Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-09-19

! "Of course you will not go" said
| Mrs Fargo. with decision; come back
| directly. l insist upon knowing the
meaning of all this" She took Amelal
oy the arm, and almost forcibly led
her back to the parlor. 1T is clear,
you two have met before, she con-
tinued, assuming the Office of inquisi
tor; "when and where was it,"
stShall tell7" asked Albert.
Amelia maintained a naughty 81
lence.
"You do not obje t, and, really, I
see no reason why you should.
Mother. you have wondered why /
did not marry. This is the reason"
He pointed to Amelia, who still stood
uraped in her long widows veil,
clasping the white rebed child IN her
! arms.
Il was not to blame" she calmly
said
"You were not to blame; you should
not have let your father influence
you"
You should not have disputed my
father. He was older than you, and
of course knew better"
THAT is an exploded assumption.
But am not going to renew that dis
cussian with you" Then with a sud
denly awakened tenderness he advanc-
ed and took from her tired arms the
little girl who was nodding heavily
against her shoulder.
There, sit down." he said gently
CATER all these years we may certain
ly let the old quarrel rest. | was so
taken by surprise that 1 did not do
justice to the tender feeling my heart
has al ways retained for you.
Tender feeling-quarrel! What
In the name of heaven are you talk
ing about2" cried Mrs. Fargo impa-
tiently.
81 am going to tell you" returned
Albert, laying the head of the sleep
ing child against his breast. and be-
ginning to walk the floor. How like
you she is, Amelia. he said, looking
fondly at her. See, mother, this
should have been your grandchlld.
Yes, we were engaged. You remem
Der, Amelia, the night I proposed? 1t
was after the ball at the college, and
we were walking home together
through the moonlight village street.
You wore rose pink silk with tulle
over it, and the tulle was all in tatters,
but you looked as lovely as an angel;
and you said Yes without hesitation,
like the frank, sweet girl you were.
An! we were very happy"
But you would always dispute
with papa about the proper treatment
in fevers, and the giving of colonel,
and all that" said Amelia sadly.
"Papa, who had practiced medicine
forty years, and who of course kne n
so much better"
"Ah don't speak of that" pleaded
Albert humbly, melting more and
more, wrought upon, not by memory
alone, but by that inexplicable tender
ness that will flow out about little
head nestled against the breast. Il
own that was wrong"
"You admit it, at last" exclaimed
Amelia with an air of triumph.
Wrong in disputing, | mean; not
in the principle"
"You cling to your heresy2 Papa
said it was fat heresy"
"What have medical theories to do
with my loving youl" he asked paus-
ing before her, and looking earnestly
at her. you married, to please your
father, an old school physician 20
years older than yourself. Did his
med rcal orthodoxy make you happy2"
Tell me, he insisted, "were you
happy with HING
You shan't question me so, " she
replied, making a last struggle.
"Give me my baby. | don't love to
have anyone hold her but myself"
''See how sweetly she isosleeping in
my arms, Amelia. have never been
SO happy since the night we wakes
home from the dance together
Doesn't your heart tell you you owe
me some reparation for all the hap
piness you have kept back from mel"
Amelia futtered her fan and looked
at the floor. 1t was stained floor
she noticed.
Let me keep the baby" he urged.
Let me teach it to call me papa.
A faint smile curved Amelia's lips,
but she did not look up. He tent on
Que knee before her.
Say yes again, DEAR" he whisper
ed, III be SO good to you both"
The smile grew more decided, and
she bent forward as if to kiss the
child's fair temple, but Albert, per-
haps misinterpreting aer design, lent
forward also, and the kiss fell upon
his mustached lip
Mrs. Trim and Mrs. Fargo, who had
tiptoed from the room some moments
before, were embracing each otheG IN
the sitting room, with tears OF ire
pressible laughter. Half au hour later
Mrs Fargo returned to the parlor,
thoughtfully overturning chair as
she passed through the hall.
"Well," she said, ''if you have
come to place where you can leave
off, perhaps you would come to din
ner.
I'VE have resolved never to leave
off, said Albert, "but dinner will not
be amiss.
I'm afraid it will be very much
amiss," observed his mother. ct has
been waiting an hour"
Never mind" reioined Mrs. Fargo,
cheerfully, well wash it down with
phials of Nux. Felix Gray in the
New Orleans Times Democrat,