New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-03-04
FOR HIS MOTHERS SAX

Unmarried at twenty-five. l was
rich, entirely my own mistress, and
considered more than pretty; and still,
in spite of many excellent opportuni-
ties to change my condition, I was rap
idly drifting on towards old-maiden-
hood; no wonder people called me hard
to please.
had admirers and suitors in plenty;
where is the heiress who has not? And
two men loved me.
say 1.-TWO men," There were many
| who made professions, and of whose
sincerity have no means to Judge, but
these two can answer for as for my
| self, and know they loved me.
Never were two people more unlike
each other, in looks, in taste, DISPOSE
ton, temper, everything. It seemed
the strangest thing in the world that
both should fancy me.
Even their respective circumstances
and positions in life offered q striking
| contrast. George Redfern was
| wealthy and influential banker, forty
| years of age, grave, quiet, and reserved
in manner, and with an indisputable
| and enviable standing in society-a
man against whom no breath of re-
proach or blame had ever stirred; while
Robert Dene-my Robert, whom loved
was comparatively poor, having on
ly his salary as confidential clerk in the
Redfern bank (out of which he support
sd a widowed mother), and was one of
those merry, cheerful, light-hearted
fellows who neutrality-suspicious. from
their love of company and pleasure
get the name of being "wild," without
deserving it. Certain it is that Robert
merited no word of evil. though there
was time when it looked otherwise.
Mrs. Dene had been my dear dead
mothers friend. Naturally I often
went to visit her. She was great in
valid. and hardly ever went out, cx-
cept for an occasional quiet drive with
her devoted son, who idolised her; so
much SO that grew positively jeal-
Gus.
\ For Robert and I understood each
other, as lovers will. He was very sem
sitive and high-minded. l thought, at
| first, that because was an heiress he
would never speak the love knew he
felt, and which l longed to hear; but
the welcome declaration came at last.
And I had Mr.. Redfern to thank for
it. l met him at Mrs. Dene's cottage
one evening, when he had stopped to
speak to Robert on some business, hav-
ing CHANGED to see him in the garden
as he was riding past.
! was at the window. leaning out, and
he saw me. l knew, afterwards, that
that was the reason he astonished Rob-
ert by accepting his invitation to come
in.
He was very quiet retiring man, go
ing little into society, and bearing the
reputation of confirmed old bachelor,
but after that evening he changed.
seemed TO meet him everywhere.
He made the acquaintance of people
whom visited. He took to going to
balls, theatres, operas; and when Ihad
met him Il good many times, he re-
Qucsted permission to call on me.
4 Robert heard of it, and grew jealous.
One evening he came to me, his dear
handsome face looking gloomy and sad
enough.
\ 1--WE have been friends for years,
said he, land 1 believe you like M
well enough to grant mo favor.
love you, Kate. That's no news t
D you; is itP Well, 1 never should hav
told you so-never should have aske
i you to become my wife, because yo
are rich and am poor; but, my girl,
can't stand quietly by and see anothe
take what I'd have died to win; so
want you to tell me truly if you inten
to marry Redfern, and if it's yes
shall 60 out of the country, and sta
out until can get over it. .
Oh, the happy girl l was when
heard him! The precious words ha
longed for were spoken at last. H
might have seen the joy in my face.
felt my cheeks burn, and my eyes gro,
bright with happiness; but he kept hi
face gloomily turned away.
So stole up to him, half shy, ha
bold, all joyful, and slipped my hand
about his arm.
''And can you get over it, do 20
think?" asked demurely.
He looked at me then, and disengae
ed his arm. He thought was trifin
with his pain, and was vexed at me.
''This is no jest with me. Miss era,
en-, whatever it may be to you," he sal
quite sharply; II did not expect thu
you would make it one. Yes," ver
coldly. II am not love-sick fool.
do suppose I: shall get over it. y
! / looked at him reproachfully. lie
the tears spring to my eyes at his wore
and tone.
You don't love me az / love yot
tn en-, Robert" said softly; 'for ifyo
! 90 away aud leave me so, I'm afraid
ne, yer shall get over it,
:. Oh, my darling!''
H, ,w quickly his face frightened .
he ca ught my hand!
..Y, WI say that, Kate? You mean il
You d, MT love Redfern-you won
marry sin?''
81 10, e yoe,,' answered, as his des
arms ella sped me close; land you on
will I ma try "
! And so we were engaged. And Ro1
ert drove Inc over to the cottage, the1
and then, to tell his mother.
/ .tShe will be SO pleased, he said.
believe that she suspected my feeling
But would. not eonfide them to he
lest the fe:r of disappointment %
pain to me should distress her. =
How he owed her! A little jealo,
pang shot through my foolish heart.
81 fear y,,u love her best. " ! said il
pulsively.
..My darling he said half chidinl
", Zone d0 IS not measure or compal
such sacre loves; each and both
| dearest But my mother suffers fro
! an affection Of the heart. Any ankle
/ or pain mu st injure her, and q sudde
shock woul q kill. =
And then it was I first understot
! rightly his devoted care Of her, a:ca
IN which, 4 rom that hour. i shared.
4 Next day Redtern proposed
81 me. int pite of it1 own ha
pin0s olae( Tor tlks 4era| paiu
shoSsd - : ~ him enlae