Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-04-03

tails Of what had been done and
talked Of about the house 10 the last
twenty-four hours.
| 1t is resIl magnificent,' said she,
lengthening out each syllable. Broth
er has such perfect taste; and he is
actually furnishing the library, Mics
Edna, after your suggestion. You
see, We look upon you quite as one
of the family
That is very good of SOU re-
piled shortly; but certainly have
no expectation of ever belonging to
it,
Mrs. Shellgrove laughed as though
| had perpetrated an excellent Joke.
Young: ladies always deny these
things of course; but John tells q
different stery.'
/ ratified the cups and sancers an.
grily /; and nay thoughts wandered
off, not to John. but to Johns father
sitting lonely in the library furnish
| ed after my suggestion, Wasn't it,
after all my duty to marry the FAM
lily generally?
The house was finished and moved
into, ard John spent his evenings
with me. l used to get dreadfully
tired of him. He was really too de-
voted to be at all interesting, and
had reached that state of feeling
that if summarily ordered to take
my choice between him and the gall
lows | would have prepared myself
for hanging with sort of cheerful
alacrity.
locked the door upon John on
the evening In question, when l had
finally gotten rid Of him with these
feelings in full force; and | meditated
while undressing on some desperate
move that should bring matters to a
crisis.
But the boy had become reused at
last. He too, reflected in the watch.
es of the night; and next day l re-
ceived from him quite dignified let
ter telling me that business called
him from the city for two or three
weeks, and that possibly on his re.
turn | might appreciate his devotion
better. l felt inexpressibIy relieved.
II appeared to me the most sensible
move John had made during the
whole conrse of our acquaintance,
and began to breathe with more
| freedom.
Time few however, and the three
weeks heightened into six without
Johns return. He wrote TO me bat
his letters became somewhat con-
strained and | hardly knew what to
make of him. If he would only give
mo up | though; but | felt sure that
he would hold me to that weak
promise of mine, that | should either
become Edna Crawford or remain
Edna Darlington.
Mr. Crawford was announced one
evening, and | entered the parlor
fn;ly prepared for an overdose Of
John, but found myself confronted
by his father.
He looked very grave; and instant
~ 1 imagined all sorts of things, and
reproached myself for my coldness.
John is well?' gasped finally.
quite WE'LL was the reply in such
kind tones that felt sure there was
something wrong.
What it was | cared not but
poured forth nay feelings impetuous
ly to my astonished visitor.
He must not come here again. 1
exclaimed, Il do not wish to see
him. Tell him 80, Mr.. Crawford |!
Tell him | had rather remain Edna
Darlington as he made me promise
than to become Edna Crawford
sAnd he made you promise this p
was the reply. Tho selfish fellow |
Bat, Edna, what am to do without
the little girl have been expecting2
am very lonely-so lonely l do not
see how | can give her up
| glanced at him and the room
seemed swimming roupd-every-
thing was dreadfulIy unreal. tried
to sit down and was carried tender
ly to the sofa.
Shall it be Edna Darlington or
Edna Cranford2' he whispered. You
need not break your promise to
john
Edna Crawford replied, feeling
that bad left the world entirely and
was in another sphere of existence.
1t the thought crossed my mind
that Mr.. Crawford had rather cheer.
fully supplanted his son, the proceed
ing was fully justified during the Wis.
it which / soon received from that
young gentleman. Tried to make
it plain to him that | did him no
wrong as l bad never professed to
love him. though not at all sure that
wouldn't receive the shaking
| threatened on previous occasion,
and | endeavored to be as tender as
| possible fer | felt really sorry for
him.
To my great surprise John
laughed.
Well. this is Jolly + he exclaimed.
Aud I'm not villain after all. What
do you think of her, Edna?'
He produced an ivorytype in a
rich velvet Casa pretty little blue
eyed simpleton; she looked like @tat
II.
l. sRose,' he COMMUNICATIONS Dar-
ling; the name suits her, doesn't it?
She was staying ct my uncle's in
Maryland-thst's where I've been
visiting you know--and she's such q
dear little confding thing that a~fel>
low couldn't help falling in love with
her. And she thinks no end of me,
you see; says she is quite afraid of
me and all that
| John knew that l wasn't bit
afraid of him, but felt an elder sis
terly sort OF interest in his happi-
ness and had never liked him so we'll
as at that moment. And this was
the dreadful news that his father had
come to break to me, when his mar
rative was nipped in the bud by my
revelations and the interview ended
IN far more satisfactory manner
than either of US had anticipated.
So | kept my promise to John af.
ter all, and, as Miss Rose Kept hers,
be is now steady married man and
very agreeable son-in-law.
l Wnxrrvr xLo