Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-08-12
A LOVERS QUARTETTE.


sent, Mrs. Dcery, l suppose you can't"
said Mr.. Perrin. his reproachful gaze
fixed upon the fly promcnading the wild
owls plump wrist. Il had hoped on re-
Election that you would come to consid-
er my proposal favorabiy, but it seems
you think you couldn't be happy with
me-"
Il couldn't be happy with Roxana, !"
responded the lady impetuously; then,
checking herself, she flushed like the
woodbne at the window, and in her
turn gazed down upon the itinerating
fly.
''Oh, if you refuse me on account of
sister, Mrs. Deery, | really can't take
mo- for an answer" cried her sutton
with an encouraged air.
The widows gaze never swerved
from the insect, now chatting its stiff
ened legs upon her thumb.
You'd have no trouble in getting on
with sister, I'll wager" persued the
eager wooer You rarely see an even
eT-IeHlpeTeu WOudu.
.Yes, that's just it, Mr.. Perrin; Rox-
ana's too perfect, broke forth the lady,
brushing away the fly with startling en-
ergy. ''It would fidget me to death to
live with her. She's chosen vessel.
and I'm only common clay."-
The widow Deery, common clay, in
deed! Mr.. Perrin would have OWNED
the contrary unaided bv the ofiicious
sunbeam which darted out ut that in
slant to point out her manifold attrac-
tons. Being deeply in love, he took adj
vantage of his opportunity to pay a
handsome compliment and 10 renew
his suit
For one Intoxicating moment his
fair listener wavered. but the moment
passed.
''Hush, please, Mr.. Perrin! Don't say
any more about itr' cried she, with a
toss of her bewitching brown curls. Il
might care for you"-the tremor in her
voice was very nearly his undoing-T
might care for you, but | could not
breathe with RoXana. Think how my
little boy would worry her! She wouldn't
speak an unkind word, but every time
he left sticky finger-prints on a door l
should feel that she wished that he and
his mother had staid away"
Il might" Mr.. Perrin paused.
shocked at his base impulse. Had he
actually been about to remark that he
might provide sister with another
homeP-sister, who but for devotion to
his interests, might now be matronizing
a home of her own? Dear, faithful
Roxana! Could he ever requite her for
those weary years of watchfulness be-
side the couch Of his helpless, dying
wifeP The full measure OF the sacri-
flee he had known at the time, but now
had no doubt that for Climena's sake
and his she had discarded Joel Kirby.
No, no; sister should never be requested
to vacate the dwelling over which she
had ruled SO long and so well! And to
Mr.. Perrin $ credit be il stated, that in
the ardor of his passion for the little
widow he closed his lips on the disloyal
words that pcrchance m ght have won
her, and strobe forth from her cottage
arejectcd lover.
:, Mr. Perrin's feet had traversed the
meadow and assembled the slope of the
pasture adjoining ere his mind had
caught up with them. Then he muir.
mured half audibly:. 81 wonder wheth-
er Kirby did call this afternoonP When
saw his team coming over the ridge,
it struck me / might as well steal of
through the orchard. Considering he S
in the neighborhood looking up old
friends, he can't civilly pass by Roxana;
and / wouldn't be hindrance in
case"
His solloquy merged into low
whistle of satisfaction. He hat
reached the bars opposite his own gate
and at the gate, his fore-feet deep in 9
hollow paved by their Impotence,
stood Mr. Kirby's gay sorrel. -
At the spectacle Mr.. PERKINS, hear
bounded within I'm and he grasped the
topmost ia for support Should Ire
lead the forgotten horse away. to the
stable, or should he by so doing ap,
pear to take too much for grantedi
He desired to be hospitable he desired
to be exceedingly hospitable, but he
must not convey the impression that he
was over-zealous for a brother-in-law,
and thus annoy Roxana. Sister was sc
fastidiousl
In unprecedented excitement the ha.
bitually easy-going man debated with
in himself regarding the course of con
duct BETTING this exceptional occasion
and finally judged il best TO interfere
with the probable wooing in no particu
lar. Accordingly he crept ouietly
around to the porch door with sur
repttious glance at the sitting-roon
window in passing. A brisk fire OF
chips revealed to him his rather prim
blonde sister seated In q low rocker be-
fore the hearth. and Joel Kirby leaning
against the mantel near her, volubl,
discoursing EfG
They've opened the ball withou
me, / guess" unused the skulking host
ess facetiously, as he hitched his chat
along to the kitchen stove h
warm his feet in the oven. "Seeinl
that it's the first visit, i must say tina
Joel stays It out we'll. Unquestionabl,
he means business. What's TO prevent
He's first-rate fellow and'll make
kind husband. IL wasn't sure of tina
| wouldn't consent to his having Rox
ana. l should hate TO have him TAX
her out TO California. l hope IL is tru
that he has bought back the old home
: stead. Well, well, wouldn't | like d
be little mouse in the sitting-roon
wall about this timer"
Could he have had his wish mos
astonished little mouse would the wor
thy man have presented
.sYou are the most morbidly con
scientious person, Roxy, that i know
Of" Mr.. Kirby was saying with frowl