The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-04-01

You're The uoman,"
Isabel had thus far made several attempt
tointorrupt him, without success But whel
Hardyman's confession attained ~ culmI
mating point sho insisted on being heard.
'lf you will excuse me, sir " she nterposod
grayely, ~ think had better go back B,
the cottage My aunt 70 Stranger hore
and she doesn't know whore 10 look for u,
I'VE don't want your aunt" fIardymai
remarked, In his most positive manner
I'VE do want hern Nabol rejoincd. "
won't venture TO say its wrong In you, Mr.
HNrdyman, 10 talk TO mo OK you have jus
done, but I'm quito sure W. wrong In mo L
liston,n
| llo looked nj her with such unaffected sur
prise and distress that she stopped, on Oh,
point OF leaving him, AMI tried 10 make her
self bctter understood,
81 had no intention Of offending you, slr,
she said, a little contuscdly. "l only wanted
! 10 remind you that thoro are some thing,
which gentleman In your posItion--n She
stopped, trcd 10 finish the sentence failed,
and began another "lf had been young
lady In your own rank Of lifc,n she went ON,
~ might have thanked you for paying mo a
compliment, and have given you serious
answer As u is, am afraid must say
that you have surprised and disappointed me.
can claim very little for myself know;
but | did imaginB-so long as thoro was
nothing unbocomng In my conduct-that |
had some right TO your respect"
Listening moro and moro impatIcntly,
Hnrdymnn took her by the hand, and burst
out with another Of his abrupt questions
what can you possibly bo thinking Off
no asked.
She gave him no answer; sho only looked
at him roproachfuly aud tried 10 roloaso
herself
Hordyman held hcr hand fastor than over
"l lolIoyo you think mo nm infornnl scoun-
drel, he said. ~ can stand n good deal,
Miss hibcl, but | can't stand that How
have failed In respect toward you, Il you
peosei ] have told you You're the woman
my hoOrt H sot on, Wclli Isn't II plain
what wan. Of YOU when say that Isabel
Miller ! want you TO b. my NiloW
labels only reply to this extraordinary
proposal Of marriage was lnint cry OF
lstonishmcnt, followed by sudden tromb-
ling that shook hor from hoad 10 foot
Hurdymn put his arm round her with
gcntcnos which his oldest friend would
have been surprised TO sco In him
"loko your time 10 think Of H. ho snid
dropping back again into his usual quot
tono, "lf you had known nlo little better
you wouldn't have mistaken me, and you
wouldn't bc looking NJ mo now M II you
were afraid TO believe your own cars. What
Is there 40 worry wonderful In my wanting 10
marry youi | don ; sot up for being n saint
When ] was young man was no bcttor
and no Worscl than other young men, I'm
getting on now 10 middle lifc, don't want
romnncw aud adventures ! want an casy
existence with nice loynblc woman who
VIII mako mo good wife. Your the wo-
man, ] toll you again ! know II by what
Two seen Of you myself, and by what have
heard Of You from Lady Lydiard. She said
you were prudent and sweet tempered aud
nlloctionntc; 10 which wish 10 add that you
have just The fncc and figure that | like, and
the modest manners aud the blessed absence
OF all slang In your talk which don't find
In the young women | meet with In the pres
ont day That's my view of H. think for
myself What does II matter TO mo whether
you're the daughter Of duke or the daugh-
ter Of dairymanl n Isn't your father
want 10 marry its YOU Liston TO reason,
there's dcnrl We have only one question
20 sottlc before wo 20 back 10 your aunt.
You wouldn't answer mo when askol IL n
little while since win you answer nowl DO
you like NOR
Isabel looked up NJ him tlmidly
"ln my position, SIR sho asked, "hayo l
any right 10 like youl What would your ro-
lntions and friends think II said Ycsr
Hordyman gayo her waist little admoni-
tory squeeze with his arm.
WHAT You're at II agninl nlco way
10 answer n man, 10 call him sir, and 10 got
bohlnd his rank ns II II wore place Of refuge
from him hate talking Of myself but you
force mo TO 10, Hero Is my position In tho
worlds | have got an elder brother ho Il
married aud he has son 10 succeed him In
the title and the property, You understand
NO fart Very we'll Years ago shifted my
share Of the rank twhatover II may bc on
10 my brothers shoulders Hos thorough
good fellow, and hc hns carried my dignity
for me, without once dropping Il, ever
Since As Tor what people may say, thoy
hav0 said II already, from my father dnd
mother downward, In the time when took
10 the horses and the farm. II they're tho
wise people take thom for, thoy won't bo at
the trouble Of saying 10 all over again. No,
no, Twist II how you may, Miss Isabel,
whether fm single or whether I'm married,
I'm plain Alfred Hardymon; and everybody
who knows me knows that l 10 on my own
way and please myself. II you don't like
me, II viii be the bIttorost disappointment |
ever had In my lifo but say 10 honestly oil
tho same
Whore Is the woman IN Isabol's place
whose capacity for resistance would not
have yielded little 10 such nm appeal as
thlsi
II should be an lnsenslble wretch sho ro-
piled, warmly, "if didn't feel The honor you
have done me, and feel Il gratefully
"Doee that mean you will have mo for q
hnabandF asked downright Hardyman.
She was fairly driven into corner; but
belng woman she tried 30 slip through his
fingers ~ The Inst moment
'Wil you forgive me sho said, "lt ash
Tor litllemi tmol | am so bcwiiderod. l