The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-01-10

observing that his face.w very pale, she
'".Are, you not well, Mr.. Bertram2; y, Can
I do anything for your ..,,| 80: -, ''.','
He pave sudden start as he spoke and
his face lost its pallor in an !agitated rush
0tcolor.i a.':,o:yl}sf.;E - #5,Htssz ~ b.
= "Yes. Miss Armstrong. you can if: you
will. Will you forgive me if ask you to
listen to me while 1 tell you my motive in
coming here this ihorning "'>&TAo'u
!! Lucretia in silent wonder 'at'his agita-
ton, settled herself to listen. to what he
might have to say. - >'I<I
miss Armstrong Lucretia-you see
before you a man who seemed at one
time to have been selected for fortunes
favorite. Wealth, kind friends and health
were mine until the accident occurred
which made me cripple. Until very
lately; i have, been sFcontented,, not
lwithstanding NY ] misfortune, although !
had given up oil thought of ever being
other than am d lonely bachelor. But
i have fallen under q, new influence, that
of love, and it rests with you to determine
whether my future shall be happy or
miserable" 1t, !: ) r / Is Is RI X 6.
/ His meaning by this time, began to
dawn upon Lucretia.
She rose abruptly. ''
mo, hear me through"
As he spoke he took her hand gently,
and said y!
please sit down and be your own
quiet, kind self until I finish my story,
even if your heart caanot respond to the
overpowering passion which fills mine
with your sweet image to the exclu-
sion of all other Thoughts and feeling. I
know am not fitting lover to offer N.Y.
self"
Lucretia put out her hand with an i'm
perative gesture: =
"Do not say that. It is not so! Any
girl light be proud of such an offer"
Then you will say yes 2" broke in
the eager lover "You will be my wife?"
1T is so sudden. I had not once
thought of you IN that light was the
hesitating reply.
''Tell me truly. Does this pitiful lame
less lessen my chances of gaining your
love2''
"No, oh, mol" she answered, earnestly.
"1f anything, l should love you better
for thinking how much suffering you
must have gone through before reach
ing your present state of noble resigna-
ton"
"1have not been very resigned Of late;
SO you must not give me credit fol. vir-
tues I do not possess. But, bless my mis-.
fortune, after what you have said, and
bless Miss Kitty for giving me such an
insight into my loves tender little heart
l should never have had the courage to
offer myself to you, Miss Lucretia, had I
not heard that you had a peschant for the
MANNED. On the strength of that intel'l-
gence spoke. But you must give me
an answer. Is it Yes or 'No2"
Judging from his beaming face he was
not much in doubt as to which it was.
But Lucretia said softly:
will tell you to morrow
"Well, | must be content to wait.
You can do me one favor, though, at
once. Give me one look full into those
shy eyes. I have never yet been able to
decide upon their color. Those white
lids have always had fancy of hiding
them, when have most wished to read
their kindly story"
Lucrctia flushed 50 that her pretty face
looked like blush rose; but she obeyed
her lover, and as she met his clear, truth
compelling eyes, the knowledge dawned
upon her that she had no need to wait
until to-morrow-that she loved him with
her whole heart.
He read the answer at once in their shy
timid glance, and, drawing her to him,
murmured:
Thank God for tins! His most prec-
ious gift life viii be too short to prove
how much I. love my darling girl-my
promised wife, ~ =: