Daily globe., 1882-07-16

bee; with sleeves tucked half way up
her plump arms, her heavy Grape skirts
slowed away under one of the old lady's
capacious holland aprons, and lappets
pinned high over her head, while, laugh
ing merrily at the queer figure she
made of herself, she worked away at
the cakes and sweets, taking a world of
trouble off the poor housekeeper's
hands.
"And SO thoughtful she is, and gay;
bless her," his wife would tell old John.
"Shen come tripping up to me-, and
Now, do as you're bid,' she'll say play
fully, forcing me down into my big
chair. SIT 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: run
ming on about her mother and her home.
her flowers and pets, dogs and birds,
and what not, but never word about
husband or married days. And if I
touch upon them, or ask a question,
she'll get quite silent and strange-hke in
minute, and turn off the subject as if
it burned her. Perhaps for all she's SO
merry on the outside she's fretting for
him that's gone, and can't a-bear to talk
of him."
Nothing of the sort p cried old John.
"Don't you go to think such stuff. She'd
take husband tomorrow; mark nv
words. And it's my opinion there's a
young gentleman comes to this house
that has fairish chance. He's desper-
ate sweet upon her. I haven't eyes in
my head for nothing, and I see plain
she doesn't dislike him, or hold herself
up distant from him, as she does from
Others"
Old John was right. Matters were in
due time so satisfactorily settled between
the young couple that an appeal to the
uncle was deemed expedient. The old
gentleman received the announcement
with half-pleased, half-satirical grim
ace.
"Ha, 1 thought sor' he muttered.
"But are you aware, my friend, that
there is no money in the case? The lady
hasn't a sixpence, and"
81 know it, Indignantly interrupted
the suitor. "You have made that re-
mark before. I want no fortune with
my wife, my own being my love"
"Oh, spare your rapture, young sir.
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. I have no time to 90
into the matter now; come tomorrow
and hear what will surprise you;" and
the old gentleman went off,. nodding
back-malevolently the lover fancied-
over his shoulder, and leaving the poor
fellow In state of most uncomfortable
suspense and uncertainty.
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 beloved
ones husband? He could not help
calling to mind her confused and singu-
lar manner at times; certain want of
frankness an evident embarrassment at
any allusion to the past. The possibil-
ity 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
conjectures 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, aswell as to change
the scene from it to country cottage in
remote part of England home OF
the widowed sister of the eccentric bach
elor. In it we find him pacing up and
down the small drawing room and lis
tening to the querulous complaints that
its occupant, confirmed invalid, is ut
tering from the sofa on which she hes.
81 think but little of my bodily suffer-
ings." she is saying "they cannot now
last long. Every day I feel more plain
ly that the end is not far off, and nv
doctor tells me the same. The distress
of mind that torments me is what is so
hard to bear"
"And what may this be about. if !
might ask?"
"The future of my child when L am
gone. All I have, as you know, dies
with me. She viii be penniless, and
the thought of what is to become of her,
cast on the world without a home.
haunts me night and day. 1t is too
dreadful /"
GA girl-and young-and not bad
looking. Where's the fear? Somebody
II marry her. Men are such fools !"
The sick woman could not forhear a