Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-10-13

member, was the array Of little arbors in
which refreshments We're served.
After we had roamed about the fair.
and bought all sorts of nicknacks, es-
cOrted Margaret to one of these arbors.
and there sat down to wait, while one of
the ladies, who, con this occasion only"
was doing good, onerous hard work.
brought us a tray of refreshments. t'''
evergreen and smilax which draped the
lattice, two women entered the next ar
Dor, and one of them as she sat down,
said to the other: elm just tired out
Aren't you, Mrs. Tripp?' and the an
swered: eyes, I am tired I hardly
know that it pays to come all the way
from Valladolid to New York sight
seeing" .sgs.4
1t was the voice of the Glovers' near
est neighbor, of TilIy's grandmother,
and I liked her and respected her, yet
did not feel quite sure how Margaret
would like an introduction, and SO re-
Trained from looking around the corner
of the bower and making myself known.
81 think we'd better take tea," said
the first voice. Oh; howis lilly to-day?
Think of my never asking before p
"Tilly is poorly" said Mrs. Tripp.
ooh, Mrs. Birch, what pity it is that
that flirting young minister came down
to Valladolid. / don't know what Mrs.
Glover was about, to let him do as he
did. We all thought he was counting
lilly. She did, poor child. She just
loved him dearly, and the day before he
went away he told her he was engaged
to some girl in New York. Tn afraid
it's broken her heart. She told me all
about it. 90, Aunty Tripp," said she,
Il know L ought to be ashamed, but I
can't help it. He seemed to like me SO.
| hope shall die of this fever, for life
is nothing to me. Ashamed! Why,
it's he ought to be ashamed. Of all
things a minister to be cold, cruel
flirt And that's what Alfred Gan
net is.
1 listened, but / could not move or
speak; I felt as though my heart also
were breaking, and oh, the shame ! suf-
left the arbor, and then Margaret turned
to me with cold, sarcastic smile:
see by your face that that little
story is perfectly true, Mr.. Gannet,"
she said:
Margaret, faltered, "Ihave done
nothing that should give offense to
you.
"Nothing but love another woman, F."
she answered. Glove her and let her
see it, meaning to marry me! Don't
think I'm hurt; indeed I am relieved
[ should have kept my word to you but
for this, but not so gladly as I once
should. You are a very good-looking
man, but on the whole you dom suit me.
[ met Senator F. at Saratoga-and-
does. Frankly / have been thinking
what a pity it was that must decline his
offer. who like the diplomatic circles
SO well. AS for this-Tilly, is it not p
wouldn't she make avery good minister's
wife?"
1t came to my mind that she would
that she was the only wife for me-that
Margaret, splendid as she was, would
never have made me happy
But [ onl y said:
"Miss Sheppard, if you desire to have
your freedom have no choice"
81 desire it greatly" she answered.
cit is yours, l said, with bow.
After that [ think we were both hap
pier than we had been for days, and we
shook hands when we parted.
That night [ went down to Valladolid,
and [ told lilly that my marriage was
broken off, and that she was the only
woman [ had ever loved. She tried to
summon up her pride and refuse me, but
failed in the attempt, and let me take her
to my heart. To-day am pastor of the
church at Valladoid. lilly is my wife,
and we are as plain and quiet pair as
you could fancy. I often help my wife
pick currants for tea, and have taken a
turn at the ''wringer" when help was
scarce. But [ do not envy Senator F.
his splendid wife, nor pine for the luxu-
rious possibilities that [ lost with Mar
garet Sheppard. lilly and my little
home content me.
But one thing is on my conscience. I
have never been able to answer myself
the question:
"Did fiirt with Tilly?"