The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-10-25

60 to the country and not opensa book
for three months So l am boarding
With papa's cousin, Miss Martha Gaines
"Ah, yes; well, you must let me come
to see you sometimes, for your fathers
sake" Fa3r< f-iNi Z % sffAE
81 shall be very glad to see you,
said Susie frankly, thinking this was the
dearest old gentleman she had ever seen
He cbatted with her a, little longer and
then walked with her to the gate of her
cousins cottage, but, would not then 60
in. v.s5
II will come soon to see you," he said
as he left her.
But be said nothing to Dorothy Of this
encounter, feeling that sacred chord Of
memory had been touched and shrink
ling from commonplace remarks upon
lit. YaFFE4EEtS ~
The next day DOROTHY went to the
city to attend to her wedding purchases
and TO visit q relative.
Robert was man Of sensitive refine
ment, gentleman 10 the truest sense Of
the word, aascholar and aiphilanthropist,
while his sister, without being vulgar,
was what the Meadowvilliaus called Q
".tirring woman" full Of life and hustle.
Of overlooking energy, and an incessant
talker
Miss Dorothy had been in the city but
q few days, when letter from Meadow
vile filed her heart with elation.
1t was signed Martha Gaines" and
tha, maiden wrote: a., - =
"Yonr brother comes over nearly
every day. I suppose he's lonesome
while you are away, and he mostly stays
to tea. I've got boarder this summer,
a dausht of cousin Of mine in the
CITY; she's only a little girl, but she plays
and sings little, and your brother likes
to hear her. She's been sick and he's
sent the carriage over for US TO drive
every pleasant day"
Every week there came a long exult-
ing letter from Miss Gaines to her dear
friend Dorothy, until the time was draw
ing near for the elderly spinster's wed-
ding. ess.s ~
All her Wedding garments were made,
marked and neatly packed, when she re-
ceivad letter from her brother:
await until Wednesday and will be
your. escort TO Meadowville."
This curt ep,stie had been written af-
ter day Of great moment to Robert
Ackerman.
He had gone quite early in the morn
ing torthe postofflce and returning pass
ed the cottage of Miss Gaines He had
sometimes loitered little at that hour
to chat with the ladies as they trimmed
the garden flowers. but on that day be
paused and caught his breath as an ex
cited voice rang out upon the air-the
voice Of Martha Gaines-saying:
"You are aa impudent little thing, and
I'll send you home tomorrow. How
dare you set up to to teach me how to
treat my husband.
A low, sweet voice answered:
You need mot be-so ,angrVseousin
Maths. l only said fatBonght q bbert
Ackerhan deserved saSwifs who loved
him"
"Fiddlesticks- You sentimen-
tai school girls talk such arrant nom
sense Roberts sAckerman is asmooning
dreamy old. bachelor. who wants wife
10 mansgehim and Keep his hopseH /
"Robert Ackernan is q noble, true
gen,leman-a man TO honor, man to
love! And il he marries he wants wife
ito love him, TO giyehim tender service,
ito make his life glad ndIbright!f W
"My good graciousI I" gasped. the as
tonished old maid.
"You think more this miEute," con-
tinued Susie, "of his house, his money,
bis carriages and his table-linen than you
do of bim,m
suppose Ido9 Perhaps you
would like to marry him yourselff"
"He would never think OF such a
thing; am just an Insignificant school,
girl TO whom be is kind But il / did
marty him i would be for love, and not
for his money orIhie housef"
Here the sweet but excited voice broke
10 sob, and Susie evidently fed fsOm
the battlefield.
Robert Ackerman walked home very
slowly.
For many weeks, ever since that meet.
ing in the cemetery, be had felt as n his
lost Iote, the hope Of his young man
hood, bad been restored to him. Every
hours intercourse with Susie brought
back the long buried dream of happiness
more vividly.z But be had crushed down
Ialffhepe.4 Never copid3he link that
bright, sjps dawning life With lhis sad
memory freighted one.
But this mornings experience gave
him a. new hopes hope that.made his
breath come thickly, his neart.throb suf-
| focatinelvt i . ~ kas = 81
Heceuld not bear such suspense long.
and in the afternoon be wandered to a
lspot in-the woods where Sasie had often
brought her dainty neediewofk and
where Miss Martha's keen eyes had
never fallen upon the two as they chat
ted by the hour OF books, of travel, even
iof Little Susie's school experiences.
TAs he exptcted he found Susie there,
fbdt che waspaleland dshy had esidentl,
been weeping, and shfank from him as
she had never done before.
Very. gently, very tenderly, be wooed
the sweet blue eyed child, I'M her golden
head rested on his breast, and She whis-
pered:r Y1 =. Ir
81 cannot imaginegfeaters happiness
than to he your wife "
! Miss Dorothy Ackernan was all ready
TO return to Meadowville when her
brother presented himself in nthe parlor
of the house where she was visiting.
He surveyed the ancient garments in
xhieli she bad arrsyed herself for travel
with such manifest disgust that it waken-
ed her indignant surprise. Never before
had Robert noticed her dress.
"What are you looking at me in tina,
way fonY' she asked sharply. "This
dress is good enough TO spoilawi,h rail-
road dust sBd ycinders. Come to loeA
yoa are wonderfully spruced up your
| self Whys gonr esi:q qis new insrrgloyyYe'
i LOO: fisn u sslstfssE ~ xses - sss
II wish you to dress yourself hand.
taomely, Dorothy, 'fher brother ssrd qui
etly Ito sttepd mySwedding."
6You can't be married till We get L
Meadowville Miss Martha surely neve
teame. here. with you" -g- Rx ,w--s.
A-''I told you some time sgo; Do5othy
| that had M intantion NJ marrvioU Mic