordering goods, the little lady feeling all the
time as if she was in a dream, and must pinch
herself before she could wake Hp. The odd,
lost feeling lasted all day, and when she came
home, weary and pale she shut herself in her
own room, and tried to face calmly this terri
BILE possibility TO lose Cora! to lose the
children! and above all to lose her eccentric
boarder! How could she bear this loneliness
that seemed threatening her. She had no
claim, no right to complain. II Cora mar
ried Il man whose generous love extended to
the children, surely there could be no greater
happiness for all Mr. Jameson was noble
and thoroughly good, that could not be doubt
ed; but Henrietta felt half sadly, that if Cora
married HIM, it would be for Il home for the
sake of the children, perhaps from respect
and gratitude, but not from the loving i'm
pulse of her untried young heart.
The little old maid had no heart history of
her own to guide her misgiyings; she had
lived lonely life of slavery to tyranncal,
invalid father and since his death the une-
ventful life of keeping small clearinghouse
for the poorer class, always having women
for inmates. Yet the woman's heart in her
little frame knew by its own instincts that
this was marriage that would bring misery
and not happiness Cora was just twenty,
Mr. Jameson certainly double that age. She
was dreamy girl, a musical enthusiast; he
was practical, busting and energetic. Kind
as he was to Cora, he could never fill her
heart, of that Henrietta was convinced. Her
forebodingS were confirmed an hour later,
when Cora came to her room to say good
night. The young girl was very pale.
"Auntic," she said, using the familiar term
to which she had only the claim Of love, "do
you think, please do not laugh at me, do you
think Mr. Jameson isis wanting to marry
me? You think am unmaidenly," she said,
in an agony of shame, "but he has been talk
ing 50 strangely to me. He has bought a
house, and he has been asking me how |
would like to furnish Il room, what | thought
of different household arrangements and put
ting odd questions, that seem rs il they could
have had but one meaning
And that was whatE'
THAT he meant to ask me TO share his
home"
II think he does, Cora. Indeed, he told me
the same thing"
BE his Wife" Cora Hills face was very
pale as she said this.
II think he will ask YOU, dear. He will be
Il kind, good husband, Cora
TOO kind, too good to have me for Il wife,
| could respect HIM, do now! | can give
him gratitude beyond measure, and | could
he dutiful and ailCCtionatc, but-Oh help III e,
auntie, help me"
"My darling, no one can help you"
"HIc is so good to Jennie, to Eddy. Such
a brother for them should reconcile Inc to
ANYTHING. For their sake | could marry him
and be good, true wife, know that. But
he deserves more than that
Sadly her listener echoed the words. He
certainly deserved love for love when he mar
ried
The friends talked together far into the
night, but it was like Il circle of conversation,
returning ever to the same theme. When
they separated, it was with IA vague idea of
waiting till the words were spoken that would
force a decision, before the decision should
be made.
The work of preparing the new home went
forward rapidly. The loveliest of bowers
was selected for conservatory; Jennie was
in ccstacics at being allowed to choose all
the things for her own room; guest cham
Der was prepared according to Coras taste :;
nursery arranged for Eddy, and before
Thanksgiving all was ready, ana the master
of the house issued his invitations for fam
lily dinner party, requesting rs favor that
his lady guests would put aside their mourn
ing for that day Still the m0mentouS words
were not spoken.
Henrietta was in her own room, arranging
her soft brown hair, and contemplating ihe
glories of a new black silk dress, with rlch
blue satin trimmings, soft lace ana pretty
l 1. Y,aI AZ