Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-02-06
word ran his heart through with sharp

u
Hannah Thought she was disappointed
in his declaration, as perhaps romantic
women always are when honest, prac-
tical men tell their love bluntly, without
rapturing quotations or enhancing
smile.
81 think you understand me, my
dear, he had said grayely, holding both
her hands.
81 do not know how to win you, Han
nah, if you do not already feel that you
could sometimes love me little in re-
turn for this one great passion of my
life. I love you, Hannah, truly and
well !; it is not possible that I am de-
ceived in this. At my time of life men
know with whom their hopes are in keep
ing do not expect that you can or do
return the vehemence of my feeling for
you, but shall be satisfied if you can
promise to look upon me kindly, and
with an intent to try and answer my feel
ing. l have not, perhaps, put the case
in the best way, but you comprehend
me, my dear child. Say that you will
endeavor to regard me as the man whom
not any other your husband. I want
you to be my wife, Hannah. do not
say Immediately. I can wait any reason
able time; my life has been one long
probation. % 2N4 ~
Hannah was certainly in dream, out
of which she came with start she must
find an answer. How long he had waited
on her as it was
Then the dreaded mo" came. She
had prepared it halfway beforehand,
and it was said almost before she knew
it. She knew nothing of the pain she
gave that noble soul-that grand, unset
fish heart. We will acquit Hannah of
thought to hurt any living thing, as in
deed, despite her temper at times, and
her Archibald impulses, y as Mrs. Give
called her spasms of cruelty, she only
hurt herself. She had all her life super
intended and managed a large infirmary
for manned and mangled creatures,
which she tenderly cared for and restored
to well-being. Hers was as tender as
any heart that ever beat, and we must
not now accuse her of taking a good
sized dagger or paper-knife and DELHI
erately puncturing the large, loving
heart of her old friend-her new lover
DR.. Cory. No, Hannah was romantic,
and believed that if she bided her time
her ideal lover would appear and, pray,
was she not young and beautiful. with
all the wide, glorious world before her?
Why should she throw herself away on a
country surgeon, to help to concoct his
vinegar plasters, sit up at nights with
his patients, and go on day after day
busting green and blue bottles, and
smelling aloes from that horrid lar and
pestle.
:" Are you sure, Hannah, of what you
say-that you can never change toward
me? But, then, I will not harass YOU.
child. If you could have known how
much L want you, you might have
thought of this a little differently. I
hope you will not mind my coming to
the house sometimes. shall never say
anything more to distress you. But we
have been the best of friends too long to
let this foolish dream of mine come be-
tween us.
The sanshine faded from the family
room as Hannah dropped the musky
green curtains, after watching the Doc
tor down the red walk to the gate. and
out under tbs walnut tree. the strong.
vigorous frame, the steady steps accord
ing so i'll with that troubled face and
bowed head.
Oh, dear ! 1 hope 1 don't say any
thing to hurt his feelings in the least.
To be sure one can't marry all the men
who desire them to; but / remember how
Ill 1 was, and how kind DIR. Cory was.
and paid me all attention, nursing me
night and day. don't suppose til nv
fault if I couldn't love him. Hannah
wiped one very little tear from her left
eye with her snowy apron, and thought,
with some very inexplicable pangs, TITS
all over; somebody has desired me, and
| have refused him. 1 think the long
lane is going to turn at last"
Hannah went slowly up the wooden
stairs, singing in a mellow voice:
Robin he wooed, and Robin he lost
All on summers day;
All the roaring seas he crost-
Toforget it. well a-day."
Aunt Della was in the bedroom before
her, knitting on those never-ending wool
en- hose for the loutish Ira, and she went
at the question headlong,
&c suppose Dr. Cory asked you to
marry him, and you told him you would,
Hannah ?''
told him I wouldn't" the girl
said, feeling restless under the keen gray
eyes.
Mysister Hannah was fool, and she
left her daughter only her name, and her
lack of sense. "F7 n ew
Aunt Give said this in agitation, and
went away, angry with Hannah, for the
morning work, and Hannah began to
think, perhaps, she should never had to
touch the green bottles or smell the aloes
If she had gone to the red house
with DR.. Cory as his wife.
Hannah remained at home the follow
ing Sunday, for fear of meeting some
body; and Aunt Della went away with
her own reflections in her black silk
gown and her drawn silk bonnet. which
were both as familiar to the little chapel
as the baize curtains in the organ loft or
the pointed diamond -paned window.
But Aunt Della came home with dust
on the SILK gown hem, and anxiety under
the drawn bonnet ON the motherly face.
DIR. Cory had notrbeen to church, nor at
tended any of his people for four days,
and he was at home stricken with the
Il. III