Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-06-26
pectations of What will please or re-

pectations Of what will please or re-
pei another person and | thought
there could be little attraction for
my bright, winsome Lois in this
grave, almost stern man. Blu. be
had not been ia the house week
before l knew that he loved his
hostess and that his love was re-
turnt d. although Lois fought every
inch of the ground against her own
heart.
81 will never marry again. she
said again and again to me those
summer weeks. L am accustomed
to luxury and have horror OF pow
erty, and when / marry l lose ev-
erything here. Mr.. Delmaine will
ed his whole property to his nephew
If l marry, and | save nothing Fl ON
my income. No love can repay me
for thu loss of my home, my
wealth.
And she tried to think she be.
lieved this. while could see how
the struggle between her love and
her prudence wore upon her.
There was no secret in Mr.. Del.
maine's will, and all who knew bis
widow knew what she forfeited by
q second marriage; and yes Lois
had more than one offer that sum-
mer. She was woman to win love,
pure and tender, and no coquette; 80
as she made no effort to conquer
hearts. they yielded to her grace
and she grieved to turn them away.
Last o. all, when September was
half gone, l saw her enter the draw
ing-room one morning to meet DIR.
Graham by his own request and l
knew what be wished to say to her
He had wooed her with the earnest
purpose that he threw INTO his life
work, never needing that his life>
work was apparent to all, never BAT.
fled by the cordial frienliness she as.
sumed to cover deeper feeling. Did
he read the truth and know she
loved him2 cannot tell, although
it seemed impossible that two such
hearts could have remained closed
to each other.
l was in my own room busted
with some sewing, when looking
from the window l saw DR.. Graham
walk rapidly toward the river, his
head bowed upon his breast and bis
whole appearance that Of man in
profound detection. A moment la.
ter Lois entered my room her face
pale as death, her eyes brillian,
with feverish light.
You know me better than any
one else she said abruptly. dc
you think me coquette2'
Il do not,' | answered positively
| DO you think l would encourage
q noble, true mans love only to
spurn .t2'
Has any one accused you ofthat2
| | asked.
mo, mol He says / ne yer gave
him to count himself more than my
friend, but and she wrung her
hands together-sI may have le,
him Soc
| 'What?' l whispered, DRAWN g
her into my arms.
THAT | love him., she answered.
Il love him and l have sent him
away. And he Oh, l never knew
what a mans love was till heard
him tell me. He would die for me
know he would, and IL cannot
give up mere wealth for him.
But he is not poor man.
urged.
No, his wife would live in com.
Portable responsibility. l hate com.
Portable responsibility; one. or at
most two servants, personal super.
vision of beefsteaks and potatoes,
turning old dresses to make new
ones. | was Intended for just the
life l have, without care and with
every luxury at my command. [
will not think of Herbert Graham
again |!
At dinner time Mrs. Graham told
US that Der son had gone to New
York to Sc about opening the he use
for their return to the city. If she
knew of the morning scene she did
not speak of it, but was her sweet
placid self during the remaining
days of her stay. For her son did
not return, writing for her to join
him in New York.
Was it self rcproach that made
Lois even more tender than usual
to the old lady during the remain
ing few days of her stay ? Whatev-
or the motive, she was very devoted
and very loving.
In October we were alone again
talking of return to the city dur.
ing the winter. Bot the days passed
away, the weeks became months.
Christmas was over, still Lois made
one excuse after another for remain.
ing at home. She was very quiet.
unlike herself, for she had been be
fore always cheerful if not gay. But
she was depressed 10 those autumn
and winter days after Herbert Ora
ham left us. |, who watched her
as cheerfully as it was possible to
do, without suspecting any anxiety
saw that she would often seem to
be practicing So odd sort OF expert
mental selfdenial, wearing no jew
elry, rising carly, following after
me when 1 was giving orders to
the servants or busted about little
household matters | would not
trust to less experienced hands than
my twn.
She asked me many questions too
about economy in housekeeping,
which answered as gravely as if /
did not suspect any motive beyond
mere curiosity.
But | was surprised when spring
opened to hear proposition she
made that seemed oddly out of
keeping with her impuisive nature.
i want 10 try how l like house.
keeping. she said to me one bril-
liant May morning. Not this lux
urious castle keeping with staff of
servants, but real, practical home
life; suppose we play we are poor,
as the children say, and take cot
tage for the summer where we can
live with one servant and wear
print dresses; receive no COMPANY
~ L..