The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-06-07

+" Know me now =" she asked, as she
might q baby. ~
SOf course, Miss Bessie; why nots"
" You haven't known anyone for q
"Ah. / wish I had died and never
known anyone"
=. Bessie You will know It il not non
sense, soon. You don't guess What Is be-
fore me-"
"oh, to get we'll and return to the Of
dee"
"Neverr'
She put her lips to my ear and whis-
pered, I" It's all right about the. watch
Nh. Winder has it. Nobody knows any
thing about where it was for twenty -four
hours, but me. You're safe-1 couldn't
let t-aunt's house-~be disgraced, SO lar
ranged matters" afta3 l
"Oh, Bessie, how-whatf' 7
Hush, you'll be i'll again. found
your note. l read it while they took care
of you. Il never told them what read
took the watch out of pawn. l had
twenty-seten dollars laid by for new silk,
and didn't mind lending it for the sake OF
-of aunt's house, you know. It's always
been respectable. -
caught her hand and would have
kissed it, but she took it away.
"God bless you," I said; "you've
saved me!''
She tossed her head and put up her lip.
"'Twas for our own sakes," she said.
"Such q thing might do us harm, you
know. Now keep quiet"
She left me, and sank asleep, praying
for her.
After that / grew we'll rapidly; and went
to my Office again in a fortnight. MIR;
Winder thanked me for the care | had
:aken Of his valuable watch, and asked
me .swho the pretty little creature who
brought it was-a sister-a cousin-or-
ahem-a sweetheart, now, MIR. Pitcairn y
And l only blushed like a girl. and
wished could have answered YES" to
that.
But, alasl she was very cool and proud
with me---never sat beside or talked to
me. All the familiarity was aone-just
when 1 loved her SO. 1t was hard to
bear. For words Cannot tell how fond |
had grown OF her. At last the quarter
came around, and l was able to discharge
my debt to her. -s...aas.s
I did it quite Lumbly and sadly, and
she received the envelope with a little
nod and Always glad to ,oblige a
boarder."
"You must despise me very much,"
said. 44
"Oh, no; young men are often very
silly. 1 know you never intended to steal
the watch" All spoken In such an icy
tone, without look at me.
i sat sadly looking at her. Now l had
losther valued her. How beautiful her
eyes were---so much deeper and clearer
and womanly than Miss Maydew's! Just
then they turned to me-a little malice in
them.
"Perhaps you know Miss Maydew is to
be married today she said, "to heI
cousin, Mr. Donny :"
!" Indeedl' said I.
"Pm sorry to tell you i'll news" said
she. I W as sg
"Illnews! You astonish ME.
"Ah! well, we all thought you admired
her, you know. Aunt told me to break il
gently" '7H l'Ass
Miss Maydew is a silly, heartless doll
baby" said "She is handsome, but
see n other charm to her."
"Fie !" said Bessie, to speak so OF
the girl.n But she looked more kindly
at me. T1& f1ti s's
And even her beauty is not worth
much," said I. "Give me an olive Skin
and brown eyes, and never care to see 8
blonde"
Then she smiled outright.
"We all know fair girls are prettiest, '
she said. .r
arose and sat beside her on the sofa.
Bessie" l said, ~ can't think so. Tt
me there is only one lovely woman in the
world. Can you guess who that is ~
-" How should ?" asked Bessie.
You know
"Oh, don't, Mr.. Pitcairn"
stole nv arm about her waist.
Bessie said, 81 love you bettel
than my life. Can't you like me lit
tie ?"
Bessie looked down.
Twill you be my wife s' asked with
gasping effort. IS ce
Your wife? 1t would be dangerous
You are so tickle. I'd hate HUSBAND
who cared for every new face. | dom
consider myself beauty, you know, sir
but he, if 1 ever'haye one, must"
i = DcSSlc, LltTt Ii AotAiAS lAC you IL
the world to me-" i.
| ..Ah, how long would it lastG"
"FUreveri" ~ - sah srpe
"Half day. Beside, poor Jansol
Gloak-',iea ,sfsas tjHs7s,ssaf 5-t7
/" You don't love him, Bessie''
| I" Love! It's not proper for a girl t
love people; but Go admire his disposi
tion-+he's so constant
i "And you can never forgive me-"
: ssThere is nothing to, forgive, I'm sur,
IA gentleman has a right to admir-
i whom he pleases. 'na - s. -
s. But saw sly, shy look in her eyes
and caught her to my breast. She ,strug
i gled like a frightened bird at first, IN.
then hei head rested gently on my shoul
der, and I kissed her and called her mine
So we were married, after some wait
ing for increase of salary and better times
and am rich now and prosperous, an
she has been my wife twenty years. Ye
it was only the other day she came to m
and perched upon my knees in her mai
ronly cap, put her rosy, dimpled fac
close to mine, and made q confession.
"Do you remember long ago, Ned, th
affair Of Mr.. Winder's watch ?"
| "Can forget it, Bessie, and from whs
you saved me?' easg ss.1. r
! swell, Ned, / told you then | did
for the sake Of aunt's boarding house
That was all my stupid pride. did
for love of you, for l loved you dearly a
along. i did indeed, Ned!
As if l hadn't known it from the frs
But didn't tell her 80. l only kisse
her.