Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-13

but told her was tired nVlng alone anu
asked her to share my lot. / said was
well-to. do in the world, and promised to
thy and make her future life happy one (;
and as, while speaking, my eyes rested on
the four cups and saucers, the cream jug
and the two dishes, no doubt pleaded
with show of fervor which must have
considerably puzzled the good lady. Like
a sensible woman she expressed the great
est establishment.
''s Let me understand you clearly she
said. Do you mean to say you are in
love with me?
"' will make you good husband. l
replied, thinking as / spoke how beauti-
fully modelled the handle of the cream Jug
was 'and am sure you will never regret
accepting my offer.
"' But do you really love me, she per-
sisted an old woman as am ?
"'Seventeen hundred and sixty l said
mentally, that must be about the date it
was made; : and then | answered, looking
at the four cups and saucers, and thinking
of the vacant spaces at home esteem
and respect you highly, dear Miss Crofton,
and l am sure you will make solitary
home cheerful
"sSuppose, said Miss Crofton acutely,
L were to take the poker and demolish
that china, would you still repeat these
hstteriDg assurances of Affection
"s Oh, please don't 7 cried, starting
up as the horrors of my dream came back
TO me.
'Mr. Headley, she said gravely, you
will pardon me saying so, but sometimes l
fear you are not quite right in the head. Is
there any insanity in your family!'
"'None at ALL replied.
"' Neither your father, nor mother, nor
any aunt, nor uncle shown any tendency
that way?
SIS Not the slightest.
every we'll you had better go home
now and think quietly over what you have
said to me. If tomorrow you wish to re-
peat your words, you will find me at home
all the afternoon
81 left her, and as ! stepped out con-
graduated myself that she had not ao-
cepted me at once.
What fool l am Isaid. / shall
always esteem that woman for not taking
advantage of me. will write and beg her
pardon for my silly conduct, and trust she
will continue my friend And yet, in spite
of these praisewortby resolutions, the sight
of the vacant spaces sent all my good sense
to the winds and, to shorten the tale, l
went deliberately the next afternoon to
Shepherds Bush, renewed my offer, and
left the house formally betrothed to Miss
Lesbia Crofton. She, at least, behaved In
a very sensible manner.
"'You say you wish to marry me, she
said, and am getting on in years now,
so cannot, in justice to myself, refuse such
an offer. / have inquired about you, and
every one who knows you speaks in your
favor. Still, you may regret your choice,
so you shall have plenty of time for consid-
Grafton. We will not be married for six
months at least.
Although, after taking the first plungo
should have been glad to go 70 the depths
of my folly without delay, l felt the wiz
dom of her words, and acquiesced in this
arrangement. OF course, with the new
understanding between us, l saw both her
and the china nearly every day /; and as
Mas Ccofton was an extremely nice woman,
/ may say grew quite to love her-as
mosher-and, had not Fate interposed,
should doubtless have married her at the
expiration of the time she named, and
very probably should have been happy
enough after fashion. One thing was
very much to my Lssbia's credit she in
dulged in no raptures, nor did she expect
any from me. When we met or parted, l
Imprinted kiss upon her forehead, and
that was all. She even interdicted the
use of Christian names between us, and
stipulated that our engagement should be
spoken of to no one. Another thing |
found strange was that she was continually
hsrping, in good. tempered sort of way,
upon the disparity of our ages, instead of
endeavoring to make the difference as little
as possible. In fact, she seemed to treat
me more as son than as future husband.
" Feelings of delicacy prevented me
frem asking her to allow me to remove the
Chelsea to my house before 1 had paid the
price due for it, and l quite blushed with
shame when one day she handed me the
key of the cabinet, and with meaning
smile begged 1 would take charge of it to
insure the safety of the articles SO highly
priced.
"The course of our affection ran very
smoothly for about three months. l had
quite recovered my health, and 1 may say
was placidly happy. Ii, at times, while
sitting with my elderly bride. elect, and
hearing her, it may be, complain of some
ailment which she candidly attributed to
advancing years, did feel twinge of re-
greet, had but to turn to the four cups and
saucers, the cream jug, and the two
dishes, and it vanished.
but Fate and Miss Crofton had other
views for me, although little suspected
them..
According to custom, one afternoon I
paid my usual visit to my future spouse,
and was surprised as l entered the house
to hear the sound OF piano. l know
something of music, so at once became
aware that the instrument was played with
great skill, and much wondered who the
performer might be. had not as yet dis.
covered that my Lssbia possessed musical
talent. The maid opened the door OF the
drawing room, the music ceased, and I
walked in and found myself face to face
with one of the loyeliest girls had ever
met. Perhaps the surprise, the contrast,
when / saw her instead of the middle. aged
lady expected to greet, made this stran.
ger look even more charming. / could
realizs at first only a bright young face.
with masses Of light hair around it, turned
to see who entered, and o well-molded fig-
ure, showing to great advantage as she sat
before the piano. Her dress was Of simple
black, but well and becomingly made, and
az she rose when l entered could see she
was over middle hight.
"Women always behave with less awk.
wardness than men in chance meetings /;
SO while l stood still and stammered some
words of apology, she advanced with per-
feet care, and said /:
"' Mr.. Headley, I am sure My aunt
told Inc to expect you. Sue has gone out
for short time, but hoped you would wait
until her return
az was only too pleased to accept the
invitation so frankly given, and recovering
my self.possession. in few minutes was
in full swing of chat with my Lesbia's
niece.
81 found her an unaffected girl, full of
spirits, and looking forward to the pleasures
of stay In town.