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

her smile revealed the whitest teeth in
| the world.
pray go on, Mr.. Grey" she said.
81 am all attention"
Mr.. Grey eoughed. and looked ex-
| cessiyely uncomfortable.
He wished that the widow would
avert her bright eyes from his face; her
steady gaze confused him, and he
scarcely knew what he was going to
say.
lie hardly liked to risk popping the
question, for refusal would mean
Punishment from the cheerful fireside
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
Poor little mani His heart was beat
ing like a sledge-hammer.
How still the room was. He started
as the ashes dropped upon the hearth.
This awful silence must be broken, or
what would the widow think of himp
lie must say something.
You must have known my object in
coming here so often,n he blurted out
at last
"Well, | think l have guessed it."
returned Mrs. Peploe, continuing the
stitches in the stocking she was knit
ting.
Il 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 long explanation. well, since
you have guessed my secret, can you
give me hope?''
Inc widow was silent for few mo-
ments, and Mr.. Grey gazed at her in
the deepest anxiety, his heart throbbing
with mingled joy and fear
The house in the High-street would
seem more lonely than ever, if he re-
turned to it disappointed man.
81 will be frank with you," she said
presently. "As 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
object" said Mr.. Grey, rubbing his
face with a red silk pocket-handker-
chief. ''But don't you think you could
bring her roundP I'd be so kind to
her, that Pm sure she'd get over her
dislike of the idea Now, couldn't
you induce her to be more reasonable?'
81 have tried my best" said the
widow. with deep sigh. ..But the
girl is wild and headstrong l seem
to have lost all influence over her."
"Then, after all, there is no hope for
me, > said Mr.. Grey, looking terribly
crestfallen. Il thought we would be
such happy family-we four"
eve four!'' repeated Mrs. Peploe,
staring at him as if she thought he had
taken leave of his senses.
''Yes!-we fouri Why not?" asked
Mr.. Grey. Il know Jack Watkins is
very fond of Bessie, and | fancied we
should all be happy together. if could
only induce you to say yes.
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.
Bessie" exclaimed Mr.. Grey, laugh
ing heartily. What would | want
with a child like that? Didn't YOU
know" here he grew suddenly grave,
''that it was you wanted, JanetP''
1--WE all thought it was Bessie"
stammered Mrs Pcploe. "Oh! what a
fool / have beenp'
Don't say that" returned Mr..
Gray, in a sad tone of voice. 1T is |
who have been fool to think you could
ever care for me.
The widow made no reply to this,
but gave him glance that spoke vol
umes. In another moment his arm
was around her waist, and he had stol-
en- kiss.
"And you think that Bessie won't
object?" he said, anxiously.
Il am sure she won't" returned
Mrs. Peploe, with twinge Of con-
science, as she thought of the way she
had received Bessie's confession of love
for Jack Watkins.
II don't know so much about that"
said merry voice from the doorway,
and MIR. Grey hastily drew his arm
from the widows waist as Bessie en-
tered the room.
The kiss had opened the young lady's
eyes as to the real state of affairs, and
she knew in moment that her mother
had been the real object of Mr.. Grey's
affections. But, why had she not seen
it beforeP She was angry with her
self for being such an idiot.
What in the world would Jack sayP
Would he be pleased to find that Mr..
Grey was an imaginary rival?
Bessie pulled aside the blind and
looked out to see Jack, who had es-
corted her home, standing on the OPP
posite pavement with his eyes fixed on
the cottage. Mr.. Grey followed her,
and, after peering over her shoulder,
vanished from the room, while at the
same moment her mother called her
away from the window.
Bessie" said Mrs. Peploe, between
laughing and crying, forgive me for
all the hard things l said to YOU
II will, indeed" returned Bessie,
heartily. as she kissed her mother;
"but what fools we have been! We
must have been as blind as bats not to
see that it was you that he wanted all
the time"
"Who would dream that he would
have looked at me when you were
near" returned Mrs. Peploe, stroking
her daughters rosy cheek.
"Oh! mother" began Bessie, but
paused abruptly, as the door opened,
and Mr. Grey entered accompanied by
Jack Watkins.
The four looked at each other in ST.
lence for few moments, and then,
tickled by the absurdity of the situa-
ton, Jack went into commissions of
laughter. His mirth was contagious,
and all laughed heartily, although Bes-
sic tried to look indignant.
"All's well that ends WE'LL" observed
Mr.. Grey, rubbing his hands. and then
he bent forward and audaciously kissed
Mrs. Peploe right before the eyes of the
young people.
1t was not long before a double we'd
ding was celebrated, MIR. Grey having
lent Jack the money to start in bust
ness for himself. and from that day to
this the couple in the big house and the
couple in the Cottage wedding pres
ent from Mr.. Grey-have never regret
ted their choice.
The Origin of Roller skates