Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-11-13

inc young lduy cOniOrtuDlo iOr llio
and save her from battling with tho
world. Certainly Louthers ought to
have provided for her, no matter If
she were plain and disagreeable, but
he was very odd fellow.
'In the morning rode over my new
possessions. The grounds were beau
tiful and thought / might as we'll in
spect the house and call on Miss Duval.
"When l had been announced she
advanced to meet me in an easy way
which pleased me. Her carriage was
graceful. and the face though plain
was redeemed by glorious eyes. Her
entire appearance was that of sensi-
BILE, practical woman.
"She thanked me for allowing her to
occupy the house so long. and said
that she had tried to keep it in as per-
feet order since Mr.. Louthers' death
as 1t was before. accepted her prof
fered cup OF tea, and as she poured it
out l watched her with q critical eye.
The result was pleasing.
"Miss Jessie Duval was about six
and-twenty and rather delicate look
ing. II seemed positively cruel. or
rather downright robbery. to send her
out of this lovely house to struggle for
herself. Beside, the merry air of tho
house, the fragrant tea, and the little
evidences of woman's presence, were
fascinating to n wanderer of fifteen
years.
"As l rode homeward the quite little
lady's presence remained in my mind 5
eye, and l found myself thinking Of
last nights badinage, and asking why
should not tell Miss Jessie that / re-
GREETED the will, though my declining
to accept il would not benefit her,
and ask her to brighten my life.
''In few days / again returned to
Oak Hollow and rendered my love
to Miss Jessie in very business-like
manner
''She replied that the suggestion was
very kind and honorable of me. that
she was not surprised at the will, as
in several points she had crossed Mr..
Louthers express desires. | invited
her to think seriously Of my proposal,
and in two weeks to send me her an
.swer Bear in m ind, | said, that by
inheritance and right the PROPERTY
should be yours and not mine She
agreed. though rather relunctantly
thought, and on the day appointed
received the following note:
have concluded that in cementing such n
bargain give quite as much as / take, ac-
cept. Can not we be married soon and save
needless preliminariesY
my aunt thought the note sensible,
and did not seem much surprised at its
contents. We went together to call
on my fiancee Upon that occasion
Miss Duval requested me not to give
her an engagement ring, but suffered
me to slip on her hand cat's-eye that
came from India.
"She seemed overcome with embar-
rassment, and her reply was too low
for us to hear.
1.-THE following Wednesday was set
for the wedding. My aunt was quite
silent during our return drive; but |
said nothing, thinking that if the rest
of my life were not all sunshine could
feel had done my duty.
"Aunt drove over for Jessie on that
day, and though her dress was black
silk there was good deal of white
about her throat. She also wore q
large bunch of roses which l had pre-
sented to her. The solemn words were
spoken, and so forcibly did they bring
back my first bride in her youthful
beauty that l could barely make the
proper responses, and die not notice
that Jessie's flower had fallen off until
after the ceremony.
ave three and the clergyman dined
together, and about ten o'clock we left
for our own home, as neither of us
cared for trip, and the desire felt by
me to get to my destination seemed to
be shared by Jessie.
when the doors were thrown open
i kissed my wife for the first time,
and bads her enter into her own again,
giving her the title-deeds Of the estate.
She avoided my glance, and went i'm
mediately to her own room.
''In few moments her maid brought
me note which read as follows:
"'You are averse TO any more scan
dial and gossip fancy, so you will not
attempt to see me. will be with you
at breakfast. If you will do as ask
no one need never know that we arc
not living together.
az am married woman. My hus-
band has been serving a term Of
twelve years for manslaughter. He
is felon, but love him. We grew
up together in the city OF Edinburgh,
and always intended to marry. One Of
Jim's friends spoke slightingly of me,
and he shot him. l was then sixteen.
My mother wrote Mr.. Louthers about
our trouble, and as he was our third
cousin he came In order to get counsel
for us, and do the best he could to
keep the case quiet. He thought me
too good for Jim, and when we were
in the Jail together, said: "By the time
Jim gets out you will be married pnd
he will have something else to do than
quarrel over a girl Of sixteen" Then
/ took Jim's hand and swore that /
would be his faithful wife from that
time until death, and Jim held mine
and said the same. Mr.. Louthers could
not help being the witness. He treated
1t as a joke, and said he would take me
home with him IL would write to Jim
and retract my promise. declined TO
do so.
LATTER E.other died Mr.. Lou
theirs sent for me. He then told
me that as soon as / could give up my
foolish infatuations he would sign a
will leaving me the property. If l
would not then it should go to you,
leaving me but the interest on five hun
dred pounds to keep me from