The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-10-19


to admit to himself.
Il know that L am an entire
stranger, began Rex, hesitatingly
"but believe / could never love 6
woman or desire to win her for my
wife more truly than 1 desire to wiz
you. l do not ask for an answer al
once; take time to consider the mat
ter-know me better and answer me
then. l will leave Wildwood Semi
nary to-morrow-will you tell me il
you will think the matter over, an6
give me an answer before l go?
may return after proving myselt
worthy, and win you for my wife. .
Rex pleaded earnestly-he felt
that the whole happiness of his life
hung upon her answer.
"Another moment and we shall
reach Wildwood" said Rex, as the
lights of the seminary loomed up il
the distance before them.
81 will give you your answer
definitely" she answered slowly
"before you leave Wildwood"
Rex could scarcely catch his
breath for ecstacy.
At last they reached Wildwood
and were ushered by the servant
into the stately parlor where numer-
Gus comely matrons were assembled
to greet them. He looked in vague
bewilderment. No ward had come
forward to greet him.
"A thankless girl" he muttered
involuntarily, as he called for her
asking that she might be sent for al
once.
The ladies looked at each Other
in CONSERVATION, His late oompan
ion of the coach crammed her hand
kerchief into her mouth to avoid g
violent fit of coughing, which ended
in merry peal of laughter, which
seemed contagious, as all in the
room joined heartily, much to Rex's
astonishment as he gazed in bewil-
derment from one to the other.
Didn't you know me, guardy,
dear?' cried the young lady, throw
ing aside her wraps and veil and
disclosing the features of his ward.
"Just to think, riding twenty miles
in the stage-coaoh with me and never
once guessed who 1 was! / went
down that long twenty miles just to
meet you, and," she continued, shy
ly, '.just to see how I would like
you"
"And did you like me?' asked
Rex, lowering his voice with intense
interest. ''Did you like me, Flora?''
II will tell you," she whispered,
''before you leave Wildwood to-
morrow"
"You will answer the question 1
put to you in the stage-coachY' he
whispered.
u will try to suggest some way
to dispose of that troublesome ward
she answered, gaily.
Three days afterward, Rex Pen
dleton returned home, and the tall
willowy young lady that hung so
gracefully on his arm he introduced
to. his friend Victor Graham who
met him at the depot.
Victor, congratulate me. Allow
me to introduce my wife-and ward.
l have happily found a way to dis
pose of a ward who had just finished
her school days. If you ever hear
of just such another case advise
them-if they love each other as de
votedly as my Flora and l do-tO
marry by all means. Flora-the sly
little puss-admits she had fallen
desperately in love with her guardi-
an quite a year ago; but l never felt
Cupid's arrow until he pierced my
heart in the stage-coach. 1t was
love instantaneously, my boy, and l
never imagined before how dull life
was TO a bachelor with no one for
whom he really cares to love him."
Victor smiled, pursuing the even
tenor of his way, muttering as he
went:
HE would have passed pleas
ant life of it, despite the devil and
all his works, had not his path been
crossed by being that causes more
perplexity to mortal man than ghost,
goblin, or the whole race of witches,
and that was-a woman?"