Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-08-12

r ASK her TO change with me, SAFE
Will, eagerly ''tell her should be SC
glad, if she would not mind; the ligh
n there would suit me better.
n Alice consented doubtfully. at seems
, like deserving Willie, she said, "ant
yet one has no right to let ones sci
:. get i'll Mr.. Blake accept his offel
gratefully.
5 She had grown a little stately in hel
], solitary grief, and Will stammered over
g his premeditated speech. "My name
r is Willie, too, couldn't you take me TO,
your brother?"
ssOh, no. she answered, with direct
simplicity, che was so naughty, the
darling never could have him out
!; of my thoughts for moment"
Alice herself had this kind of naugh
tiness for VIII, and now, living in her
room, he seemed to be enconipassed by
her presence; his tools and work felt
rough and coarse amidst the little dain
ty arrangements that marked woman
ly hand.
=. off it hadn't been for knowing moth
| err, he mused one evening, 81 might
fall in love, do believe; as it is I know
better" F-.
So Nknowing BETTER" he shrank from
an intercourse that might, in some
sharp answer, bring Alice down from
her pedestal, on which he still chose
to place her, justifying his bright dreams
to himself by saying, sit is pleasant
to make believe, as the children say"
Alice meanwhile, had found cheer.
ing employment Ii, putting Wills room
strai ght, as she called it. ''Such pity,
poor man, to live in such muddle, and
him so clever, too" ..3-
She had found some torn drawings
in the Uttered fireplace, and carefully
smoothed them ont as treasurs over
looked.
"Will, coming for book, found her
thus busy, and said, smiling:
'FThey are Of no use, 1 don't want
them
'They seem wonderful to me-" she
said, looking up frankly.
| s,,ef no ,voyl, l,oe
us. l put button on my cuff this
morning, and it is off already"
I "Let me sew it OH; l have a needle
| here"
viii muttered something about
troubling her" but she answered, ID
ought to do anything | can; you don't
know how much good the change of
rooms has done nae. l suppose it is
like rich ladies going out of town"
"You have made grand improve
ment here" said VIII, looking round
the same room, the same furniture; but
what had been a dreary confusion was
now fairy place.
81 wish you would stay here always"
he added
Alice was about to answer, 81 do not
mind, not understanding him; but
something in Wills eyes made her own
droop, and the little fingers trembled
over their work suddenly Wills hand
caught them. "Alice, will you stay
here b? will you let me love you-be my
wife 2" ..-
She shrank away from him. Il must
not--I must not. t
"Why not F? tell me, darling"
''Mother said, when she died, "Child,
never marry" Father made her SO
wretched"
ave are kindred in trouble, then,
that is all" said Will "mother, some~
how tormented my father SO, that I
resolved to live and die alone-let us
both give up our hard purposes, will
you, Alice g
Willis tones pleaded better than his
words, they gained him the victory.
From the wreck of the past seemed
to spring q bright future, like the dow-
ers from ont of last years dead leaves
By-and-by, there was a wedding !;
the motherly landlady gave Alice
away, and Will took her as the great
gift of his life.
As they came home from church, he
said, brightly, 1--WE have both resigned
single blessedness. what shall we have
instead?" 4
She nestled close to him and answer
ed, "bonblc b1essedness"
Peaceful and brightly the years went
on, till even old Mr. Blake learned to
believe in youth and love and happi-
ness; more especially, when a little
fairy grand daughter came to clasp his
hand and toddle in his footsteps.
One day, when for wonder, Wills
sleeve fail no button, he came TO biz
, wife for her to sew one on something
, in her attitude, as she stood before hin
! with The morning sunshine on her hair,
reminded him of that first work Of hers
t when his love grew up almost in +;
i hight.
: $40 vol; remember Tie first button
), yon put on for me, like fetter round my
wrist, cunning Alice 7" he said smil