Las Vegas morning gazette., 1880-10-29
Why Ne Married Her.

thpOic tECIN DOtA III hFGtHNlHc ldu0l
ed am wondered. Tom was the most
popular man in town. He was a
wealthy merchant, very handsome and
only twenty-five; aud could have Sc.
iccted a wife from the best and richest
families in the neighborhood. But
what a choice he made! No wonder
Greenville was astonished and anus.
ed. Eliza Moore was tLirty,five. She
had red hair; she was tall and angular
she painted and powdered; and peo-
pie said her temper was something
awful! Besides, she was deaf as q
post. And yet with all these draw
backs she got young, handsome and
wealthy husband. The matter was q
profound mystery to every one except
Tom Carlin.
lie was impulsiye to rccklessness.
Eliza Moore went into society, but
played Oh every occasion the part of Il
Wall-foWer. Tom pitied her and
paid her some trifing attention which
she warmly appreciated. He loaned
her books-she was fond Of reading
and Occas ionally sent her flowers.
These floral offerings were usually O.
the choicest kind. and to them the
young man could attribul his "mis-
fortune" if such a term can properly
be used in referring to his marriage.
One evening he carried to Miss
Moore's humble cottage Il fine rose
geranium. The lady was delighted
with the gift and an animated con-
versation upon its merits followed.
They were seated upon the sofa, side
by side, and Tom became very enthu-
siastic. After discussing the flower
eloquently he added:
"Miss Moore | want you to cher
ish it for my sake; want you to keep
it foreverW
lie was startled by the effect his
words had upon his auditor. Miss
Moore turned deaply pale and two
tears rolled slowly doWn her checks.
TO his surprise She took his hand and
pressed it to her lips. But her reply
almost paralyzed him.
"Mr. Carlin," she faltered, I'll
hardly dreamed Of this; and-and-
yet | prayed for it, | could not think
you would fancy me, there were so
many Others; but [ know that you
love me for my own sake, and | need
hardly add that | return your love.
You are the only person who eyer
touched my heart to its deepest re-
cesscs. My lifo has been sad one:
but now / will have something to live
for; and | will show you and the
world that can be worthy of your
confidence and affection"
She was weeping violently now.
Tom looked at her like one in a dream.
IN az instant he remembered deaf
ness; and it flashed upon him that
she had mistaken his words for some
such tend0r expression as 81 want TO
keep you forever y He looked at
her, and a tide Of emotion swept
over him. 1t seemed to him as if she
had revealed her very sonl to him in
her simple answer. He thought of
all her lonely years devoid of all affec-
ton, whitening every tender feeling
and turning natural emotions into
chilly reserve! Yes, he remembered
all thee things, and the natural i'm
pulslyeness which would have made
him shrink from informing her Of the
terrible blunder she had made, gave
way to feeling that made him. in
our opinion, at least, a hero. lie ac-
ccptcd the "mistakc" and resolved to
make the best of it.
When they parted that night it was
as engaged lovers, and q day had been
Sst for the wedding. And if Tom
was somewhat depressed, who can
blame him? But he never ialtcred
no, not even when his friends over
whelmed him with ridicule and re
proachcs! lie bore everything with
out offering one word Of explanation
and without q murmur! He made
the sacrifice never flinching, aud
with Eliza Moore, as his wife, settled
down and tried to resume the even
tenor OF his life.
Nor did the mistake wreck his life.
lie steadily prospered. Perhaps YOU
may think Providence was inclined
10 be more lonient to him because of
lis sacrifice; but that supposition is
not within our province to discuss.
suffice it to say Eliza Carlin become a
woman; under her husbands
care sh0 grew almost youthful and