The Osceola times., 1880-12-04
"Are you?~ he replies, what a pity

we can not all be happy"
But We all should be happy. Arc not !
you, Mr.. Johnson
She was turned about again now, and
Is looking up at him, while she rests !
one arm on the key.boards. Her ap-
pearance does not belle her words, her
eyes are bright and laughing, her checks
are flushed, and her lips a-e even fuller
and redder than usual, If the young
man standing at her side has ever had
any doubts of her being beautiful, they
must now be entirely obliterated. lie
considers her the perfect woman.
mo one ever was so lovely" he says
to himself, mo one ever will be lovlier."
NO." he says aloud, am not happy,
Mrs. Lovelace, though | should be, look
ing on such beauty as is now before
me.n
There you are, Mr.. johnson. always
fiattering me. Can't you talk without
paying me compliment Indeed, you
surpass the French in gallaniryv'
Il should like to pay you a greater
compliment than i have ever yet bad
the pleasure of paying any one" he
says, seriously, still gazing intently at
her.
"Now, let me tell you," she puts in,
mschievously, don't be too compli.
mentary, or ! won't answer for the con-
sequences. Remember, always remem-
Der, Mr.. johnson, that l have will of
my own. IT say l won't have any
compliments, l WON'T
Your will doesn't friehten me in the
least now" he replies, intent upon max
ing his declaration. II shall pay you
the compliment, be the consequences
what they may; but i hope and trust
they will be such as to make me as
happy as you say you are, and as you
seem to be-"
"Bewarel beware" huns Mrs. Lovc-
lace, touching the notes on the piano.
The other words of the old song come
to Mr.. Johnson's mind:
Trust her not
She's fooling thee; she's iooling thec'
Is it a warning? he thinks; can she
mean this as hint too him not to GO too
far, not to make fool of himself.
Whether or not it SO meant, he does not
heed it. beadlong he dives into the
speech he has for days been turning
in his mind.
"Have you not seen, Mrs. Lovelace,"
he saws, passionately, laying his hand
over hers, which still rests on the ivory
keys, "ihat am in love with you? Could
you not tell from my behavior, from my
conversation, that / was trying to win
you? Won't you"-
But, Mr.. Johnson" exclaims the
widow, smiling at his excitement. Il
would much rather you would not say
warned you? You do not yet under
ar nd mn. I faar I tnl1 \
will of my own, and mean it."
"Mrs Lovelace," the young man goes
on, not caring in the least for her warn.
ing, II have heard so much about your
will that it has lost all its terrors. don't
care if you are shrew, IN lst tell yo IL
that | love you, and that want you to
be my wife,"
1t IL over. If he has not asked her TO
be his, he has made her acquain ed with
his wishes. He has certainly com.
mitted himself. Mrs. Lovelace hears
him passively.
NO discom posure stirs her features"
She gently draws her hand from his
CLASP, and looks up at him with pItying
smile.
you are very kind, Mr.. Johnson"
she saws, as she has said fifty times be-
f,re. This is her formula. She uses it
when she is offered a chair; she uses it
when she is given mans love. "You
are very kind. Appreciate your com
piment; but it is out of the question
for me toaccept. A woman with such a
will as / have cannot marry"
"But will not mind your will" pleads
the young man, earnestly. Il have no
In,,I.t 10
are us amiable as can be. Your will is
only myth"
"a myth" she exclaims; my will j.
no myth. No, johnson, as much as ]
admire you as a gentleman, could not
think OF msrring you. Indeed there is
a law that f.rbids my marrying at ala
law which states quite plainly that any
woman with a will OF her own shall not
marry"
IL beg your pardon" exclaims John
son, annoyed that his love should be
thus made a joke OF; 81 don't know much
about law, but l know there is no such
law as that"
"But assure you there is" replies the
lady, her eyes swapping nervously as she
gances first at the man before her, and
then at the clock on ,he mantel shelf
Even as she speaks there is a more Wig
erous pull at the door bell. She is on
her feet in an instant, and out 10 the
hall before johnson can think what shc
is about to do. He is wondering what it
all means. Why she should thus rudely
leave him at moment which to him is
the most important of his life. he can.
not imagine. Is she the proper person
to tend the door? Is it not something
extraordinary for her to be thus excited?
These thoughts run through his brain
in an instant. Then he hears her merry
laugh, and with it.comes the deep tones
OF mans voice. The next moment,
and Mrs. Lovelace. her face wreathed in
smiles, leads into the parlor a gentleman
tall, dark and handsome, and goes with
him straight to where Mr.. johnson,
puzzled, bewildered, amazed, his stu
pidily standing in the very spot where
she left him.
"Mr. Johnson" she says, smiling her
sweetest, "let me present to you my
husband, who has just returned from
England. Perhaps you will better I'M
derstand my words of few moments
ago. better understand what was telling
you for weeks, when say that Mr..
Lovlace's name is William, and that /
consider him Will of my own.
The next morning there was gentle
knock at Mr.. Johnson's bedroom door.
lie has just given the finishing touches
TO his hair preparatory to descending to
look for Mrs. jenkins, and to inform her
that he has decideu to change his place