Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-07-30
AN ODD MISTAKE.


his hands, and he knew not what to dc
with himself So, for lack of better
occupation, he took to calling on a
certain plump widow of his acquaint-
ance, who had remarkably pretty
daughter.
Bessie Peploe was younger edition
of her mother. They had the same
black eyes, rosy cheeks, and wavy hair,
and, truth compels us to add, the same
quick temper.
I'm never marry old Gray" Bessie
told Mrs. Peploe, defiantly, after the
manner of the young lady who refused
man before he faxed her." for Mr..
Grey had not yet proposed, although
every evening he presented himself al
the widows dwelling, and sat by the
iireslde, IN the most comfortable chair
in the room.
1--WE shall see," returned the elder
lady, and her bright eyes flashed, for
she had set her mind upon the mar
riage, and already regarded Bessie as
the mistress of Mr.. Grey's comfortable
house, in the High street of the CON-
Portable little town in which they re-
sided
Yes; we shall see," muttered Bes.
sic, and putting on her hat, slipped out
to have walk with her admirer, Jack
wilkins, to whom she confided her
trouble.
Jack was poor, and for that reason
had refrained from offering his hand to
pretty Bessie; but when she told him
that old Grey was after her, he could
no longer disguise his feelings, and be-
fore they parted the girl he loved had
consented to be his wife.
what will mother saw" thought
Bessie, with sigh, as they parted at
the gate of Mrs. Peploe's little cottage.
THAT horrid man will be there
That horrid man was there, in an
armchair, opposite Mrs. Peploe.
He smiled at Bessie as she entered;
but Bessie frowned at him in return.
and his face fell. That evening the
girl was absolutely sullen; she spoke in
monosyllables, and ill-temper deprived
her pretty face of half its beauty.
81 am afraid her mind is set against
il" Mr.. Gray told himself with a sigh,
land we might all be so happy, if She
could only look at the matter in prop
or light; but l suppose it's natural"
And he redoubled his efforts to be
agreeable-poor little man! for he had
an aifectionate heart, and his big house
was dull and lonely.
But Bessie's face never relaxed its
set expression.
She hated the man, and meant to let
him see it, in defiance of her mother
"a n D1sV trla hnI
man old enough to be her father to
come counting her?
You have behaved dsgracefully,"
her mother said, when Mr.. Grey had
taken his departure. at is so wicked
to trifle with the love of any man."
81 have never trifled with his love-"
retorted her daughter; .'he must know
that hate him. have never attempt
ed TO disguise it-now, have /, moth
er?"
'You are fool" said her mother,
biuntly. "Mr. Grey is the best chance
You have, ever had. or ever will have,
and insist on your saying yes wien
lie asks you to be his wife.
Mother, y cried Bessie, impulsively,
throwing her arms around her mother 5
waist, hiding her face in her bosom.
Mother, have already said yes to
somebody else somebody | love very
dearly. "
What gasped Mrs. Peploe, free
ing herself from her daughters en-
brace. WHAT
at is true enough" said Bessie, in a
faltering voice. Jack has asked me
TO marry him, and have said yes"
without consulting men exclaimed
her mother, angrily, looking at her
with stern, reproachful face.
Il love him, returned Bessie. "He
is the only man in the world that L
could ever care for"
"Stulf and nonsensew cried Mrs.
Peploc! even if l liked the young
man-which / don't-your marrying
would be out of the question. He can't
afford to keep you.
II am not afraid of poverty" said
Bessie, bravely, ''besides we are not
going to marry in haste. We can
wait"
Poor fool!' and Mrs Peploe's lips
curled. 81 know what this waiting
means for the woman. She goes on
trusting and believing in his promises,
and then when her beauty has faded,
he turns round and marries someone
else That's how it ends. y
Even then, said Bessie, "the wo-
man is better off than if she had tied
herself to somebody she could not
love.
"Oh, yes, you are mad-quite mad, {"
returned Mrs. Peploe; ''but, thank
goodness, you have a mother who
won't allow you to make an idiot of
yourself. You will marry Mr.. Gray,
and forget all about that misguided
young man who ought to be ashamed
of himself "
'What for?" asked Bessie, with re-
sentiment.
For proposing to a girl whom he
has no means of keeping in comfort, "
returned Mrs. Peploe; "a strait-waist-
coat is what he wants. You are a pair
of lunatics; but, fortunately, I've some
sense left, and won't stand by and
see my daughter ruined for life. y
And she flounced off to bed without
giving Bessie the usual good-night's
kiss. Poor girl, she missed it sorely,
and sobbed herself to sleep; but she
meant to be true to Jack all the same.
Not even her mothers anger would in
duce her to give him up and marry old
Grey.
She treated the object of her dislike
with the greatest GOODNESS on his next
visit and succeeded in making him
look thoroughly miserable. But he
frightened considerably when Mrs.
Peploe, to atone for her daughter S
rudeness, sought to engage him in con-
versation. Indeed the grateful little
man ventured to give the elder lady's
hand gentle squeeze when he rose to
take his departure; and, to his sur
prise and JOY, it was warmly returned.
Now, if Miss Peploe would only get
over her objection, how happy and
comfortable we should all be-" he
thought, as he trudged home. "Hulloa, y
coming suddenly face to face with q
handsome young fellow in a rather
shabby ulster
chow are you, Jack Watkins?n
"Ohl ! am all right, thank you,"
said Jack, sulkily, aud strobe on with
out another word, while little Mr..
Grey stood gazing after him with 3
look of comprehension on his face.
II suppose she has been telling him
all about it," he said TO himself with q
sigh. Its natural, | suppose, but it's
selfish, too. Yesl 1t is little bit sell
fish of them" And, shaking his head.
the old gentleman knocked at the door
of his house in the High-street-that
large, gloomy house that had never
seemed homelike since the death OF
that sister who had been his right