The Osceola times., 1885-09-26
A BOX LUNCH.
How 1t Smoothed the Path of a
Persistenr Wooer.

Looks ii there might be beech-nut.
over there in the grove, sonny" sug.
gested MIR, Luther Varney, alghting
from his wagon in front of square, old
fashioned house at the entrance of Oak.
land village. "You may run and gather
some while I'm making my call"
"Why can't ] go in with you, father?''
queried the maladroit youth. "Maybe
they've got apples"
"No, no, Willie; you'd be in the way
want TO ask Miss Meserve about her
fathers last sickness, and-and so forth.
You'll have apples enough when we yet
TO your aunt Bowen's."
The boy reluctantly climbed the fence.
while his father hitched the horse-a
proceeding as unusual as it was need
less; but one must pardon little irreg-
ularity in two years widower "look-
ing around" Years ago, before he
wooed Miss Pamela Giddings. Mr.. Var.
ney had cast vigorous love glances to-
ward DIR. Mescrye's pretty daughter
glances that filled shy Miss Olive with
sweet confusion. Had he been less
bashful, less awed by her superior
worldly advantages. and had she been
less coy. their earlier romance might
have had happier ending. But in that
case. how would it have Jared with the
good old doctor, shortly after this strick-
en- helpless with paralysis? No married
daughter could have ever nursed him
with the undivided care and tenderness
henceforth lavished upon him by Miss
Olive.
1t was the subsequent year that Miss
Giddings challenged Mr. Varney's at
tention, so to speak, and he married her.
taking her for better or for worse. II
she proved worse than he had antici-
pated. he had not been the man to say
II. lie had faithfully ministered unto
her in health and in sickness; he had
smoothed her path to the grave with due
regret. AT her decease he had sincerely
mourned, not even to himself admitting
that her life had chastened him more
than her death. But time, the great
consoler, had now assuaged his grief
and paved the way for human COM
forter Not that he forgot Pamela. At
church he often thought of her as a
high-yoiced, somewhat uneasy angel in
the heavenly choir, but he thought also
Of his motherless boy. What would he
not do for this dear pledge Of affection?
For Willie's sake he ought to marry
again; and then, looking askance at
trim, rosy Miss Olive in the adjoining
pew, the bereaved man realized how
sweet might be self-sacri6ce. He had
come to regard this silent Sunday prox-
unity as the crowning pleasure of the
week, and abundant recompense for the
long ride and the longer sermon. lie
had manifested his rekindling affection
for Miss Olive by sundry eloquent looks
and hand pressures, but until this golden
October day he had not ventured to visit
her. Spying him now from her sitting
room window, the timid little woman
dropped the rug she had been braiding,
and sprang up in futter.
"Why win hep In broad daylight,
too! The whole village will be talking
CALCULATED she, with an instructive glance
at the mirror.
A lady likes to look presentable in
saying "No" rs well as in saying "Ycs.
and because Miss Olive had fully made
up her mind never to be wife, was
that any reason why she should not wish
foreman an attractive spinster? Shrink
ing from appearing oyer-eager to admit
a possible suiior, she dallied till the echo
Of Mr.. Varpcy's knock had died away
before openingthe door
''iow do you do, Mr.. Varney?" said
she, her voice slightly tremulous. In
Pamelas lifetime she had called him
Luther.
"Never more rugged, and hope
you're well. Olive. I'm taking Willie
to his aunt Bowen's TO spend week OF
two, and rs was passing, ! thought
Id drop in and see how you were. Sis
ter Bowen always likes TO hear from
YOU" he added, with embarrassment
tnged with hypocrisy.
"Oh, my health is invariably good,
thank you.n said Miss Olive, ushering
her guest into the spick-and-spap parloi
sacred TO callers.
Establishing his tall person in the
largest rocking-chair, Mr.. Varney
crossed his right hand over his left, un'
Willingly bringing into bold relief his
frayed right wristband.
'lt seems sad to see that room desert
ed said he, with sympathetic NOD
toward the open-sitting room formerly
devoted TO DR.. Mescrve. But you
can't wish your father back, Olive"
mo, not for his own sake, ;" answered
The daughter, with feeling. "After hi:
mind failed, life was no enjoyment to
him. But do miss him so! lie wa.
all | had.n
j, 81 know, Olive-yes, ] know. I've
hought of you great deal lately-'
great deal. Itmust be desolate for yor
alone in the old house, and it's desolat'
ior me in mine. Olive I've beer
hoping"
AT first felt sif I'd nothing TO liv,
l9r, interrupted Miss Olive, in quicl
sarm. "But don't feel SO now. No
indeed. OF course must mourn for m,
,ather, but keep busy, and ! make
eompanion Of Climena. the orphan
iook from the poor house.
fon always did have a cheerful dis
position, " remarked Mr.. Varnej, look
lng down with an air Of rcproach. Per
A. 4 4 r. IIr