The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-12-27
THAT does not answer my ques-

tion."
1T was of the past" I said slow.
ly. 'Of changes and trouble, and,
perhaps, vain wishes. A year ago
1 was listening to the Christmas
bells, but they brought me no
luck
Trouble You are too young,
child
Years have little to do with it, I
think" Then l went on in a mood
of strange courage. Il should like
to see one bright, joyous Christmas,
to know what youth and pleasure
were really like, to be happy!''
"Come, now, what would make
you happy? A lover of course.
Well, there will be plenty of them"
Il was rot thinking of a lover"
1 replied Indignantly. There are
many other things
"How old are you?" in his abrupt
fashion, still eying me intently.
eighteen, few months ago."
"And the Christmas bells stirred
up old memories. Well, Miss Del
ply, when you have finished that
chapter, you and Mrs. Wilburton
shall go over to the church, they
are practising carols and putting up
evergreens, as, dare say, you have
done many time
"No l have had no bright, sunny
youth. That was why wanted a
little happiness before"
"Old age" he finished. "The
wish is natural, child. But you
have not yet=said what would make
you happy. If it is not the lover
eft is not the lover !'' and I
flushed angrily.
"Can not woman think of a
happy home with glad hearts in it,
Of kindness and affection in a hun
dred little things, Of cheerfulness
and beauty, of remembrance in
absence, of joy in Homecoming, of
a birthday kept now and then, of a
house, shining and garnished for a
Christmas feast, where friends and
neighbots shall be called in, and
the peace and good will made
sweeter and more precious than
any gold! III were rich, I should
have it SOL" I ended with a tulnult
of vain longing and passionate des-
pair, turning to my book again.
''Come here" said Mr.. Travers.
pointing to the stool upon which
his feet had rested before he trans
ferred them to the fender. 81 have
something to say to you. Child,
answer. me truly are you not
grieving for an old lover? l heard
something from Mrs. Wilburton,
that an aunt"
"Chose me a husband and /
laughed scornfully. sThere was
but one fortune, and she wanted it
to answer for both; SO she asked
him to marry me. It was year
ago tonight" "
"And you-"
Refused to be bargained away
that was ALL"
I did not sit down, but stood
there, defantiy. I knew there was
scarlet flush upon each cheek, and
that my brown eyes were flashing,
yet I was in no coquettish mood, /
should as soon have thought of
trying to charm the old houskeeper.
ga brave lover, truly! Child, l
am not sure but that l can bestow
some of that much coveted happi-
ness upon you. You are poor, and
a woman; you can not 60 in search
of it as men do. Will you marry
me? I am old enough to be your
grandfather, and perhaps no angel
in temper; but think l can appre-
ciate your pretty, delicate ways.
AS my wife, you will have many
luxuries, and 1 promise not to be a
hard master. Do your duty faith
fully by me for few years, and
then you will be your own mistress
with wealth enough to give you all
you desire. Come, will you do
this, and give me this little hand in
return?''
I was struck dumb with astonish-
ment. During the four months
that I had been here, not one look
or word could have given me the
impression that Mr.. Travers thought
of me in any other light than that
of a paid servant.
A tap on the door reused us
both. It was Mrs. Wilburton.
"Rsre is the evening mail, sir
Jasper went over to Wormley, and
was detained. Will you have some
y