Sharp County record., 1879-06-26

YOU; but l do not love you, Mr.. Graf
TOM n.
81 don't ask you to love me. OF
course you don't; the idea has never,
perhaps, entered your head before L
only beg that you will marry me. Love
will come sooner or later, as | deserve
if at YOUR hands. And, my dear Greta,
what better can you do? Who will give
YOU employment, with this blight upon
youP How will you earn your daily
bread?"
81 don't know" returned Gretai
show shall l, indeed? But, all the same,
it would be contemplate to reward your
unselfshness by merely marrying you
for home"
"Only agree to marry me, ana VIII
not quarrel with the motives" ne m
plored. L,d
What could Greta do? Her lover hSd
deserted her; her good name was tar
nished. Without home, friends, or
work, was it not the height OF folly 70
refu such a way of escape? And yet,
how could she love him? But might
not one survive the luxury of loving?
Come wealth, ease, and positions van
ish all illusions that make life sweet.
She begged fortnight for consid7ra-
ton: something might turn up to her
adyantage-the diamond, for IN
stance But the fortnight passed,
as fortnights will; nothing happened
except that Mr.. Grafton, feeling fonh-
dence in the woman who hesitateI, re-
furnished his parlor in blue SAITH and
pale gold, fitted up an apartment Tor
his wife's J0uaOjr like d suburb Of falry
land, bespoke the par5On, the rirs' and
"Do telI!'' said one gossip to anoth-
er; "Greta Loring's going to stp into
clover, and no mistake"
"It's 8 powerful change former. l
hear Mr.. Grafton's always had afanEer-
ing for her. He told Mr.. J0bon any
man could marry an7 woman b Sc: his
heart upon, if he'd only woII hard
enough, and wait like a spidr IN his
web -
81 guess he got Greta for tb asking
ehq"
81 dunno; there was that Sotherne
who was sweet or her"
81 reckon that's blown ovr-only a
Young mans pastime. I'm surprised
at Tom Grafton, though, ,wltAaii his airs
and frills, with his family Tee and his
coat of arms, and bis ancesbrS and his
money. How does he get DER that lit
tie affair Of Mrs. Stoughton} diamond?
s'pose be expects folks b visit his
wife and ask no questions, oce she's
Grafton" )"
"Law! it's the way Of tb world: a
/ pretty face makes man frget tres
passes and get rid of his judment' It's
no use quarreling with sue things at
our age. Greta'll make fine lady,
and mean to pay my respects at Graf
ton Place directly; I'm jut crazy to
see how I'd look in the bic satin par
lor."
49,
consented. 1t is true, welth and CON-
fort are alluring. She hd told herself
that Providence would rvide, and how
could she know but this was the
very provision mae for herP
It would be dightful, no
doubt, to enjoy sucl an establish
ment as Graften Place She remem-
bered what visions of 0mance had ac'
companied when she had ramb ed
through the quaint olfashioned man
sion, which might easf boast a haunt
ed chamber; through le halls with the
"dim religious light" 1ling from paint
ed windows; gazed the portraits Of
the dusty Graftons; ushed aside the
brocade hangings; dnk from the chi
ma that had Outlived enerati0ns. She
recalled the great mrors that lined tie
walls, the silver epe'ne upon the side
board heaped witfruit, the flashing
ivory of the piano, ID the odOr of the
hot.house flowers. And it might all be
hers at a word Og let her say Eyes,"
and she might wr her velvets and
laces with any lad,n the land, drive in
her satin.l lined calage, and have serv-
ants under her, an all that heart could
desire. All? Yes,l but self-approval,
love, and Stephen 'therne. Still, let her
answer "No," ID Stephen and love
would still be la ing, and hardship,
want, and publicisapproval be super
added.
"The miscrablittle thief" thought
the exasperated RS. Stoughton. "She
has played her eds to perfection, coz
ening that old flow into marrying her.
No doubt he'll the day, and serve
him right"
In the mearme, as Greta had not
given him rasal, Mr.. Grafton chose
to consider hilsf accepted. He con-
suited her abut the wedding journey,
about the nv servants to be engaged,
as if the mariageWa; matter of course.
! She eonui.ced 4 his suppestiOns. but