Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-10-04

low, deep tone, but it looks SO cool
on paper. Therefore began again
MY dear Miss Gordon / can't re-
member my words, though no doubt
my wife does, but know my letter
was very tender, and, | hoped, very
earnest and impressive.
was once more puzzled how to
end my epistle, but at last decided
Believe me dear, dear Miss Cor
don, waiting in trembling hope and
fear, yours in life and death, yours
only and forever,
PHILLIP GwYNNE.'
This / despatched to Miss Gordon,
enclosing note for the young lady's
papa, to be delivered at her discre-
ton. You may believe / scarcely
closed my eyes all that night.
Next day, Christmas day, was too
busy to attend church !; but | got
clear about four o'clock, and hastily
dressing myself, started for Mr.. Cor
don's. He met me warmly.
Come in here. my dear fellow
said he i can't tell you how pleased
she is-my wife, / mean. And l am
quite satisfied as to money and world
ly affairs. Quite. Old Mr.. Thomp-
sons is good practice. We must
have settlement, you know but
that'll be all right. Rather you have
her than an earl. God bless you !
am proud to call you son I've spoken
to her. She loves you, my boy-loves
you dearly, she says, and has done SO
long. And now that you are one of
the family, I may as we'll tell you
secret. My youngest daughter is en-
gagged too. Yes, Alice and my
nephew William are going to make a
match oft. Don't look so astonished.
She'll make him good wife; for
though she is year younger than
dear Hetty, she looks older, you
know, and is more steady and sedate.
But Hetty's dear girl, and will, I'm
sure make you happy. Don't speak,
don't speak +! There, III send her in
And off the lawyer bolted in his usual
jerky way before could speak
word.
Was / mad? Was l dreaming ?
Alice the younger Alice engaged
-Hetty love me dearly! Hetty com
ing to me Ye powers, what on
earth was it all about I? How could |
have been such fool? A thousand
little hitherto unnoticed facts crowded
on my brain, confirming the state
ment. How could | have trusted ap-
pearances SO utterly, and taken her
for the eldest without being certain ?
She engaged and wild, merry, sweet
Hetty loving me! 1t would still not
enter my brain. What should do ?
Get up, bolt and explain afterward?
| sprang up to obey my impulse.
As / did so the door opened, and
with downcast eyes and rosy bushes
Hetty came in. | rushed eagerly to-
ward her and grasped her hands. l
would confess all, | thought. 'Hetty
- I began. She mistook my action,
my words, for affection. She came
nearer to me, responded to my warm
clasp, and then, overcome by shyness,
hid her pretty curly head on my
shoulder. My embarrassment mo-
mentarily increased. ooh Hetty, Hetty
- | began once more.
Dear Philip she whispered, in re-
ply to what she deemed affection, Il
am SO happy, Philip
What could do? Tell her it was
all a mistake, and thus blight the
bright young life and heart forever ?
In that one second / made a great
decision. My chances of happiness
had fled. / would sacrifice myself
and marry her, and she should never
know the truth.
| bent down and whispered, God
bless you, Hetty; / viii try and make
you happy and l kissed the wild,
teasing, merry girl, now SO gentle, SO
winning, so sweet. | could not rudcly
break her heart.
She looked up, and then hid her
face again on my shoulder, and chung
to me to hide her emotion. Was it
not possible to love her? Ought |
not to be thankful? Had / married
Alice-no, mean proposed to her
l should only have been rejected, and
gone away miserable; now | had
real, true heart to love me. Surely.
surely, in time | might return her af-
lection.
Can you be happy with me, Hetty?
| asked.
ooh, Philip, indeed l cam she re-
Piled.
4 always feared you laughed at
me.' / said.
I only laughed to hide my feelings
said Hetty.
i am not rich. Hetty,' / continued.
81 will be careful little wife, Philip,
she said.
4 am not worthy of you.' said.
yes, you are,' she exclaimed; /
am not worthy of you
There was no escape for me. She
wouldn't see me in my worst light.
She would love me.
We sat down side by side. She
prattled to me how Alice and Willie
had long loved each other, but that it
had never been a settled thing till
now, for his position had not been
such that he could marry.
and Alice is so glad for me- went
on Hetty, little thinking whst my
feelings were. 'She says you're just
the kind of man she would like for a
brother. You.know it would not do
for us both to want you for husband
-eh, Philip
NO, dearest / stammered, 'it
would not
| could not talk to her, but she
seemed not to mind my silence. We