The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-04-28
cover to Bryson's. +"

"Cver to Bryson's."
"You have been there much lately
haven't you?"
He was silent.
Il think 1 can guess the truth, my
boy. Doyou love that mans daughter 2"
He broke from her caresses; his voice
choked.
Love her ?-yes, I do. You might
as we'll know it now. / love hero
God!-O mother, how l love her 1
can't live without her. There-now
you know all
He sobbed like girl. Mrs. Van
Wyck looked at him pityingly, as a
mother might do; and then look of
resignation and of settled purpose came
to her benevolent face.
"You say you cannot live without
her. You need not"
"Do you mean that, mother?" His
eyes were full of hope as they looked
up to her.
"Why should l not? l have seen
her; she is beautiful, and | trust, good.
L wish she had a better father than
that sour old laborer; but that can't
be helped. They are poor. l am not
rich, but | have enough for us three
until you can do for yourself. My
dear Edgar, l want to keep you with
me for the few years that shall stay
here. So / bid you marry as you will +;
this shall be home for both of you !;
and may God bless you!"
She wiped the tears from her eyes.
Dear mother-dear, good mother
His face was radiant as he put his
arms about her neck and kissed her.
Presently other thoughts disturbed
him.
It's all we'll enough" he said, "for
you to say marry her and bring her
home; but but-the fact is, 1 don't
believe she cares for me"
my poor boy Don't you know
whether she cares for you or not?"
"Pve never asked her.
@Has she any other suitor?"
"No, am sure not"
And you have never spoken out
not for all these weeks that you have
been going there?"
He told her everything; the simple
story of diffident boy, almost dumb
before the idolized object of his affec-
ton. The widow listened, and smiled.
any poor, bashful boy, you must be
holder! Women are never won in that
way. Speak out, and tell her the
truth. Where else could she get
better match, about here? You're
young, to be sure; so was your poor
father when we were married. You
may tell her that your mother con-
sents."
"I1l see her in the morning, mother.
/ won't delay bit longer. I'm going
to know how it is. right off. Your
advice is good, and you're the best
mother that ever fellow had"
The mother laughed at the boys
eagerness. and kissing him goodnight,
she retired to rest.
Edgar also retired; but not for some
hours to sleep.
The brief conversation in the moth
er's chamber seemed at once to have
made man of him; the words of the
kind, indulgent widow had inspired
him with new hope and new conf
dence.
He resolved that he would go over
to Bryson's early In the morning. He
would go with the traveller to Ayles-
worth because he promised him to
DO so, ana then ne would return and
learn his fate.
Fatigued, at last, with exulting
thoughts and rosy anticipations, he
fell asleep.
And still-not to his mother-not to
any person-had he spoken a word of
his adventure of that evening; of his
meeting with the traveller, and his
guiding him to Bryson's
Thoughts of Jessica, hopes for a
bright future with her, had, for the
time, driven the events of the last few
hours from his mind.
The survivors of the strange events
we are recording, looking calmly back
upon them from time ten years later,
! thought that fate itself worked that
| night to conceal the dark deed.
CHAPTER VIII