Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-05-16

the Old-fashlOned interior was transform
ing.
More than one village critic had added
to his other charitable thoughts the sur
mise: "Looks kinder bad for Bill En-
MONS" and Barbara herself could have
assured them of the correctness of their
reasoning.
She was too kind hearted, however,
not to add to herself $50 much the
better, too, for Mrs. Hawkins. Neither
Dan nor [ would object to her living at
the old place till we could find buyer.
/ only wish she could raise the money
and buy it herself"
1t was, therefore, as the mistress at
the renovated mansion behind the
naples at the turn of the road that
Barbara Hawkins was considering her.
self when tea came, and she was quite
willing to hurry back into the parlor
while her ready handed step-mother
supervised their solitary "help'' in put
ting away the tea things.
By the time poor Bill Emmons made
his appearance, after his long days
drudgery in the one law office of the
village, where he was the junior, and
and therefore perhaps the working,
partner-by that time Barbara was
ready, civilly as she received him, to
wish he would postpone his call until
she could 'receive him in so much bet
ter style" And yet that night, of all
nights, the young lawyer had made up
his mind to put his fate to the test, and
win or loose it all.
Not bad fellow was Bill, and he had
fhon tod HOY 81, ,rrlx
convenient was the location of the Haw-
kins' homestead, and what tremendous
lift the possession of that and the pro-
ductive little farm belonging thereto
would give to a struggling young lawyer
like himself. The fact that he was over
head and ears in love with Barbara
made the whole affair absolutely beauti-
full
Sad was the trial to his impatient
feelings, therefore, when all the elo
quence of which he was master-and he
had long considered himself master of
the situation as well-only resulted in
obtaining for him promise from Bar
bara that she would consult her step
mother.
"Such a change it would make for her
if I should leave her % sighed Barbara.
"Not at all, not at ALL" eagerly ex-
claimed Bill. "She could live with us,
you know Everybody likes her I'm
sure / do. She wouldn't be in the way
at all"
But vain was all he could say or do,
except that Barbara's vision of the Gro
yer farm and house may have receded
somewhat as she listened to the pleading
of her sutton. She almost hoped Dan
would not come that night, for not only
the present situation had its charm, but
it might have its perils as well. Dan
Grover was not a man to be tritied with,
she knew, for all his quiet, self contain
ed ways.
And so it was with something of feel
ing of relief that Barbara listened, at
last, to the bur of the big kitchen clock
striking nine
1t was at the same instant that the
shadows of two who were walking side
by side in the moonlight fell on the gate
in singularly unified manner; and then,
as the gate opened, Barbara sprang to
her feet with a slight exclamation. She
had been sitting close to the low window
seat, and she had not seen fit, or had for
gotten, to light lamp.
There may or there may not have been
any cause for surprise, but the way Of it
had been this: No sooner were the tea
things out of the way than Mrs. Hawkins
remembered an GRAND she had at the
village, and had slipped quietly out to
perform it. Nor would so simply a
matter have taken two long hours, but
that, just as the widow was stepping
across the little foot-bridge at the brook,
the form of a tall, broad shouldered, Wig
orous man of, say, thirty-fve summers
stood before her, and deep voice re-
marked:
Right about face, please I want
bit of talk with you, and there'd be no |
chance for it at the house."
Not word said the widow, as Dan |
Grover drew her arm in his, but she |
thought, If he wants to speak of Bar
bara, he's right, for Bill Emmons must
be there by this time. What a fool she |
is! He don't begin to compare with /
Dan"
It must be confessed, however, that it |
seemed wonderfully pleasant, even when |
Dan turned up the shadowy lane toward /
the grave, and when he seemed to put off /
his express business and to talk of his /
farm and his house, and at last of him +
self
"I have everything around me fixed as
nicely as [ could ask for" he remarked at
length; g but grow lonelier every day.
The fact is, Pm determined to have a
wife, if / can get the one I want; but /
there's only one in all the wide world.
I'd be lonelier than [ am now with any
other"
Why don't you speak to her then?'
said the widow, with a half-choked feel
ing in her throat. "She's a very sensi-
BILE girl, but l don't think it would be
right for me to influence her I believe
a woman las no right to marry without
loving"
Quick as ightning-very different
from Dams ordinary calm, slow style
was his responsive query: Have you
always been of that opinion2 Have you
acted on it,"
The plump, soft hand on his arm was
leaked away in an instant, and Barbara's t