Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-04-01

meaning of all this" She took Amelia
| by lSe arm, and almost forcibly led her
back into the parlor. at is clear, you
two have met BEFORE" she continued,
assuming the Office of inquisitor; when
and where was itp"
"Shall tellp" asked Albert.
Amelia maintained naughty silence.
''You do not object, aud, really, see
no reason why you should. Mother,
you have wondered that l did moi
marry. This is the reason" He
pointed TO Amelia, who still stood
draped in her long widows veil, clasp
ing the white robed child in her arms.
~ was not to blame" she said,
calmly.
You were to blame; you should moi
let your father influence YOU"
"You should not have disputed with
my father. He was older than you,
and of course knew better"
THAT is an exploded assumption.
But i am not going to renew that dis.
cussion with YOU" Then with sud.
denly awakened tenderness he al.
vanced and took from her tired arms
the little girl who was nodding heavily
against her shoulder.
There, sit down." he said, gently.
'After all these years we may certainly
let the old quarrel rest. | was so taken
by surprise that l did not do justice TO
the tender feeling my heart has always
retained for you.
Tender feeling-quarrel What in
the name of heaven are you talking
aboutP" cried Mrs Fargo, impatiently.
81 am going to tell you," returned
Albert, laying the head of the sleeping
child against his breast, and beginning
to walk the floor. "How like YOU she
is, Amelia" he said, looking fondly at
her. "See, mother, this should have
been your grandchild. Yes, we were en-.
gagged. You remember, Amelia, the
night l proposed? 1t was after the ball
at the college, and we were walking
home together through the moonlight
village street. You wore rose pink silk
with tulle over it, and the tulle was all
in tatters, but you looked as lovely as
an angel; and you said Yes without
hesitation, like the frank, sweet girl
you were. All! we were very happy"
''But you would always dispute with
papa about the proper treatment of fe.
vers, and the giving of calomel, and all
that" said Amelia. sadly. Papa, who
had practiced medicine forty years, and
who of course knew SO much better"
"Ah! don't speak of that" pleaded
Albert, humbly, melting more and
more, wrought upon, not by memory
alone, but by that incxplicable tender
ness that will flow out about little
head nestled against the breast. ~ own
that was wrong"
you admit it, ut last" exclaimed
Amelia, with an air of triumph.
Wrong in disputing, mean, not in
the principle"
'You cling to your hercsyp Papa
said it was fiat hcresy."
what have medical theories to do
my loving you?" he asked, pausing be-
fore her, and looking Earnestly at her.
"You married, to please your father, an
old-school physician twenty years older
than yourself Did his medical ortho-
doXy make you happy
Tell me-" he insisted, "wero you
happy with himP"
"You shan't question me so," she
replied, making a last struggle. "Give
me my baby. | don't like to have any
one hold her but myself"
''See how swectly she is sleeping in
my arms, Amelia. | have never been
so happy since the night we walked
home from the dance together. Doesn't
your heart tell you you owe me some
reparation for all the happiness YOU
have kept back from mcp"
Amelia fluttered her fan and looked
at the floor. 1t was n stained floor she
noticed.
"Lct me keep the baby" he urged.
"Let me teach her to call me papa.
A faint smile curved Amclia's lips,
but she did not look up. He bent on
one knee before her.
"Say yes again dear" he whispered.
'I'll be so good to you both"
The smile grew more decided, and she
bent forward rs if to kiss the child's
fair temple, but Albert, perhaps misin-
terpretng her design, bent forward also,
and the Kiss fell upon his mustashed lip.
Mrs. Trim and Mrs. Fargo, who had
tip-toed from the room some moments
before, were embracing each other in
the sitting room, with tears of irrepres-
siblc laughter. Half an hour later Mrs.
Fargo returned to the parlor, thought
fully overturning chair as she
passed through the hall
"Well," she said, ''if you two have
come n place where you can leave of,
perhaps you will come to dinner.'
1--WE have resolved never to leave
off," said Albert, "but dinner will not
go amiss."
I'm afraid it will be very much
amiss," observed his mother. at has
been waiting an hour. "-FelG Gray, in
~ a. Times DcDOcr1L