The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-06-03

could have him out of my thoughts fOl
a moment"
Alice, herself, had toe kind oi
naughtiness for Will, and now, living
in her room, he seemed to be encOm.
passed by her presence; his tools and
work felt rough and coarse amidst the
little arrangements that marked a
womanly hand.
"If i: hadn't been for knowing
mother" he unused, one evening. 81
might fall in love, do believe; as II
is know better"
So knowing better" he shrunk 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, at is
pleasant to make believe, as the child
ren say"
Alice, meanwhile, had found a cheer
/ ing employment in putting Wills
room straight as she called it, "Sueh
8 pity, poor man, for him To live 10
sueh muddle, aud him 81 clever,
too -
She had found some torn drawings
in the Uttered fireplace, and carefully
smOOthed them out as treasures over
looked.
Will, coming for a book, found her
thus busy, and said, smiling
"They are Of no use, L dOn't want
them.n .4..rs.4 Ef
"They seem wonderful To me," she
said, looking up frankly.
"Ahi Just as women's work does to
Us. 1 put button on my cuff, this
morning and it Is of already"
LET me sew it, have a needle
here"
Will muttsred something about
"troubling her." but she answered., "I
ought to do anything / can, you don't
know what good the change Of rooms
has done nae. / suppose it is like
rich ladies going out OF town.
"You have made a grand improve
ment here" said Will, looking round;
the same room, the same furniture
but what had been a dreary confusion,
was now orderly.
ST wish you would stay here al
ways" he added.
Alice was about to answer, 81 do
not mind" not understanding him;
but something in Willis eyes made
her own droop, the little fingers trem-
bled over their work; suddenly Wills
hand caught them. "AIiee. will you
stay here?" will you let me love you
be my wife?'i
She shrunk away from him. ST
must not-I must not"
why not =? tell me, darling"
"Mother said, when she died, Child,
never marry Father made her so
wretched.n
1--WE are kindred in trouble, then,
that is all" said viii; "mother some
how tormented my father so, that I
resolved to live and die alone-Iet US
both give up our hard purposes-will
you. AliceW
Wilrs tones pleaded better than his
words, they gained him the victory.
From the wreck of the past seemed
to spring bright future, like the
flowers from out of last years dead
leaves.
By and by, there was wedding;
the motherly lsndlady gave Alice
away, and Will took her as the great
gift of his life.
AS they came home from church, he
said, brightly, ave have both resign
ed single blessedness, what shall we
have instead ?"
She nestled clOsetO him and answer
| ed, "DOuble blessedness."
Peacefully and brightly the years
went on, till even old Mr. Blake learn
ed to believe in youth and love and
happiness; more especially, when q
little fairy granddaughter came to
clasp his hand and tOddle in his foot
steps.
One day, when for wonder, WHIPS
sleeve had no button, be came TO his
wife for her to sew one on; something
in her attitude, as she sat before him
with the morning sunshine on her
hair, reminded him OF that first work
of hers when his love grew up almost
in night.
ado you remember the first button
you put on for me, like letter round
my wrist, canning Aliee?" he said,
smilingly.
"Would you be elOOsed now, if you
could ?" she asked with a tender look
of defiance
"Ah no! this, our little life is-'' q
tender merry voice broke in, calling,
'Father?p-he ended, with thank
ful sigh, triple blessednessr'