River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-06-07
JOHN AND |.

lock the door after you"
NV visitor rosa proceeding that al
ways reminded me of the genii emefg-
ing from the copper vessel, as he meas
ured six foot three-and stood looking
reproachfully down at me.
f'You are in great hurry TO get rid oil
mt" he said.
Now l didn't agree with him, for he
had made his usual call of two hours
and half; having, in country phrase,
taken to sitting up" with me so llteral-
ly that l was frequently at my wits end
to suppress the yawnthat knew would
bring troop after it.
He was fine manly looking fellow,
this John Crawford, Nd for his age
which was the rather 3oyish period of
twenty-two-and every way worthy Of
being loved But dida't love him. |
was seven years his senior; when, in
stead of letting the worm ofconcealment
press onllis damask cheek, he ventured
to tell his love for my mature self, / re-
morseiy seized an English PRAYER book.
ana pointed sternly TO the clause, "A
man may not marry his grandmother"
That was three years ago, and | added
encouragingly:
Beside, John, you are child, and
don't know your own mind"
''If nan of 10 doesn't know his
mind, demonstrated my lover, Il would
like TO know who should. But | will
wait for you seven years, if you say So
fourteen-as Jacob did for Rachel"
"You forgot" l replied laughing at his
wayof mending matters" that woman
does not, like wine, improve with age.
But seriously, John, this is absurd you
are nice boy, and like you-but my
feeling toward you are more those ola
mother than wife"
The boys eyes flashed indignantly,
and before / could divine his intention
he had lifted me from the spot where |
stood, and carried me infant fashion to
to the sofa, at the other end of the room.
81 could almost find it in my heart to
shake you'll" he muttered, as he set me
down with emphasis.
This was rather like the Courtship Of
William of Normandy, aud matters
promised to be quite exciting.
don't do that again, said | with dig
nifty. when ] recovered my breath.
"Will YOU marry me?' asked John,
somewhat Overwhelmingly.
mot Just at present" | replied
tThe great handsome fellow" thought
as he paced the floor restessly, why
couldn't he fall IN love with some girl of
is, instead of setting his affections on an
old maid like me? / don't want e boy
on my hands, and won't nave hinW
'As to your being rs, pursued John,
in answer to my thoughts, You say it's
down in the family Bible, and | suppose
1T must be SO; but no one would believe
it; and don't care if you are 40. Gou
look like girl of IT, and you are the only
woman | shall ever love-.
O John, John! at least five millions of
men have said the same thing before in
every known language Nevertheless,
when he fairly breaks down and cries,
relent-for | am disgracefully soft heart
ed-and weakly promise then and there
that | will either keep my own name or
take his.
Ana John looked radiant at this con-
cession, for love is a very dog IN
manager. 1t was comfort to know that
if he could not gather the flower him
self, no one else would.
A sort of family shipwreck had watt
ed John to my threshold. Our own
household was sadly broken up, and |
found myself comparatively young IN
wears, with half Invalid father, large
house, and very little money. What
more natural determination than to take
boarders? And among the first were
Mr.. Crawford and his son and sister,
who had Just been wrecked themselves
bv the death of the wife and mother III
a foreign land-one OF those sudden, UNI
expected deaths, that leave the SurYl-
ors IN daZed condition, because IL is so
difficult to imagine the gay wording
who has been called hence In another
state of being.
Mr.. Crawford was one of my admir-
atoms from the first. Tall, pale, with
dark haRand eyes, he reminded me OF
Dante, only that he was handsomer;
ami he had such general air OF know
ing everything worth knowing without
the least pedantrg, however, that | was
wrapped up in John, and patient with
his eister--whch WIS asking quite
enough of Christian charity under the
sun, for Mrs. Shellgrove was d unmitl-
gated nuisance. Such q talkeri babbling
of her own and her brothers. affairs with
equal indiscTetion, and treating the lat
ter as though he were an incapable in
FAINT.
They stayed with us for three years
and during that time | was fairly perse-
cuted about John. Mrs. Shellgrove
wrote me letter on the subject, in
which she informed me that the whole
family were ready to receive me with
open arms-a prospect that ! did not
find at al. alluring. They seemed to
have their hearts set upon me as per-
son peculiarly fitted to train John in the
way he should go. Everything, was
told, depended on his getting the right
kind of wife.
A special interview with Mr.. Crawford,
at his particular request, touched me con-
siderably.
az hope" said he, 'that you will not
refuse my boy, Miss Edna. He has set
his heart so fully upon you, and you are
everything that | could desire in a
| daughter. ! want some one to pet |
| feel sadly lonely at times, and am sure
| YOU would fill the vacant niche"
l drew my band away from his caress,
and almost felt like hating John Gran
ford Life with him would be one of
ease and luxury; hut | decided that |
| had rather keep boarders.
Not long after this the Cranfords con-
| Guided to go to housekeeping, and Mrs.
Shelligrove was IN herGlory. She always
came TO luncheon in her bonnet, and
gave minute details Of all that had been
done and talked of about the house in
in the last twenty-four hours.
at is really magnificent" said she,
Iengthening ont each syllable. brother
has such perfect taste And he is actual
Nv furnishing the library, Miss Edna
after your suggestion. You see we look
upon You quite as one of the family"
THAT is very good of you," replied,
shortly; "but ] certainly have no expec-
tation Of ever belonging to it."
Mrs Shellgrove laughed as though /
had perpetrated an excellent joke.
"Young ladies' always deny these
things. of course; but john tells differ
ent story
l ratified the cups and saucers sngrily;
end ny thoughts tloatcd off, not to John,
but to Johns father, sitting lonely in the
library furnished after my suggestion.
Wasn't it, after all my duty to marry the
family generally?
The house was finished and moved
into and John spent his evenings with
me. / used to get dreadfully tired Of
him He was too devoted to be ut all in
teres.iug, and bad reached that state
Of feeling which, if summarily ordered TO
take my choice between him and the
callows, / would have prepared myself
for the latter with a sort Of cheerful
alacrty.
/ locked the i ,or upon John on the
evening in question, when / had finally
cot rid Of him. with these things in fnll
force; and / meditated while undressing
on some desperate move that would
bring matters to a crisis.