The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-12-05
"And that was what ?"

"And that was what ?"
"That he meant to ask me to share
his home"
T." I think he does; Cora. Indeed, he
told me the same thing"
BE his wife - Cora Hills face was
very pale as she said this.
'' I think he will ask you, dear. He
will be kind, good husband, Cora"
:" Too kind, too good to have me for a
wife! could respect him, 1 do now! 1
can give him gratitude beyond measure,
and could be dutiful and affectionate,
but-Oh, help me, auntie, help me p
My darling, no one can help you. u
He is so good to Jennie, to Eddy.
Such brother. for them should recon
cile me to anything For their sake
could marry him and be good, true
wife, 1 know that. But he deserves
more than that p
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 a circle of
conversation, 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 a
decision, before the decision should be
made.
The work of preparing the new home
went forward rapidly. The loveliest of
flowers were selected for conservatory;
Jennie was in ecstacies at being allowed
to choose all the things for her own
room; guest chamber was prepared
according to Cora's taste nursery ar
ranged for Eddy, and before Thanksgiv-
ing all was ready, and the master of 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-
the glories of q 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 come back for you and
/. Jennie looked very pretty in her
crimson dress, and Eddy is picture in
his new suit of velveteens, and crazy
over his first pair of pants"
"Your dress is becoming, too"
1t was silk of the most beautiful
violet color, with 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
beauty admirably. But the ladies were
very pale, and had no holiday smiles
they spoke but little, yet in each heart
was deep, unexpressed fear and SYM
pathy.
They found their host waiting for
them in handsome drawing room, and
the children wandering about, admiring
everything, especially their own refiec-
tions in the long mirrors.
But they could scarcely believe their
own eyes when they looked at Mr.. Jane !
son. 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 smile had lost nothing of its charm,
rs he advanced to meet the ladies.
at is time my ymasqueradipg ceased,
ne said, in gentle, courteous tones. !
- Come, my dear, will You read this
etter?"
"This ~ cried the astoni he'd girl,
' this is the letter l wrote to Uncle
James Reed when mamma died"
Exactly! That is the letter that /
brought me from San Francisco, and
hat you thought SO unkindly left unan-
iwered"
"And you are Uncle James?'
am your uncle, dear, and now
dead for me that the lady who has SO
ong given you an aunt's love and care,
will in truth become your aunt. Can
'ou, Henrietta, love this queer little
nan ?"
Could she love hsm? He must have
cad the perfect happiness in her eyes,
or he bent over her hand, and raised it
0 his lips.
"My whole life shall thank you," he
aid and Cora took the children to the
ther end of the long room to tell them
he wonderful news.
There were no pale cheeks or sad eyes
n the group gathered round the table
oaded with Thanksgiving ltlxuries.
jora was full of gleeful mischief-an new
lement in her convcrsation-andA Aunt
Henrietta full of blushing confusion at
he new emphasis the children gave the
amiliar name. Jennie, now young
ldy, declares to this day that from the
cry first she suspected there was some
ecret reason for the extraordinary kind
ess of "That Queer Little Man"