Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-11-08

not tell me every day tnat 1 must DC
respectful and attentive to him, because
/ have no desire to be rude. But then,
Miss Georgina, can't marry him. just
imagine the absurdity OF making me
your step-mother. Why, / was only
eighteen last month.
Has he asked you to marry him?"
Miss Georgina asked, grimly.
mo; but he will, am sure, and
mamma will make me accept him. un-
less-oh. Miss Georgina, do you think
it would be very. very wicked If !
eloped with Harry
II think you are fully justified in do
ing it." said Georgina, trying not to
show her exultation.
HE has a good salary" said Elsie,
land have half poor papa's property
when ] marry or come OF age. We
should not be very rich. but we would
have plenty. Oh, Miss Georgina,
would you-would you help us?"
Help you?"
.'Yes. If could bring some OF my
clothes over here, and pack in one OF
your trunks, and come to tea some
evening, and get away from your back
door in time to meet the evening train.
And-oh, | know am asking great
favor, If you would 60 with me TO the
city, and stay with me until ! am mar
ricd! Oh, could you? Would you?
just faint show of hesitation, and
Miss Georgina consented. They could go
to the city for days shopping, send
ing the trunks by express to a hotel
where Harry Turner could meet them.
Words can not describe the rapture of
Selma when this plan was confided to
her. II was with difficulty she was pre-
vented from Offering to join the party,
and make sure the ''little cat was actu-
ally safely married.
1t was one week later when Mrs
White. calmly knitting in her porch,
listened for the whistle of the evening
train. by which Elsie was to return
from her days shopping with Georgina
Watkins. She was not a nervous per-
son, but when the whistle had long died
away and she saw the station carriage
stop at the opposite cottage, she did
wonder that Elsie did not rush home in
her usual impetuous fashion. Still
more did she wonder, when Mary, Miss
Georgina's maid, tripped across the
road with a letter. But a smile, a
smile of intense amusement, lowered
over her lips as she read the epistle,
which was from Elsie:
DEAR. Dearest MAMMA-Do forgive me. ]
can not indeed can not marry Mr.. Watkins,
and Harry would certainly commit suicide If ]
did / think. he is ever so nice, and not so
awfully old either But never could be nam.
ma to Selma and Georgina even If did not love
Harry. But could not give Harry up, and we
were married this morning. Miss Georgina was
with me- and win tell you an about It, Don't
be very angry please, mamma. j will always
be your loving daughter, but could not marry
Mr.. Watkins. ELSIE"
To which epistle Mrs. Turner re-
ceived the following reply:
you LITTLE GoosE:-Nobody wanted you
90 marry Mr.. Watkins, not even that gentle
man himself, who has been engaged 10 me for
three months. You have quite upset our plans,
for, thinking you too young to marry anybody
we intended TO take you to Europe with us in
act for yourself we hive decided to sail on
Saturdays steamer. We were married this
morning, and my husband is q. present on his
way to New York, where join him tomorrow,
"a we prefer to impart the news by letter TO his
amiable daughters. AS this cottage is paid for
until October, have arranged for you 10 occupy
IT until then, and for you to take possession OF
the city house, afterwards, we shall remain
abroad for some years.
81 hope you will be very happy, my dear little
Elsie, and am quite ready to- give mothers
love to Harry Be sure you are an aifectionate
daughter TO your new papa, who will stop to
see you, his way 10 New York. / send this
in advance OF his cali, and my own visit
Lovingly your mamma,
ELLEN WATKINS"
We draw vail over the arrival o.
Mrs. Watkins letter at the Grovedale
Cottage. -Anna Shields, IN AeD York
Ledger.