Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-06-25

"Oh, no." she answered, with direct
simplicity, che was so naughty, the
darling; l could never have him out
of my thoughts for moment"
Alice herself had this kind OF
naughtiness for Will, and now living
in her room, he seemed to be encom-
passed by her presence; his tools and
work seemed coarse amidst the little
arrangements that marked womanly
hand.
eff it hadn't been for knowing
mother," he mused, one evening, Il
might tall in love, I do believe; as it
is, rknow better"
So "knowing BETTER" he shrank
from an intercourse that night. if
some sharp answer, bring Alice down
her pedestal, on which he still chose
to place her, justifying his bright
dreams to himself by saying, "It is
pleasant to make believe as the chill
dren say
Alice, meanwhile, had found a
cheerful employment in putting Wills
room straight, as she called it. "Such
a pity, poor man, for, him to live in
such a muddle, and he so clever,
too"
+ She had found some torn drawings
in the Uttered fireplace, and carefully
smoothed them out as treasures over
looked.
Will, coming for book, found her
thus busy, and said, smiling:
"They are of no use; don't want
them."
"They seem wonderful to me-" she
said, looking up, frankly.
"Ah! just as woman's work does to
us. | put button Oh my cuff, this
morning, and it is off already"
"Let me sew it, l have a needle
here"
Will muttered something about
"troubling her." but she answered:
81 ought to do anything that 1 can;
you don't know what good the change
of rooms has done me. I suppose it
is like rich ladies going out of town."
"You have made grand improve
ment here" "said Will, looking around,
the same room, the same furniture;
but what had been before a dreary
confusion was now fair peace.
81 wish you would stay here al
ways" he added.
Alice was about to answer, II do
not mind," not understanding him;
but something in Wills eyes made
her own droop, the little fingers trem
bic over their work; suddenly Wills
hand caught them. "Alice will you
stay here? Will you let me love you
be my wifc?"
She shrank away from him. 81
must mott must not"
/ "Why not? tell me, darling"
"Mother said, when she died, Child,
never marry Father made her so
wretchcd."
"We are kindred III trouble, then,
that is ALL" said Will. Mother,
somehow, tormented my father so,
that / resolved to live and die alone
let us both give up our hard pur-
poses, will you, Alice?"
Wills tones pleaded better than
his words; they gave him the victory.
From the wreck of the past seemed
to spring bright future, like the
flowers from last years dead leaves.
BY and by there was a wedding;
the motherly landlady gave Alice
away, and Will took her for the great
gift of his life.
AS they came home from church,
he said brightly, ave have both re.
signed single blcssedness, what shall
we have instead?"
She nestled close to him, and an
swered, 'Double blessedness."
Peacefully and brightly the years
went on, till even Mr.. Blake learnt to
believe in youth and love and happi-
!. ness; more especially when a little
fairy granddaughter came to clasp his
hand and toddle in his footsteps.
One day when, for wonder, Wills
sleeve had no button, he came to his
wife for her to sew one on; some
thing in her attitude, as she sat be-
fore him with the morning sunlight
on her hair, reminded him of the first
work Of hers when his love grew up
almost in night.
'Do you remember the first button
you put on tor me, like fetter round
my wrist, cunning Alice?" he said,
smilingly.
"Would you be loosed now, if you
could?" she asked, with a tender look
of defiance.
"Ah, no! this our life is"-a tender
merry voice broke in, calling "Fa-
ther!" he ended with thankful sigh,
"Triple happiness!"