Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-05-28

BY CLYDE RAYMOND

''Now, Ashley, particularly desire
you TO show every attention to Miss May
nard. Ii is really great distinction to
have the honor OF entertaining her, and
there is no knowing what weeks visit
Ihe young man thus appealed to slow
ly knocked the ashes from the tip of his
cigar and turned his head little to hide
the sly twinkle that came into his dark
eyes as his mother suddenly checked
herself in the midst of her impetuous
speech,
COZ course you can depend upon me
for that, mother he answered pleas
antly. "When cid you ever know me to
fail IN my duty to your guests?"
'Never, my dear boy, that's true, :"
said the handsome, silver haired old la
dy, proudly. "But this occasion is some
thing different, you see. We don't re
celve visits every day from heiresses Of
such exalted position as hers, and and
I can't help hoping, my son"
There, there, mother" interrupted
Ashley hastily, 81 know what you are
goiQg to say. Now, please don't go and
rear splendid air castles in that dear old
head of yours, that would only be doomed
to tumble into ruins. It's not at all
likely that the great heiress would deign
to we'd your good for-nothirg boy, and,
even il she would, I'm sure I should
never care to propose I've met her sew
eraI times, you know, and, upon my
word"
''But half million, Ashley p cried
the old lady pleadingly. ''Only think
what grand thing for the family such
an alliance would be -
''And only think what mercenary
beings you dear, angelic women are y
retorted Ashley, with laughing sarcasm.
cas- If you haven't already money
enough, without sacrificing your idol
led son on the altar of Mammon for a
little more No, mother" he went on
gail7, taking his hat to go, but pausing
on his way out to drop an affectionate
kiss on his mothers forehead "I'n be
as polite to Miss Maynard as you could
possibly wish, but don't ask me to bind
myself with her golden letters MY
motto is love or nothing, you know.
All for love and the world well lost"
And, plnch7ug her cheek, with boy
ish, light-hearred laugh, he sauntered
out into the sweet spring sunshine to
escape further talk on the only topic
upon which he and his mother could
never agree.
Ashley Dane was not without his ideal
OF the woman whom he hoped some day
to love and marry, and he fapcied that
he had already mes her. Not Miss May
nard, however-oh, no! but a shv,
sweet girl, with clear, gray eyes and
charming ways, whom he had met
while rusticating the past summer at a
small New England town. He had not
forgotten the soft bushes that his ad-
miring chances had kiudied in her cheek,
and he began TO feel strong desire to
call them there agai2.
'lf only she IS as true and pure as she
looks, she is the only woman in this
world for me-" he murmured to himself.
as he strobe on with the soft April air
kissing his cheek and the songs of birds
falling on his ear, all reminding him of
that peaceful country town SO far away
eli could only be sure that I would
never be married for my money-that
Doris is not mercenary, like all the rest!
Ill run down there again, and, if find
her still free, I'iI-Ill- Well, we
shall see."
And, meantime, In the cosy, breakfast
room, which he had just left, his lady
mother was shaking her sllvery old head
over bis folly, and murmuring despond-
entity:
Dear, dear! what romantic nonsensei
The idea of any body perferrlng love in a
cottage of the heiress OF half million!
But shan't despair. They will be con-
stantly thrown together for a whole
yronH o779 than T sold 70 Echlox-
there is no knowing what may happen"
But 1.-The heiress to half a million, /"
with her consequential airs and artificial
graces, ''came" and s'saw" and went
again, but she did lot Conquer. She
had smiled encouragirely upon our hero,
too, for he was handsome fellow. and
by no means an undesirable parti, even
for an heiress of her great pretensioue.
But oftener than ever his thoughts
had wondered back TO the sweet, spirited
face and soft, gray eyes of the lovely vii
lage girl, ana three days after the depart.
was on his way TO the New England
hills.
Pretty Doris Kennedy sat THU king
deeply. ALI about her was the sunshine
auu LIdBEdHc0 Oh d sweet SpIluS Gay,
and the music of joyous birds, yet her
heart was full of trouble.
She was gazing, with an expression
of horror and dismay, upon a blazing
diamond ring which che had slipped on
and off her finger a dozen times at
least, and which she now finally took off
with shiver of disgust.
"Oh, I can't do it, she almost
sobbed. ono, not even for papa's sake!"
''What dreadful thing have you de-
cided you can't do, Miss Doris?"
The girl started in confusion, as a
manly voice uttered that question at her
very elbow; and, as she did so, the
ring, in all its sparkling beauty, fell to
the ground and rolled almost to the
speakers feet.