Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-03-30

tucked half way up her plump arms, her
heavy Grape skirts slowed away under
one of the old lady's capacious Holland
aprons, and laplets pinned high over her
head, while, laughing merrily at the
queer figure she had made of herself, she
worked away at cakes and sweets, taking
world of trouble off the housekeeper's
hands. Hr
'sAnd SO thoughtful she is, and gay;
bless her! his wife would tell old John.
"She'u come tripping up to me, and
now do assyou're bid, she'll say, play
fully, forcing me down into my big chair;
Sit you down and rest, there's an old
dear, and take your tea. I'm not going
to let you do turn more And then
she'll work away, her tongue going all
the time as fast as her fingers; running
on about her mother and her home, her
flowers and pets, dogs and birds, and
what not, but never a word about hus.
band of married days. And if / touch
upon them or ask question, she'll get
quite silent and strange-ike in minute,
and turn off the subject as if it burned
her. Perhaps for all she's SO merry out
side she's fretting in her heart for him
that's gone, and can't a-bear to talk of
him."
"Nothing of the sort! cried old John.
"Don't you go think such stuff. She'd
take husband tomorrow; mark my
words. And it's my opinion there's a
young gentlemen comes to this house
that has fairish chance. He's desper-
ate sweet upon her. / havn't eyes in
my head for nothing, and l see plain she
doesn't dislike MIN, or hold herself up
distant from him, as she does from 9TH
ers." r
Old John was right. Matters were in
due time so far satisfactorily settled be-
tween the young couple that an appeal
to the uncle was deemed expedient.
The old gentleman received the an
nouncement with half-pleasant, half
satirical grimmace.
ella, I thought So" he muttered.
"But are you aware, my friend, that
there is no moneyin the case? The lady
hasn't sixpence, and"
''I know it. Indignantly interrupted
the sutton. "You have made that re-
mark before. I want no fortune with
my wife, my own being ample; and my
love"
"Spare your raptures, young man.
Not so fast. Don't be too sure of the
prize; for when you hear what I have to
tell you there may be, perhaps, change
in your views. [ have no time to go
into the matter now; but come to-mor-
row, and be prepared to hear what will
surprise you;" and the old gentleman
went off, nodding back-malevolent
the lover thought-over his shoulder,
1,a fa1I tot 0f
most uncomfortable suspense and I'M
certainty.
What could this dark hint mean? and
why was he not to make sure? Could it
be possible there was any doubt, any
mystery as to the demise of the loved
ones husband? He could not help call
ing to mind her confused and singular
manner at times; a certain want of frank
ness; an evident embarrassment at any
allusion to the past. The possibility of
an obstacle made the young man realize
as he had not before done how deeply his
affections were engaged. He spent
miserable night, awaiting in vain conjec-
ture and sleepless anxiety the tidings
which the morrow might bring forth.
In order to explain matters, it will be
necessary to go back for some months
previous to the arrival of the young lady
at her uncle's house, as well as to change
the scene from it to a country cottage in
remote part of England-the home of
the widowed sister of the eccentric
bachelor In it we find him pacing up
and down the the small drawing room
and listening to the querulous COM
plants that its occupant, confirmed in
valid, is uttering from the sofa on which
she lies 81 think but little of my
bodily s1lfferings," she is saying; s'they
cannot now last long. Every day I feel
more plainly that the end is not far, and
my doctor tells me the same. The dis
tress of mind that torments me is what
is SO hard to bear"
''And what may that be about, if I
might ask?"
''Ihe future of my child when am
gone. All [ have, as you know, dies
with me. She Will be penniless, and the
thought of what is to become Of her,
cast on the world without home,
haunts me night and day. It is too
dreadful %
ga girl-and young-and not bad
looking. Where's the fear? Some
body'n marry her. Men are such
fools -
The sick women could not forbear a
smile. ''Ah, but there are no men, no
fools here nthis remote corner we see
no one, and the poor child, taken up with
nursing me and tied to sick room, has
made no acquaintance tits killing me
to see her yonng life sacrificed and to
think of the future y
The mothers tears began to flow.
Her nearer, never very amiably inclined
toward the weaker sex, or, at least IN its
company, increased his quarterback
pacings in much discontinue as these
symptoms of "water works turned ON %
became apparent. His hurried steps
soon subsidized, however, to steady
march up and down the little drawing
room, while with frowning brow and oc-
casional chuckles, he seemed to be con-
cocting some scheme. After a few min
utes he came to sudden halt before the
invalid's sofa. "Can the girl act? he