Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-02-23


quite so foolish an old woman as to
wish you to promise to marry stran-
ger. But [ want you foreman with us
for short time, and try to like my
friend, and win her to like you"
"I would be a scoundrel if did that. !"
GA scoundrel?"
Eyes, for have already given my
love and won return"
"And did not tell me, Rob!'
"Only because I have not known
where to find you all summer"
" But your mother says your choice
has fallen upon avulgar nobody, pen
niless orphan"
My mother has never seen Edna
1t is true she is an orphan, born in the
alms-house, but she has been befriend-
ed: and educated by gentle, refined peo-
pie, and there is no faint of vulgarity
about her. Aunt Maria, do you think
| am man to love a vulgar woman p
"No, Rob; but think ! an alms-house
orphan r'
"But gentle, lovely woman, the
woman | love [ might seem to agree
in your place, auntie, but you see that
it would be scoundrePs part to court
your friend, when both love and honor
bind me to Edna"
"Honor, Rob p
4" Yes, for she knows my love and
has confessed her own. Could any true
man desert a woman after that?"
"But broken engagements are every
day events. Come, Rob, be reasonable.
Draw off little by little, and let me in
troduce the girl I wish my heir to
marry"
In an instant Robs lips were firmly
set, and his eyes took [steady look of
resolution. Never had Mrs. Hepburn
heard so manly a ring to his voice as it
took when he answered:
"To please you, Aunt Maria, l would
do anything honorable, and if l were
free, would try to give even my love
where you dictated But to win your
money, to place myself in the position
Of your heir, would not lift a finger.
If you mean the emphasis on your last
words for threat, it is powerless. Let
your friend wed your heir if you wish,
but my love and honor cannot be
bought"
He rose as ne spoke, as if he would
have taken his leave, but Mrs. Hepburn
put her hand upon his arm.
"Stay, Rob-" she said. ~ did not
mean to wound you; l should have
judged you better than to threaten you
in any way. Forgive me, and in token
of your forgiveness, stay and dine with
me. If you will not give your heart to
my companion, 1 can trust you for all
the courtesy friend of mine may
claim"
" Indeed you can! am heartily at
your service and hers for a cavalier,
Auntie"
"Will you ring the bell near your"
A servant answered the summons,
and Mrs. Hepburn said:
EGO to No. and ask the lady there if
she will come to me, if she is olsen
gagged. Heigho, Rob-" she added, as
the servant departed, "you have no
idea what a very pretty castle in the
air you have demolished"
81 am sorry But you will forgive
me when you have seen my Edna
You will not let mothers strong preju-
dices against a perfect stranger infu-
ence you, will you, auntie? ~
" | won't promise. All I hear my
friend. She has come in at another
door, Come in?''
There was rustic of skirts, the bed
room door opened, and in the doorway
stood a tall, graceful girl, whose eyes
flashed and whose cheeks rosy, when
she beheld Robert Harkner. Just for
one moment she stood there, and then
Rob had both her hands fastin his, and
was drawing her toward him. But her
face grew pale, and she drew back from
the loving arms that would have encir-
cled her.
You must not" she faltered; "your
mother wrote to me /! I cannot be the
cause of a quarrel between you and
your mother:"
You need not fear that" said Mrs.
Hepburn, dryly, Il will undertake to
remove all her objections"
!" You Do you know her." asked
Edna.
From her cradle, my dear. This
gentleman is my great nephew, Miss
Seabright! And" she added merrily
you may depend upon him for all the
courtesy friend of mine may claim"
More, more, Edna p Rob cried
" You may trust him for life's de-
votion, for truest love, for entire loyal
ty. You have long known my love,
and shown me your own, and Aunt