The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-09-29

sent to be poor mans wife, and will
marry me, my whole life shall prove my
| complete devotion to YOU"
| She was trembling slightly, and her
cold hand shook in his as she disengaged
1t; but when she spoke it was with great
| tirmness. t
II will not answer you now" she said.
You told me once in jest what | now
repeat to you in earnest; before you con-
clude to undertake me you must be in
formed of some of the liabilities of the
situation. There are things that you do
not know of in my life, and of these you
must be informed"
Why should II" he cried, eagerly.
Let that come afterward. If we love
! each other nothing else can signify. |
don't care who or what your surround
ings are. 1t is your very self that love-
All, don't keep me out of my happiness.
| am bold and presuming to say 50, but
hope you are going to say you love me
and will be my wife"
1t was great struggle; but Grace
stepped back from his outstretched arms
and shook her head
"No, you must wait" she said. at
will not be for long. l shall go at once
to New York and you may follow me
there. l shall not give you my address,
but in a day or two will send for you
and you shall be acquainted with the cir
cumstances l have alluded to and have
your answer there"
He pleaded his cause very eloquently,
but she was not to be moved, so he had
to yield, and in two moM Gays theywere
both in New York, and he was anx-
iously awaiting his summons. 1t came,
worded in brief, formal terms, and in
vited him to come to a given number and
street at a given hour. ........
On reaching the place indicated by the
address furnished him he found it very
familiar. 1t was a superb residence in a
very good quarter, which had been built
by an eccentric old maid of very high
position and immense wealth, who had
no sooner completed and furnished it
magnihcently than she died, leaving it
and the rest of her property to a relative
in the far South. Surprising that it had
since been rented or sold to some ac-
quaintance of Miss Lyons, with whom
she was perhaps staying-he knew her
parents We're not living-Mr. Austin
rang and asked if Miss Lyon was in.
Finding that she was, he entered and
was ushered into princely drawing
room, and in a moment Grace came in to
him. She was dressed in the simplest
of costumes and gave him a very quiet
and friendly greeting.
" have come for my answer" he said
at once. "Tell NE quickly, what is it
to be? Remember, ask you to share a
life of hardship and privation; don't for
get that ] am poor. | will only be able
to support you very simply, but will
give you lavish quantity of love and
tenderness. | believe you are going to
say yes"
My answer depends simply on one
thing" she said "Are you sure you
love me entirely for myself, indie
pendent of my surroundings and con-
nections? Would you love me as well
if l told you was working for my daily
bread-that | lived in this house as a
teacher who earned her own living?"
"Oh, is that all?" Mr. Austin said
with sigh of relief. "Just as we'll
just as well. 1t is yourself that l love
!
will you be married, Grace? Now? To
day? l will take you away with me
darling, and you shall not work any
more "
Wait moment" Grace said, gently
"Give me your hand, dear, and under
stand that love you dearly, and will
marry you just whenever you like. You
have convinced me that it is simply fol-
myself that you love me, and so you
won't mind it and won't change your
feelings toward me one whit when tel
you that the relative to whom old Miss
Hurlburt left her fortune was no more
worthy or imposing an individual than
your own little sweetheart, Grace"
Mr.. Austin dropped her hand and
sprang to his feet, a look of batfiement
and disappointment rising to his face
He walked swiftly off to the other end of
the room. Grace followed him and ran
her hand through his arm confdingly
but he stepped away from her and hel
loving little hand fell heavily to her side
Stop, Miss Lyon" he said. 81 must
have moment to think This is so sud
den. Oh, my dear, why did you tell me
Ten minutes ago was so utterly happy
and now l feel so disconnected and differ
ent, because everything is changed"
Grace went slowly back to her seat or
the sofa.
"Then, after all, it was not for myself
that you loved me, but because of my
poverty and dependence" she said, cold
ly. 81 am glad l discovered in time
that it was from pity that you were go
ing to marry me-" ...
PITY! o Grace, you don't think
that Cannot you feel that it was abso
lutely altogether because loved you?'
Loved, not love-" she said, sadly.
because Hove you, he said, passion.
ately. You know how love you"
And still you won't consent to accept
little wretched, worthless money at my
hands, when a moment ago you were of
fering me the work and labor of life
time. You were willing that shoulc
accept that from you, but not that you
should have anything of mine. cal
that very narrow kind of love"
"Oh, if you could only see, you would
understand that my love for you is deep
profound and abiding; but you must bea
with me, Grace. Long ago l used tt
think would marry rich girl, but tn,
prospect of marrying poor one ha