The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1886-04-15

look thoroughly miserable. But he he
frightened considerably when Mrs.
Peploe, to atone for her daughters
rudeness, sought to engage him in CON
Syersation. Indeed, the grateful little
man ventnred TO giEe the elderly Iady's
hand q genuine squeeze when he rose
to take his departure, and, to his sur
prise and Joy. it was warmly re-.
turned.
Now, if Miss Peplos would onlv oot
over her objection, how happy and
comfortable we should all Be-, he
thought as he trudged home. "Hulloa!'
coming suddenly face to face With n
handsome young fellow in shabby
kinsP''' =, - -, :" -, =
.Oh, I'm all right thank YOU" said
Jack, isulklly, and strobe on without
another word, while little Mr.. GRAY
stood gazing after him with a look Of
comprehension on his face. 81 a.
81 suppose she has been telling him
al about IT." he said to himself, with a
sigh. sits natural, I suppose, but It's
selfish, too. Yes, it's little bit selfish
OF them. And. shaking his head. the
old gentleman knocked at the door of
his house-that large, gloomy house
that had never seemed homelike since
the death of that sister who had been
his right hand. 5s He. . - -
That evening Bessie was not at home.
She had gone out to tea with some
friends, Mrs Peploe said.
I'm glad she's not at home. dear
Mrs. Peploe," said Mr.. GRAY, looking
very red and nervous. Il am glad she
is not at home, because it gives me an
opportunity Of saying something that
is near to my heart" .sit'ss.
He edged little nearer to the widow
rs she spoke, and she smiled ct him in
an encouraging way. She was o hand
some woman, and her smile revealed
the whitest teeth in the world. .jss 2
'Pray, 60 on, Mr.. Gray she said,
II am all attention. 6
Mr.. Gray coughed and looked ex-
cessively 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. He hardly
liked to risk popping the question, for
refusal would mean Punishment from
the cheerful tireside where he had spent
so many pleasant hours. But the wild
ow was waiting for him to speak, and
he could not back out now; he had 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 himP
He must say something. i'll.
"You must have known my object in
coming here SO often,,'' he blurted out
at last. 4. 5a.za5
"Well, I think I have guessed it,"
returned Mrs. Peploe, continuing the
stitches in the stocking. she was knit
ting; , se..,
Gray, considerably embarrassed by her
reply, but relieved at the same time, for
it saved him the ordeal of a long ex-
PLANTATION. swell, since you have
guessed my secret, can you give me
hopee" y IF 50. 3
The widow was silent for few mo-
ments, and Mr.. Gray gazed at her in
the deepest anxiety, his heart throbbing
with joy and fear. His home would
seem more lonely than ever if he re-
turned to it disappointed man.
81 will be frank with you," she said
presently. Gas far. as I am concerned
there is no possible objection to the
marriage, but Bessie is so young and
foolish that, ~ ~ &.
"Oh, yes! I thought she would OBJ
ject," said Mr.. Gray rubbing his face
with red silk handkerchief. s.But
don't you think you could bring her
roundp I'll be so kind to her that I'm
sure she would get over her dislike of
the idea. Now couldn't you induce her
to be more reasonablepn
II have tried my best" said the Wild
ow, with a deep sigh. '.But the girl
is wild and headstrong. I seem to have
lost all influence over her.
"Then, after all, there is no hope for
me- = said Mr.. Gray. looking terribly
crest-fallen. Il thought we should be
such happy family -we FOUR
'We fourpn repeated Mrs. Peploe,
staring at him as if she thought he had
completely taken leave of his senses.
ayes, we four! Why notp'' asked
Mr.. Gray. 81 know jack Wilkins is
very fond of Bessie, and I fancied we
should all be happy together if I could
only induce you to say .yes!'n
"'Then it is not Bessie you want, y
said the widow, dropping stitches in her
stocking and blushing like girl, as the
truth flashed through her mind.
"BessieP' exclaimed Mr.. Gray, laugh
ing heartily. '.What should I want
with child like that. Didn't. you
know, here he grew suddenly grave,
"that it was you wanted, Janeph
#"We all thought it was Bessie, p"
stammered Mrs. Peploe. .'Oh, what a
fool I have been!''s q -5 s,':5:
Don't say that, returned Mr.. Gray,
in sad tone of voice. SIT is I who
have been fool to think you could
ever care for me. =
Tho widow made no reply to. this, but
gave him o glance that spoke volumes.
In another moment his arms were
around her waist, and he had stolen a
kiss.
'And you think that Bessie won't OBJ
ject?n he asked anxiously.
II am sure she won't, - returned Mrs.
Peploe, with a twinge of conscience, as
she, thought of the way in which she
had received Bessie's confession Of love
for Jack Williams. Y; Ii f.3 ,;s5
II don't know so much about that, y
said merry voice from the doorway,
and Mr.. Gray hastily Withdrew his arm
from the widows waist as Bessie enter
ed the room. s. 5s:i 3,E 55
That kiss had opened the young
lady Is eyes as to the real state of affairs
and she knew in q moment that her
mother had been the real object Of Mr..
Gray's affections. But why had she
not seen it beforep She was angry with
herself for being such an idiot. What
| in the world would lack saw Wnnld