The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-05-21


] "N hat for 2" asked Bessie, with
asroniShment.
"For proposing to Il girl whom
! be has 10 means of keeping in com
fort,' returned Mrs. Peploe. "Y0u
are a pair of lunaticS; but. fnrtu
nately I've some sense left, and
won't stand by and see my daugh-
ter ruined for life.7
And she honnced off to bed VII ID
out giving Bessie the usual good.
nights kiss. Poor girl, she missed
it sOrely aud sobbed herself to
sleep; but she meant 10 be true to
Jack all the same. Not even her
mothers anger would induce her to
give him up and consent to marry
old Gray.
She treated the object OF her dis
like with the greatest cOldlieSs on
his next visit aud succeeded in max
ing him look thoroughly miserable.
But he frightened considerably
when Mrs. Peploe, to atone for her
daughters rudeness, sought to ell,
gage him in conversation. Indeed
the grateful little man ventured to
give the elder lady's hand a gentle
squeeze when he rose to take his
departure and, to his surprise and
Joy, it was warmly returned.
"Now, if Miss Peploe would only
get over her objection, how happy
and comfortable we should all be"
he thought as he trudged home.
"Hulloa,' coming suddenly face to
face with a handsome young fellow
in shabby ulster. elbow are you
Jack Wilkins ?"
80, am all right, thank yOu,'
sad Jack, sulkily, and strobe on
without another word, while little
Mr.. Gray stood gazing after him
with IL look of apprehension OH his
face.
81 suppose she has beeu telling
him all about it," he SAID to him.
self with IA sigh. "It's natural. |
suppose, but it's selfish, too. Yes,
it is II little bit selfish of them"
And, shaking his head, the old gen
tleman Knocked at the door of his
hOuse-that large, gloomy house
that had never seemed hOmelike
since the death of his sister who
had been his right hand.
When we think we are going to
make people happy, it is hard TO
tind that we are regarded as an
enemy, and Mr.. Gray retired TO
rest in rather uismal spirits. He
arose the next morning with the
determination of putting an end to
his suspense by Offering himself
and his home to the object of his
attachment, he could Uear tue sus.
peHse no longer.
When he arrived at the widows
cottage that evening Bessie was
not at home. She had gone out to
tea with some friends, Mrs. PeplOe
said.
''Im glad she's not at home, dear
Mrs. PeplOe," said Mr.. Gray, look
/ ing very red and nervous. IL am
glad she is not at home, because it
gives me an opportunity of saying
something th is near to my
! heart.p
He edged a little nearer to the
widow as he spoke, and she smiled
at him in an encouraging way. She
was handsome woman, and her
smile revealed the whitest teeth IN
the world.
spray go on, Mr.. Gray she said,
81 am all attention"
MIR. Gray cOughed aud looked
excessively uncomfortable. He
wished that the widow would avert
her bright eyes from his face her
steady gaze confused him, and be
scarcely knew what he WAS going
to say. He hardly liked to Iisk
popping tie question, for a refusal
wonld mean punishment trOm the
cheerful fireslde where he had
spent so many pleasant hours. But
the widow was waiting for him to
speak, aud he could not back out
now he bad gone TOO far. Poor
little man! His heart was beating
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 him ! He must say
something.
"You must have known my Oh
iect in coming here 40 Often,7 he
blurted out at last.
"Well, l think I have guessed
it," returned Mrs. PeplOe, eontinu-
ing the stitches in the stocking she
was knitting.
81 thought you Would,h observed
Mr.. Gray, considerably embarrass-
ed by her reply, but relieved at the
same time, for it saved him the
ordeal OF a long explanation. "Well
since YOU have guessed my secret,
can you give me hOpef
The widow was silent for few
moments, aud Mr.. Gray gazed at
her in the deepest anxiety, his
heart thrObbing with JOY and tear.
His home would seem more lonely
than ever it be returned 10 it a
disappointed man.
IL will be frank with yOu,n she
said, presently. "As Gas rs / am
concerned, there is no possible OBJ
lection to the marriage; bot Bessie
Ia 50 Young and foolish that-