River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-09-28
HE'LL NEVER TELL.

- = I'll - l. LIG L LII.
I loved my son dearly. | spoiled
him with kindness. Not few called
me eccentric could not suit; but,
then. who ever saw themselves as 9TH
erS see them!
My son wanted TO get married. Who
the girl was | didn't know, so refused
my consent, not altogether because
Didn't know who she was, for might
have found that out by asking, but j
had other reasons for Withholding my
consent.
You are twenty-One,' said | to
him. land you have plenty of time to
marry. Your mother died when you
were an infant. and during all these
years have never thought of marry
ing ] remained single just for your
sake.
well, nobody ever asked you to re-
main single. was the dutiful reply.
..YOu can get married now-yOu're not
too old-yOu haven't a streak of gray
among Your raven locks yet.
Now, that was what | called gener-
Gus. There is not many son and
heir, Il warrant, who would be glad
to see his father take young wife.
Young wife yes, that's right who
ever heard tell of an old man looking
for an old wife ?
As soon rs my son said marry to
me, / had my wife in my minds eye.
4 real nice young girl whom had met
at my sister Hetty's, down in Hartford,
q few months before.
Now. told my son that all these
years | never thought of marrying.
That was falsehOOd, but | said it I'M
thinkingly, for ! thought of matrimO-
ny more than once during the last
three months.
That blue-eyed girl down at Hart
ford must have liked me very well,
for she was so attentive TO me. In
deed. couldn't help noticing it. She
I had such winning ways soft voice and
! pleasant smile. But | didn't go down
TO Hartford since, what was the use
I | would be sure to see real nice girl,
| for. she was a neighbOr of my sister,
I and what would my son say to such
/ nonsense No, no. | couldn' go down
and cultivate that young lady's ac-
I quaintance. | loved my son too well
/ to let any one come between us. But
now had his consent to go ahead, and
| meant to take him at his word, so
said 10 him:
Il am going down to Hartford in a
| few days, and if you behave your
self, may give my consent to your
marriage when come back.
.'Hetty," said to my sister, a few
/ DAYS after .dOes that young lady
friend of yours, Miss Allen, visit you
yet -
If she thought YOU were here she
would have called, for she thinks the
world of y on, -
i am glad TO hear that, I said and
my heart gave great thump.
..Oh, are you! You've come
around ut last then, said Hetty laugh
ing.
didn't exactly understand her, and
I | said with some hesitency:
..TIettv. what sort of wife do you
/ think that girl would make o.
..Now, Silas, | really believe you
/ came down to see Bessie Allen, and
| have final settlement. Poor child,
she'll be delighted. Here's her adj
dress, and go and see at once
I Nv face was burning rs Hetty gave
/ me the address. | couldn't speak a
word. | took the address and hurried
I away. How could Hetty have guessed
/ my errand
-Oh. how do YOU do am glad TO
I see you, Mr.. Grey!" exclaimed Bessie
Allen. when she opened the door to
/ almit me.
! | held her hand for moment in
I mineand looked down at her, the same
I bright, pleasant face that had haunt
\ ed me for the last three months. re-
/ turned her friendly greeting, and fol-
/ lowed her into a pretty little parlor,
where she sat down beside me, and
| chatted for some time, the blush never
leaving her face.
iii go and see if can find father
about. | know he will be happy to
see YOU. viii YOU excuse me mo-
ment
Certainly | said. and Bessie dis
appeared. blushing and smiling.
Presently the door opened again.
and | looked up TO see BesSie's smiling
face, but instead jumped TO my feet
in establishment.
Prank g I exclaimed, for it was
nv son that stood before me.
Frank wasn't the sort of young
man that gets surprised easily, and he
Ssllu c0OllN
Il didn't know that You were ac-
quainted with Mr.. Allen, father.
I'm not acquainted with Mr.. Al
en-. said |, as soon Is / could recover
mg breath. I'm acquainted with Miss
Bessie Allen.
Frank shrugged his shoulders, and |
took my seat again.
What do you think of Miss Allen!
he said, careleSSly.
Il think she is one of the incest
girls in all creation, | said, with en-
thuSiasm.
Father, i" said Frank, after a short
pause, s.you said you would give your
consent to my marriage after your re-
turn home can't you do it now, and
set my mind at rest!
MY son, YOU can marry tomorrow,
if you wish"
''0h, sir i
Before Frank could say any more,
Bessie entered.
s.Bessie." said Frank, taking her
hand and bringing her over to me ;
.sfather saws can marry tomorrow, if
I wish. Will that be too soon for you,
dearest!"
As these words were spoken, | start |
ed to my feet. What said, or how |
acted, never could tell to this day. !
know. now, what Hetty meant by inal
settlement. Well, Bessie is my daugh- |
Ter and I'm satisfied. What an old /