The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-02-09
DEARER THAN LIFE.
CHARLOTTE NJ. STANLEY M'KENNA.

l was man of thirty, turned ;olc
enough and steady enough to know
my own mind. surely. l had always
prided myself upon certain steadl'
ness of purpose and tirmness. of reso-
luton, which | called strength OF
character"
l believe that l had no part MOI
share in the proverbial fickleness ol
my sex, and when my inclinations
and Judgement approached each other
in the selection of my partner for life
l never doubted but that my choice
was fixed and settled once for all.
She was gentle, loving creature
not so pretty as good, but endearec
for her many amiahle qualities to al
who knew her. Not very young
either. What does a staid man o
thirty want with a foolish, trifiing
girl?
MilIy was .and.twenty, prob
ably, and L thought that the most
satisfactory age possible.
was foreman in a large factory
where many girls and women are en-
pIoyed, and MiIly Gray was the
"matrOn" who had charge of them.
She earned good salary. / was a
prudent man. and l am not sure but
what that consideration had full
weight with me. Not that l would
haye hesitated about marrying Milly
anyway, but it is good, surely, for a
workingman to haYe wife who can
be practically helpmate to him.
People fancied she had little
money laid up, but l knew better.
Not but what she could have had,
having worked in the factory stead
lily these ten years and earned Il good
deal but she had told me of the use
to which she had put her earnings.
They had gone to educate her half
sister, Mary Ellis.
"Mother left her to my care" she
said, at only six years old. am nine
years her senior, and l have been to
her a second mother. Her beauty
she is lovely, George-has been my
constant pleasure and pride, and her
education has formed my one ambi-
ton and care. Until | knew you,
dear"-she nestled shyly to my side
as we walked along-"I had never
known love 50 strong as my love
for May. / am sure that when you
see her, you will acknowledge she is
something to he proud Of"
thought the little woman who
had so generously devoted her life to
this young girl was much more to be
admired and valued.
drew her little hand-somewhat
Drowned and hardened by its years
Of toil-more close within my arms,
and pressed it tenderly.
81 am proud of you !" I told her
"Mere beauty or education can never
for moment hold comparison with
natural goodness like yours. | would
not change my little, sober MilIy for
the brightest beauty in the world ~
Heaven help us l meant it then,
ev,ry word, and supposed that ]
should never change!
Her soft eyes frightened as I spoke
Il am glad you love me so, she
said, l thank God for it !"
"And you MiIly-you love me as
dearly ?"
"As dearly?"
Her tones thrilled with new in.
tensity, her quiet features gIowed
and flushed into a new and sudden
lOvpliness.
81 love you dearer than my life
| am not eloquent and educated
George, and-and | think l feel toe
deeply to talk about it. But though
seem to you quiet, and shy and dull
Inder it all, all the time my heart
,peaks-and it says, Il loYey you dearel
than my life y"
| was delighted with her little in.
nocent outburst. supposed it fiat
tered my vanity, for l realized fully
how much it meant from one wht
was rather reticent and reserved sht
had looked so pretty, too, when he
cheeks flushed and her eyes sparklet
I liked to think that l could cal
this glow of beauty into life.
"She will look so always when sh,
isaIoyed and happy wife," thought
and ! began to feel quite sure that
was really and truly in love with her
Alas poor Milly!
May Ellis was now sixteen, and hat
finished her time at school. Mil,
had talked of giving her anothe
year, but l opposed that earnestly.
"What? ? would she sacrifice me, a
well as herself to May? and so tn
gentle creature yielded to my wish
which was the young girls also-fo
she wrote that her education wa
quite sufficient. now, to enable her t
/