New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-09-02
parture; and to his surprise and joy,it
was warmly returned, & lFsssf

was warmly returned 81 Sss IL te lsssas
Now;if Miss Peploe would only get
over her objection, how happy and
comfortable. we should all be- & lie
thought, as lie trudged home. HUI
loa, coming sud1 denly faceto facewith
handsome young fellow a q rather
shabby ulster. NJ -
9sHow are You, Jack w atins2'' :.
"Oh! am all right, ~ thank you, said
Jack, sulkily, and strobe on without
an other word, while little Mr.. Gray
stood gazing after him with look Of
comprehension on his face.
II suppose she has been telling him
all about it, hesaid to himself with a
sigh. s'It's. natural, suppose, but
it's selfish, too. Yes!It's a 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
hand. s
When we think we are going to make
people happy, It's hard to find that we
are regarded as an enemy, and Mr..
Grey retired to rest in rather dismal
spirits.
He arose the next morning with the
determination of putting an end tohis
suspense by offering himself and his
home in the High street to the object
OF his attachment he could bear the
suspense no longer. ,
When he arrived at the widows cot
tage that evening Bessie was not at
home. She had gone out to tea with
some friends, Mrs. Peploe said, but
failed to add that she had wilfully alb
sented herself because the sight OF Mr..
Grey was distasteful oher. z5s@
mglad sheis not at home, dear
Mrs. Peploe," said MI. Grey, looking
very red and nervous "Im glad she
is not at home, because it gives me an
opportunity Of saying something that
is very near my heart"
He edged title nearer to the widow
as he spoke, and she smiled at him in
an encouraging way.
She WAS q handsome woman, and
her smile revealed the whitest teeth in
the world
ssss,s ray go on, Mr.. Grey, she said. II
am all attention =.
Mr.. Grey coughed, and looked excess
sively uncomfortable.
He wished that the widow would
avert her bright eyes from his face; her
steady gaze confused him and hescarce-
ly knew what he was going to say. VI
He hardly liked to risk popping
the question, for refusal would mean
Punishment from the cheerful freside
where he had spent so many pleasant
hours.
But the widow was waiting for him
to speak and he could not back out
now; he had gone too far.
Poorlittlema His heart was beat
ing like sledge-hammer.
How still the roomwas. Hestarted
as the ashes dropped upon thehearth.
This awful silence must be broken, or
what would the widow think OF him.
He must say something. "t.s. 70 "a
@''You must have known my object
in coming here SO Often" he blurted
out at last. 5'@9.
'''Well, think I have guessed it,
returned Mrs. Peploe continuing the
stitches in the stocking she was knit
ting. 10
~ thought you would" observed
Mr.. Grey, considerably embarrassed
by her reply, but relieved at the same
time, for it saved him from the ordeal
of a long explanation. "Well, since
you have guessed my secret, can you
give me hope?'
The widow was silent for a few mo-
ments, and Mr.. Grey gazed at her in
the deepest anxiety, his heart throb-
bling with mingled JOY and fear.
The house in the High street would
seem more lonely than ever, if he re-
turned to it a disappointed man.
civil be frank with you," she said
presently. GAS far as am concerned,
there is no possible objection to the
marriage; but Bessie is so young and
foolish that"
"Ah yes! thought she would OBJ
ject," said Mr.. Grey, rubbing his face
with a red silk pocket-handkerchief.
'But don't you think you could bring
her round? I'd be so kind to her, that
I'm sure she'd get over her dislike OF
the idea. Now, couldn't you induce
her to be more reasonable"
II have tried my BEST" said the
widow, with deep sigh. 'sBut the
girl is wild and headstrong. seem to
have lost all influence over her."
Citizen after all, there is no hope for
me, said Mr.. Grey, looking terribly
crestfallen. II thought we would be
such a happy family-we four"
"We four" repeated Mrs. Peploe,
starting at him as if she thought he
had taken leave Of his senses.
"Yes!-we four! Why not? asked Mr.,
Grey. l know Jack Watkins is very
fond Of Bessie, and | fancied weshould
all be happy together, if I could only
induce you to say yes" a@ r
''Then it is not Bessie you WANT
said the widow. dropping stitches in
her stocking, and blushing like a girl
as the truth flashed through her mind.
"BessieH' exclaimed Mr.. Grey, laugh
ing heartily. What would I want
with a child like that? Didn't you
know" here he grew suddenly grave,
"that it was you wanted, Janet?"