The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-09-01
"My dear Mrs. Hartley.n he said "e


picnic party of pleasure seems an ill
chosen time for speaking to you, but
there are matters of such urgent import
in our lives that we are compelled TO
seize any opportunity for saving what
perhaps may prove distasteful things"
Yes-of course-exactly," she STAN
mered.
"There," he said, turning upon her q
grave, kindly smile, "I meant to speak
to you in plain and simple words, and 1
find myself, old as am, as agitated as
some youth. L will try and be plain. {"
Yes" she said, quickly; "please, I"
and her breath came shorter in her
agitation.
81 have just learned some very seri-
Gus news"
IndeedP" she said, her voice shak-
ing in spite of herself.
Eyes. L have learned from two
sources that your late husbands fortune
leaves you at once, and that you will be
almost penniless. Is it trueP
eyes," she said, "quite; and YOU
have come to say that was not to think
anything more of what you asked me q
short time back"
He looked at her half surprised, half
hurt, and then smiled sadly.
May I ask you one question ?" he
said.
"Yes," she replied, in quick, sharp,
agitated way.
{" 1t is plain one, but my happiness
depends upon your reply, and ask You
boldly, have you promised your hand to
Mr.. Roberts ?"
"No !" she cried, with her eyes flash
ing scorn, "nor to any such mercenary
creature"
"Then there is hope for me, julia"
he said, in a low, deep voice ga
month back felt that it was presump-
tuous to ask you, and that my sent
ments might be misjudged. It is still
presumption on my part, but cannot
be charged with sordid motives now,
and l am glad that the money L looked
upon as an obstacle is no longer there.
! L cannot offer you much more than o
comfortable home, but 1 will try and
make that home rich, Julia, with the
devotion of life"
She painted and trembled and tried to
speak, but her emotion choked her, and
SO overcome was she by the different
way in which matters had turned, that
in spite of her strength of mind, she
broke into a passionate burst of hysteli-
cal weeping, and unresistingly sobbed
herself calm upon his breast.
Luke Morris blessed the thick clumps
of bushes that hid them from the rest of
the company, and he blessed the day
Mrs Hartley's poverty-he blessed her
for letting him draw her unresistingly
closer and closer to his breast, where
she sobbingly told him that she should
only be burden to him for life. and
finally she walked away with him,
radiant and happy, and with her cheeks
and eyes telling tales.
They passed Frank Roberts soon after
with one of the Grantby girls, rathe,
plain brunette, with handsome posi-
ton; and Roberts looked little con
scious, though he need not have
troubled himself, for the blush OF
Mrs. Hartley's cheek was called fortl
now, not from meeting him, but on ac
count of meeting the old doctor, who
looked curiously from one to the other
"May tell him, Julia?" whispered
Morris.
eyes"
doctor, Julia Hartley has prom
ised to be my wife," said Morris
quietly.
"Has she ?" cried the old man, ant
his SCARED, wrinkled face lit up with q
broad smile. "I'm glad of it. Julia
my child, I'm glad of it, for you've
won true, sterling man for husband
and as for you, Morris-oh, I'm ashamed
of you-you mercenary dog"
"Mercenary 1 mercenary," ex
claimed Morris. "Well, come, that i,
good. Why, you told me an hour agC
that Mrs. Hartleys fortune was gone.
"To be sure l did"
And it is quite right" said Mrs
Hartley. "At least it will be gone"
"Not it, my DEAR" said the old doc
tor, chuckling. "That was dodge O
mine to try for you which of your lov
ers was worth : having. 1t was m,
touchstone, and you see it showed yol
at once that Roberts was base metal
and Morris here true gold"
"But do you mean to say, doctor,
cried the lady, " that what you sal,
about Mr.. Hartley's property was un
true"
every word of it, my dear"
"Then you are base, cruel, wicke,
old man; if my poor dead husband
whom you called your friend, coul
know how you DETAINED him"
"He would slap me on the back a
he used to do, my dear, and call me hi
true friend for securing by trick
genuine honest man for his wife, in
stead of heartless, mercenary scour
drel; and, God bless you both, l wis
you joy"
Mrs, Hartley only exclaimed "Oh
and when the doctor pressed her han
she evidently forgave him, for sh
pressed his warmly in return. Bu
when Frank Roberts found out th
truth, he was furious, and called tn
doctor bad name, that perhaps
would be as we'll not to mention her,
while he said it again for the benefit
Luke Morris on the morning when
led the pretty widow to church I
change her name.