New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-02-01
a HhRRAGgNSETT EDYZ.

There was not sound in the cot.
tage that drowsy midsummer after,
noon. Open doors and windows how
evor, told OF occupants, camp stools
were on the piazzas, newspapers and
reviews were scattered about as ii
hastily abandoned. A light football
broke the stiffness; a lady appeared,
who with graceful, easy motion, pass.
ed and seated herself on shady bal
cony overlooking the sea. AS her
eyes rested on q iuttihg rock she saw
some one taking observations. He
put an eyeglass to assure himself that
1t was indeed she; then clambered
over the intervening OBSTACLES and
FASTENED toward her. She looked at
first annoyed, then smiled at the in
truder- He also smiled and displayed
handsome teeth, quite at variance
with his advanced years. His feat
ures we're regular, his gray hair was
NUo eoo SA1oIo S1S pCSSlDIcs ctAlO llC uc1A
distinguished air. Glow fortunate
am! Really, had no idea, when I
strayed out this afternoon, that any
thing so pleasant was to befall me. J"
This was, rather hypocritical, as he
had strayed out, as he called it, for
the very purpose of this encounter.
The lady smiled graciously. "Mrs.
Page" he exclaimed suddenly, "per-
NIT me to- resume the conversation
interrupted SO unhappily the other
evening""
"Ah, Mr.. Lee,' with q deprecating
air, "why not confine ourselves to or
binary topics? am so eager to retain
your friendship, that I have not the
courage. to oppose you; yet"
She had charming, pretty, graceful
ways, not wholly free from coquetry.
She glanced at him shyly, and blush
ed a little.
"And yet he repeated eagerly;
"What does yet imply?"
II prefer friends to lovers" she an
SHGISC, uulUG uGClllSuIy.
"But, my dear Mrs. Page, the world
is censorious, and will not permit
friendship between men and women"
His tone was somewhat sarcastic.
Mrs. Page looked out on the sea, then
up at her companion. "If Icould only
be your daughter' she whispered
softly.
'"That's all awful hit at my years,
and I ought to be excessively angry.
My real daughter might not like it,
you know"
"How would she like your having a.
young wife? Tell me frankly, Mr.
Lee, what would your children say to
such an arrangements
Frankly, think they will not like
it at all; but | shall reason calmly
and automatically with them, and
very soon they will be as much in love
with you as | am"
"A1rs. Page had amocking, incredul-
Gus air.
II shall say to them, Although the
day | marry her [ propose to settle a
million on my future wife"
ooh, Mr.. Lee!'-her face crimsoned
~" SIoAA W. III " pooS w L1OS
me IN that open Way?'
"By no manner OF means. This is
e~hat | am to say to my children; I
am not saying it to you, only rehears.
ing. This million which I settle on
the charming person who condescends
to become my wife should otherwise
give to a hospital; therefore, how does
it affect you, my dears? Only give me
permission to make the announce
ment, and all difficulties will be re-
moved"
Mrs. Page looked distressed and
perplexed. "How can I endure four
enemies in my own household"
You will have one friend, I am
sure, among them. There is my son
William; q magnificent fellow-noble,
good, superior. William, you and I
against Gertrude, Archie and Jack,
we certainly can hold our own"
"A1rs. Page with downcast eyes had
passed through every phaze of blush
ing and agitation while he spoke. Mr..
Lee marked these signs and took
courage. My dear, can you not COM
fort ME a little?"
''rhere are so many objectionsW
She sighed.
"Name them," he exclaimed eager.
ly.
"Yo-- money and the disparity in
our years. almost in whisper.
"Dear Mr.. Lee, let me say no."
II can't consent to anything OF the
kind. l am perfectly willing that my
35 years. am really 7O-should off.
set with money your
'"Thirty," she replied.
There was brief silence. Mr.. Lee
was evidently taking counsel with
himself. Mrs. Page, I am going to
confde in you. have had a very I'm.
happy life, although the world consid.
ders me fortunate man. My wife
was q great invalid. / INDUCED her in
every possible way; but all that made
existence worth having was sacrificed
i'll the effort. The natural affection
which one would have supposed she
would have had for her children seemed
extinguished by her maladies, and they
and were really victims. have had
no life for 40 years, either literary,
social or religious. She positively did
not like me to 60 to church! I now