The Van Buren press., 1877-06-05
VAN BUREN, ARK. JUNE 5. 1877.
She looked at him now with wide open

She looked at him now with wide open
eyes, the whole truth came to her
He loves me-" she said joyously to
herself. d" He has loved mo all along,
and would not tell me Of it. Ef.r5rI
She reached out both hands this time,
and drew his face to hers, Whispering
~ do mean more. Oh, Louis, Louis,
how blind you have been not to have
seen that have always loved you"
"Is that true, Nettie p he said, al
most fercely. as he unclasped her arms.
"Do not triAe with me. | have wor.
shipped you all my life and to come so
near the prize, and then lose it, is more
than can endure
He needed only to look in her eyes to
receive the answer he wanted
alt is true, Ncttie Thank God, 1t is
truei Is ita wonder that doubted ? II
seems like glorious dream, from which
l shall awaken and find my treasure
gone"
To think, Louis, how miserable We
have both made ourselves! Only an hour
ago wanted to be dead"
"But you will not die now, my dar
ling You shall live to know by my life
how thankful am for this precious gift >
Louis said Nettie. a few mornings
after, as she sat in an easy chair, making
her lover thought, very beautiful con
valescent. "next Wednesday is my wed
ding day" =#.5=.
"Nettie,' said Stab, looking his sur
prise, you are q darling to name sc
early day. WANTED II to be SO, bu
scarcely dared to ask It"
She raised her hands deprecating.y a,
he spoke, and then hid her face from
him in them.
"Why, Nettie," continued her lover
as he laughingly imprisoned her hands
"you need not care; we will be married
to. day if you say So You took me By
surprise, that was all and l could no
help expressing it; there is no need 70
you to look SO confused"
"Oh. Louis, how provoking of you t
hink could have meant our wedding
day"
"You said yours, DEAR
"Yes, but not yours
"What do you mean, Nettie p sait
Stab with a grave face.
"You are so stupid You must surely
know. Next Wednesday is the day Sc
for me to become Mrs. Preston"
"Nettie," said Stab, "you do no
know what you are talking about"
Nettie Austin looked up now, end saw
that every vestige of color had left hel
lovers face. She began to comprehend
that he was indeed ignorant of her prom
Use and arrangements to marry Preston
why, LOUIS" she said with troub
led face, g did not think it worth Will
to explain to you. The subject was hat
full. and I took it for granted that 20,
4 ,-.~-~~~,,~ -a.--... i. ..4--,
"And SO you are to marry him7" sal
Louis Stab, in voice so changed tina
Nettie scarcely recognized 1t.
"No, Louis; intend to write to-da,
and offer price for my hand, which i
promised him. l know him too well t
tear he will not accept it,
"Oh, Nettie to think of you being tn
promised wife Of another and atfianced t.
me at the same timc!' ......
Indeed, you are a little too fast, Mr.
Stab. promised to be Preston's wifi
but not yours,
Ncttie Austin"
"How could | PROMISE said Neiti
turning half away from him. when yoV
have never yet asked p
She was in her lovers arms the mex
second.
"You know very we'll darling" h
said kissing the face that was trying t.
hide from him, g that ! have told yoI
over and over again that loved you, an
that you were mine forever"
"Yes, Louis, know. but you"
"Oh, begin to understand. You wan
me, as Maud Muller says, to ask you lik
the do in books. Well, dear will you b
my wife p
Nonsense, Louis' or course l wan
to be asked and of course"
"Well, Nettie, of course what?"
"Tll be your Wife"
"Thank you darling; now make me a
happy as ! was a half hour ago by scttin
an early wedding day"
"That was so stupid of you Louis !"
"Well." said Louis, laughing, forgiv
me, and Pll set the day this time. Yo'
will hear from Preston tomorrow, an,
we will be married on his day after all"
So, on the Wednesday set, Owenebor
was put in little uproar Of talk and ex
element; for in the church, at the hou
appointed for Nettie to become Mrs
Preston, she walked up the aisle wit
Louis Straib, whom, before she walke'
back, she promised to love, honor ant
obey.
The strangest part of all. was the gcs
sips said that Clarence Prestoa was tn
first one to offer the happy pair congrat
ulations.
No one guessed how Nettc had man
aged affairs, even when the young lawye
announced to his friends that he was til
possessor of suddenly acquired wealth.