The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-07-09

'OOoSt Oh Uno SubJeCb, III WHICH Sl6 IN
formed me that the whole family we're
ready to receive me with open arms-e
prospect that did not find at all allur-
ing. They seemed to have set their
hearts upon me as person peculiarly
fitted to train John in the way he should
CO.. Every thing, 1 was told, depended
on his getting the right kind of wife.
A special interview with Mr.. Gran
ford, at his particular request, touched
me considerably.
"I hope" said he, "that you will
not refuse my boy. Miss Edna. He has
set his heart so fully upon you, and you
are every thing that could desire in
daughter. I want some one to pet. 1
feel sadly lonely at times, and am sure
that you would just fill the vacant
niche"
drew my hand away from his caress,
and almost felt like hating John Gran
ford. Life with him would one of
ease and luxury but decided l would
rather keep boarders.
Not long after this the Cranfords con-
cluded to go to housekeeping, and Mrs.
Shellgrove was in her glory. She al
ways came to luncheon now in her bon
net, and gave us minute details of all
that had been done and talked of about
the house in the last twenty-four hours.
1T is really magnificent, said she,
lengthening each syllable. brother
has such perfect taste /; and he is actu-
ally furnishing the library, Miss Edna,
after your suggestion. You see, we
look upon you quite as one of the
| family"
THAT is very good of you," I re-
piled, shortly; "but I certainly have
no expectation of ever belonging to il" 1"
Mrs. Shellgrove laughed as though
had perpetrated an excellent joke.
"Young ladies always deny these
things, of course ; but John tells diff
ferent story"
[ ratified the cups and saucers an
grily and my thoughts foated off uot
to John, but to Johns father, sitting
lonely in the library furnished after my
suggestion. Wasn't it, after all my
duty to marry the family generally?
The house was finished and moved
into, and John spent his evenings with
me. used to get dreadfully tired of
him. He was really too devoted to be
at all interesting, and I had reached
that state of feeling that, if summarily
ordered to take my choice between him
and the gallows, l would have prepared
myself for hanging with q sort of cheer
full alacrity.
locked the door upon John on the
evening in question, when I had finally
got rid of him, with these feelings in
full force and meditated while un-
dressing on some desperate move that
| should bring matters to crisis.
But the boy had become reused at
last. He too had reflected in the watch
es of the night and next day received
quite dignifed letter from him, telling
me that business called him from the
city for two or three weeks, and that
possibly on his return might appreci-
ate his devotion better. I felt mex
pressibly relieved. 1t appeared to me
| the most sensible move that John had
made in the whole course of our ac-
quaintance, and I began to breathe with
more freedom.
Time flew, however, and the three
weeks heightened to six without John s
return. He wrote to me, but his letters
became somewhat constrained and /
scarcely knew what to make of him. If
he would only give me up, thought ;
but 1 felt sure that he would hold me
to that weak promise of mine, that 1
should either become Edna Crawford or
lemain Edna Darlington.
6" Mr.. Crawford" was announced one
evening, and entered the parlor fully
prepared for an overdose of John, but
found myself confronted by his father.
He looked very grave; and instantly
/ imagined all sorts of things, and re-
preached myself for my coldness.
"John is we'll ?" [ gasped, finally.
"Quite well, was the reply, in such
kind tones that L felt sure there was
something wrong.
What it was cared not, but poured
forth my feelings to my astonished visl.
tor.
"He must not come here again % ]
exclaimed. "I do not wish to see him,
Tell him so, Mr.. Crawford tell that
had rather remain Edna Darlington, as
he made me promise, than to become
Edna Crawford"
"And he made you promise this p
was the reply. "The selfish fellow
But, Edna what am I to do without the
little girl have been expecting? am
very lonely-so lonely that I do not see
how can give her up"
1 glanced at him, and the room
seemed swimming around-everythine
was dreadfully unreal. tried to sit
down, and was carried tenderly to the
sofa.
"Shall it be Edna Darlington or Ed
ma Crawford ?" he whispered. You
need not break your promise to John.
"Edna Crawford" replied, feeling
that 1 had left the world entirely, ant
was in another sphere of existence.
If the thought crossed my mind tina
Mr.. Crawford had rather cheerfully sup
planted his son, the proceeding wal
fully justified during the visit which
soon received from that young gentle
man. 1 tried to make it plain to hin
that I did him no wrong, as l had neve
professed to love him, though not at al
sure that wouldn't receive the shak
ing threatened on a previous occasion
and endeavored to be as tender as pos
sible, for I really felt sorry for him.
To my great surprise, John laughed
"Well, this is jolly % be exclaimed
"And I'm not villain, after all. Wha
do you think of her, Edna ?"
He produced an ivorytype in ricl
velvet case-a pretty, little, blue-eyec
simpleton she looked like oetat seven
teen.
"Rose," he continued" Rose Darl
ling the name suits her, doesn't it
She was staying at my uncle's in Mary
land-that's where I've been visiting
you know-and she's such dear littl
confiding thing that fellow couldn'
help falling in love with her. And sh