Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-08-01

oPeueu ~ Without glanclng az tue ad-
dress.
Another recipe for ginger cookies,
| suppose, she said to herself. Cor
perhaps new way TO mix whitewash.
But it was neither one nor the
other. It began thus:
DEAREST RoBERr:-You cannot Inn
agine how happy your letter has made
me. Is it necessary for me to assure
you In words how dearly 1 love you?
Yes, athousand times, 10 your question;
nor do 1 think / shall ever regret my
decision. And IL 1 can only make a
good wife to you
Fannie dropped the letter as if her
hand had been pslsled-the blood
rushed to her cheeks.
From Miriam Boltonp she gasped.
Am acceptance of Uncle Bob's offer!
And Grandma Mallaby has hidden it
away ali these yearsl But it has come
to light at last-thank God, it has
come to light at last
As she stood there, the wheels of
old Doctor Billings gig cresked past
the window, and she knew that he
was gone.
She ran into the sunny sitting. room
waving the letter in her hand.
'Uncle Bobl Uncle Bobl' she cried.
The riddle is solved at last. She did
love you all the time! Oh, knew 1t,
Uncle Boo-T knew it! Didn't tell
you that l saw it in her eyes2 See
what l have found in grandms's old
cherrywood desk, hidden away be.
tween the leaves of a hundred year.
old book! And oh, Uncle Bob, ]
know its wrong and sinful to say a
word against the dead. but all the
same it was cruel thing for grandma
to dop
Robert Mallaby took the letter from
his niece's hand and read it, with
changing color. aa
1T don't seem possible, said he
No, it1 don't seem: ':possiblel And
what must she have thought, all these
years?
Go and ask her, suggested Fanny,
trembling all over with eagerness and
interest.
Doctor Billings has Just told me, as
a choice piece of news, that she is en-.
gagged to Judge Yorke.
TO Judge Yorke? That rich man
that owns the grand stone house on
the hill? Oh, Uucle Bob! is it toe
late, after all? But don't let things
rest so. II is at least your duty tc
apologize to her for your seeming ne
glect, no matter if she we're engaged
to dozen Judge Yorkes.
My mother never liked the idea ol
my marrying said Mr.. Mallaby, in q
low voice; but l did not think she
would have carried matters to such
an extreme as this. Well, l have lost
the chance of my lifetime, that is all
But you will go and explain mat
ters to her, Uncle Bob?'
i suppose so,' he said.
In the cool Of the evening poo
Mallaby forced himself to stroll across
the fragrant fields to the old Boltor
place, red brick house, completely
hidden by maple trees.
Miriam was watering her plants il
cool, white dress, with little bows O.
blue ribbon decking it here and there
She looked up with little start, al
for the first time in a dozen years, ht
lifted the latch of the gate and entered
the fowery domain.
Miriam. he said, L wrote YOU
letter great many years ago. II
that letter asked you question:
Yes, Miss Bolton quietly respond.
ed. 4 answered the letter and tht
question both
But ! have only to-day received
your answer, said Mallaby; and hi
told her all.
1T seems, however; he added, set
ting his teeth together, that the dis
covery has come too late. Judge
Yorke has usurped the place which
should have had. He has. asked yor
to be his wife?'
Miriam inclined her head.
He is coming here for his answer
Tomorrow
Mullaby turned sadly away.
Then may as we'll go, said he.
Stop minute, said Miriam. The
answer will be--NOr
'Mirlam!
The first love is the best. ssid M jss
Bolton, smiling and blushing like a
girl of sixteen. And, oh, Robert, if
you had loved me all these years in
the face of what seemed such cruel
neglect on my part, you surely de-
serve some reward Oh, tske care,
Bob-you are tramping down all my
carnationsD
+ what do 1 care for carnations2'
said Mallaby, vehemently, as he csught
her in his arms. Its you I am think
ing Of
Fanny Aliens aspirations were
grsti6ed. The double wedding took
place, and of the two brides, the elder
one was the fairer to look upon.
But I'm not jealous said Fanny.