The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1886-05-20

denly race, 70 fAce vith o4odoO0e youul
fellow in shabby ulster. How arc you
Jack wilkiusf
OBJ. ] am all right. thank you. said Jack
sulkily. aud strobe on without auothel
word. while little Mr.. Gray stood gazing
after him with . look Of eomprshsnsior
on bis face
Isuppose she hAs bssn falling him al
about ii, he said 70 himself With sigh
It's natural. Isuppose, but ~ salnsh, too
Yes. it is little Bit sslAsh of thsu. And,
shaking his bead. tho old gentleman
knocked At the door Of his house thu,
large. gloomy house that bad ssver seemed
homelike since the death II his sister,
who had been his right hand. N
When We think We are going 70 make
people happy. il ia bard 70 dad thsA We
prs regarded - 20 ensny. and NJ dray
retired 70 rest u sathsr dAnsi splits.
He arose the next morning with : dsser-
mination Of putting au end to bis suspense
BY offering himself and his homo TO the
object Of his attachment; he could bear
the suspense no longer.
When he arrived At the widows cottage
that evening Bessie was not At home.
She had gone out 10 tea with some friends
Mrs. Peploe said.
lam glad she's not At home. dear Mrs.
Peploe, said Mr.. Gray. looking very red
and nervous. ] am glad she is not at
home because II gives me an oppostupity
Of saying something that i nsat TO my
heart.
He edged little nearer 10 the widow
~ he spoke. and she smiled At him 10 an
encouraging way. She was . handsome
woman and her smile revealed the whitest
teeth in the world.
Pray 90 on, Mr.. Gray, she said. ! am
all attention.
Mr.. Gray coughed, and looked excess.
lively uncomfortable. He wished that the
widow would avert her bright eyes from
his face; her steady gaze confused him,
and he scarcely knew what be WAS going
to say. He 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 hs could moi back out
now; he had gone 81 far Poor little man |
His heart was beating like . sledge.ham-
mer. 0s
How still the room was. He started %
the ashes fell upon the hearth. This
awful silence must be- broken, or what
would the widow think OF him? He must
say something.
You must have known my object in
coming here SO often, he blurted out at
last. s*
Well. think l have guessf ! Il. returned
Mrs. Peploe, continuing tbe stitches in
the stocking she was knitting.
I thought you would, observed Mr..
Gray, considerably embarrassed by her re-
ply, but relieved at the same time, for
saved him the ordeal Of . long explana-
tiou. Well. since you have guessed my
secret, can you give me hope?
The widow was silent for few minutes.
and Mr.. Gray gazed st her in the deep
est anxiety, his heart throbbing with joy
and fear. His home would seem more
lonely than ever il be teturnsd te is dis
appointed man.
will be frank with you. she said |
presently. As far Is, ! am concerned |
there is no possible objection to the mar
riage; but Bessie is SO young and foolish
that
All yesl | thought she would object,
'aid Mr.. Gray, rubbing his face with .
red silk pocket.handkerchief. But don't
vou 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
,ouldn't you induce her 70 be more rsa-
Ionablel
l have tried my best said the widow,
Nth deep sigh. But the girl is wild
md headstrong. l seem TO have lost all
influence over her.
Then after all. there is no hope for me,
aid Mr.. Gray. looking terribly crestfallen'
thought we should be such happy
amily we four. .~s -,
We four repeated Mrs. Peploe. staring
i him as II che thought be had complete
y taken leave Of bis senses.
Yes, We four! why not? asked Mr.. Gray.
know Jack wilkins is very fond Of Bes-
lie, and fancied we should all be happy
oeether, il l could only induce you TO say
'esl ~
Then IL is not Bessie ycn want, said
he widow, dropping stitches in bsr stock
ug, and blushing like ) girl, as the truth
lashed through her mind -
Bessiel exclaimed Mr.. Gray, laughing
ieartily. What should I want with .
hild like that? Didn't you know, here
'e grew suddenly grave, that it was you
wanted, Janet.
We all thought it WAS Bessie. stsmmer-
d Mrs. Peploe. Oh what q fool have
,een.
Dont say that. returned Mr. Gray ia
sad tone Of voice. II is l who have
'een fool TO tbitk you could sver care
or me.
The widow made no reply 10 this. but gave
i'm glance that spoke volumes In an
ther moment his arm vas around her
raist. and be had stolen kiss.
And you think thst Bessie won't object?
'e said anxiously.
am sure shc wost, returned Mrs.
'eploe. with tvinge Of conscience. -
he thought Of the Wy 10 which she had
eceived Bessies confession Of love for
, - MIMI 1.