The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-06-06

you; but do not love you. Mr.. Graf
ton"
81 don't ask you to love me. d
course you don't; the idea has never
perhaps. entered your head before.
only beg that you will marry me. Lovs
will come sooner or later, - deserve
Il q your hands. And. my dear Grsta,
what better can you doP Who will give
you employment, with this blight upor
your How will you earn your daily
bread?'
81 don't know returned Greta
how shall l. indeede But, all the same,
It would be contemplate to reward your
unsel6shness By merely marrying you
tor = home"
"Only agree to marry me. and viii
not quarrel with the motives" be i'm
plored.
What could Greta dor Her lover had
deserted her; her good name was tar.
nished- Without home, friends, OF
work, was il not the height Of folly To
refuse such way of escape? And yet,
how could she love him? But might
not one survive the luxury Of loving
Come wealth, ease, and position; van
ish al illusions that make life sweet
She begged . fortnight for ccnsidera-
ton: something might turn up to her
advantage diamond, for in
stance. But the fortnight passed,
IS fortnights will; nothing happened,
except that Mr.. Grafton. feeling conf
dence in the woman who hesitates, re-
furnished his parlor in blue satin and
pale gold. fitted up an apartment for
his wife's boudoir like suburb Of fairy
LAND, bespoke the parson, the rirg and
the caterer.
DO tell" said one gossip to anoth-
or; "Greta Loring's going to step into
clover, and no mistake
ats powerful change f,r her.
hear Mr.. Grafton's always had banker
ing for her. He told Mr.. .Jobson any
man could marry any woman he set his
heart upon. If he'd only work hard
enough, and wait like a spider in his
xeb.r
II guess he got Greta for the asking.
~ dunno; there was that Sotherne
who was sweet on ner.-
g / reckon that's blown over--only
Toung mans pasfime. I'm surprised
u Tom Grafton. though, with all his airs
md frills, with his family tree and his
soat Of arms, and his ancestors and his
money. How does he get over that lit
le affair Of Mrs. Stoughton's diamond?
s'Pose be expects folks to visit his
rife and ask no questions, once she's .
Grafton"
Law! it's the way Of the world:
'retty face makes man forget tres
'asses and get rid Of his Judgment It's
10 use quarreling with such things At
'ur age Greta'il make . fine lsdy,
md l mean to pay nv respects a. Graf
on Plsce directly; I'm just crazy to
ee how I'D look in the blue satin par
or"
And all this time Grets had not even
consented. II Is true, wealth and CON-
OFT are alluring. She had told herself
hat Providence would prvide, and how
ould she know but this was the
cry provision made for her?
{ would be delightful, no
loubt, to enjoy such an establish
nent a. Grafton Place. She remem-
'ered what visions Of romance had &C
when she had ramb ed
through the quaint old-fashioned man
ion, which might easily boast q haunt
d chamber; through the halls with the
dim religious light" fallin z from paint
4 windows; gazed At the portraits OF
he dusty Graftons; pushed aside the
'rocade hangings; drank from the chr |
u that had outlived generations She |
ecalled the great mirrors that lined the
walls, the silver epergne upon the side
'oard heaped with fruit, the flashing
worry Of the piano, and the odor Of the
dollhouse flowers And it might all be
'ers 81 . word. Only let her say ssyes,-
md she might wear her velvets and
aces with any lady in the land, drive in
Ter satin lined carriage, and have serv-
.nts under her. and all that heart could
|esire- All? Yes, all but self-approval,
Owe, and Stephen Sotherne. Still, let her
nswer "No," and Stephen and love
Eould still be lacking, and hardship,
rant, and public disapproval be super
dded.
"The miserable little theft" thought
he exasperated Mrs. Stoughton. " She
rs played her cards to perfection, coz
ming that old fellow into marrying her.
% doubt he'll rue the day, and serve
i'm right"
In the meantime, As Greta had not
iven him refusal, Mr.. Grafton chose
consider himself accepted. He con-
llted her about the wedding journey,
bout the new servants to be engaged,
) il the marriage was . matter of course.
he acquiesced in his suggestions, but
be had no choice TO make; she was
rifksr,n nth fho .4-o.x. - -.--s--- 1