Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-11-01
A LOVERS QUARTET.

NCll3 IL you Gan Sct lOuL own COl-
sent, Mrs. Deery, | suppose you cam"
said Mr.. Perrin, his reproachful gaze
fixed upon the fly promenading the wild
owls plump wrist. Il had hoped on re-
Election you'd come to consider my pro-
posal favorably, but it seems you think
you couldn't be happy with me-"
81 couldn't be happy with Roxanna,"
responded the lady, impetuously; then
checking herself, she flushed like the
woodbine at the window, and in her
turn gazed down at the itinerating fly.
80, if you refuse me on account of sis
ter, Mrs Deery, really can't take No
for an answer" cried her sutton, look
ing up with an encouraged air.
The widows gaze never swerved from
the insect, now chatting its stiffened little
legs upon her thumb.
You'd have no trouble in getting on
with sister. I'll wager" pursued tho
eager wooer. You rarely see an even
er-tempered woman
YES, that's just it, Mr. Perrin; Rox-
annals too perfect broke forth the
lady, brushing away the fly with start
ling energy. ut would tidget me to
death to live with her. She's chosen
vessel, and I'm only common clay"
The widow Deery common clay, in
deedi Mr.. Perrin would have OWNED
the contrary unaided by the oficious
sunbeam which darted in at that Instant
to point out her manifold attractions.
Being deeply in love, he took advantage
of his opportunity 10 pay a handsome
compliment and to renew his suit.
For one intoxicating moment his fair
listener wavered, but the moment pass
ed.
Hush, please, Mr.. PERRIN Don't say
any more about itr' cried she, with
willful toss of her bewitching brown
curls. 81 might care for you"-the
tremor in her voice was very nearly his
undoing-'I might care for you, but
couldn't breathe with Roxanna. Think
how my little boy would worry her
She wouldn't speak an unklnd word,
but every time he left sticky finger
prints on door l should feel that she
was wishing 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 homer
sister. who, but for her devotion to his
interests, might now be matronizing q
household of her own? Dear, faithful
Roxanna! Could he ever requite her
for those weary years of watching be-
side the couch of his helpless. dying
wifep The full measure of her self-sac-
rifice he had not known at the time, but
he now had no doubt that for Climenas
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.. PERKINS, credit be it
stated, that in the ardor of his passion
for the little widow he closed his lips
upon the disloyal words that perchance
might have won her, and strobe forth
from her cottage rejected lover.
eff Kirby should want Roxanna now
as much as, according to accounts, he
wanted her before he went to Califor-
MIA, why, it might straighten things"
unused he, Flooding despondently along
the path through the fields; "but they
say he has his eye on his cousin Martha.
Naturally he would be looking for some
body younger than sister; she has faded
There's an odds in women" And the
lovers thoughts reverted to the buxom
widow, little younger than Roxanna.
yet no more faded than morning-glory
at sunrise.
MIR. Perrin's feet had traversed the
meadow and assembled the slope of the
pasture adjoining the highway ere his
mind caught up with them. Then he
murmured half audibly: II wonder
whether Kirby did call this afternoon?
When saw his team coming over the
ridge, it struck me might as well steal
off through the orchard. Considering
he's in the neighborhood looking up his
old friends. he can't civilly pass by