Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-03-01

zle herself over the one great question
that perplexed her, and to wonder
what Mr.. Field could be coming to see
her for. Mr.. Field owned the house.
He was man of middle age, and not
very disagreeable person in appear
ance; but Rhoda had always been lit
tie afraid of him.
By-and-by he came. Rhoda knew
who it was when she heard his step
creaking on the stairs. She was half
frightened as she opened the door to
admit ner visitor.
"Good evening"" he said, as he en-
tered the plain, little room. There
was an air of evident embarrassment
in his manner as he greeted her.
"Good evening sir, answered Rhoda,
as she placed him in chair near the
fire. "Susie told me you called to-day,
while was out"
"I did," answered Mr.. Field 81
called to see you-on business"
And then it came about, how Rhoda
could never quite tell, because it was SO
unexpected, SO sudden, that Mr.. Field
asked her to be his wife. He would
give Susie and herself good home.
His wife had been dead a year, and he
his three little children. Would she
come?
ooh, sir, 1 couldn'tr' cried Rhoda
"I am so-so-surprised,- that [
don't know what to do. You are So
so much older than [ am, and
and there Rhoda broke down, and be-
gan to cry.
81 know" answered Mr.. Field, as
though to reassure her. "I can tell
just how you feel. [ didn't expect
you'd really know your own mind
right off, and don't ask you to decide at
once. I'm going into the country to my
sisters tomorrow, and shan't be back
for week. Take that time to think
over it. I know I'm older than you,
but you'll be sure Of good home, and
that's consideration. And your sis
ter could 20 to school, That's another
good thing. You see, I've thought it
all over, and look at it in practical
common-sense way, as [ want you to
do. I'm practical man. [ want a
good wife, and I think you will make
me one. Of course, I don't want you
to have me unless you want to; but
think you will find it for your interest
to accept my proposal. Think of it
while / am gone l will call again in
a week to receive your answer
And then he went away, leaving
poor Rhoda in more perplexity than
ever before. An offer of marriage.
Like Bulwer's hero" what should she
do with it.
Here was chance to get out of one
dilemma. By marrying this man she
could secure home for herself and
Susie. But could she marry him :?
Would life with him be pleasant? She
had dreams of happy freside shared
with man whose tastes were some
thing like her own; a man who would
fondly call her pretty names, and read
to her, and bring her flowers Could
she let this man kiss her Could she
drag out long life Of companionship
with man whose tastes were nothing
like her own? Oh, no oh, no! But
then there was the home to be gained,
and the education that Susie could
have How could she decide what to
do9
She dreamed all night of Mr.. Field
and thought that she had married him.,
and that people asked her if she didn't
pity the former Mrs Field, the poor
thing, and if she didn't find it a great
trial to be stepmother to three such I'M
ruly children as his were. She woke
up with a terrible headache. That day
she stayed at home. She had enough
to think of without wandering up and
down the streets in search of work.
And such thinking as poor Rhoda
kept up But the more she thought,
the less she knew what to do
The next day a lady sent her dress
to make, and that helped to cause the
time to pass off more swiftly. 1t was
three days before the dress was COM
pleted. So four days had gone by
since Mr.. Field had proposed marriage
to her, and she had not decided what to
do. It was so hard to do what was for
the best. If she only knew, but she
did not.
On the fifth day, she carried the dress
home; but the lady was out of town,
and Rhoda had to go back home with
out the money that she needed badly
to purchase food with. They had been
living on short rations for the last two
days. She had bought a little fuel, and
little fuel cost what was to her great
deal of money. The sixth day was a
very long and dreary one to Rhoda. 1t
showed all day and she could not get
out to look for work. Though she had
begun to think it nearly useless to
n I