Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-07-11
CHAPTER II.


81 am aware that my proposition 10 o
strangely startling one" said he, gently, as
Isabel looked at him with clasped hands as
if in dream; ''but leave the city to-
morrow, and wish to take you with me,
and release you at once from the hardening
influences by which you are surrounded"
Tomorrow said Isabel, repeating the
words after him, mechanically; release
from all these harassing things tomorrow,
and through such On unlookedfor medium,
no wonder the girl was dazed.
"But your family, your friends, what
will they say TO your marrying ashop-girl!"
she said, her mind going back TO gentle
Lilly Stanford, irreleYantly, because ii
really had so little to do with the matter,
but feeling for the moment as if scorp and
aversion toward her in that sweet young
face would be more than she could boar;
worse, indeed, than her present ills.
my family'' he replied, haughtily; ''fort-
unately am entirely independent of their
fancies, and fully old enough TO choose for
myself; besides, they are sensible and kind,
and il ! am happy, will love you for my
sake, until they can do so for their own.
Take q little time, Miss Grant, and think
over the matter calmly before giving me an
answer. can give you undoubted refer
ence as to my character before the mar
riage,"
"Onequestion, }" she SAID, gravely; II have
seen what love of stimulants can do in o
home whether it be rich or poor, and have
vowed sacredly never to marry man who
INDUCED in them, even in the astdegree."
She looked at him interrogatively.
"Have no fears in that respect he re-
piled, earnestly. II despise any thing of
the sort as much as you can do, and honor
you the more for your resolve in regard TO
it. never use liquor in any form"
She raised her eyes and looked in his face
long and searchingly; she, too, had q fac
ulty for reading faces, or rather her in
stincts read for her, and rarely betrayed
her; she saw In this case an honest msnli-
ness In the face before her which inspired
her with confidence, and going to him she
stretched out her hands, saying, with a
fearful smile: "Mr. Fslconer, if you are will
ing TO abide the consequences of this i'm
pulsive act, will accept your offer, and
earnestly strive not 10 disappoint you"
He rose, and taking her hands in his, said
quietly: at shall be the study of my life TO
convince you that your informal choice is q
wise and happy one. l leave the city To-
morrow at 2:l5. Shall we fix the ceremony
at one, In this roomf'
AS you please" replied Isabel; she was
yet too bewildered to give attention to de-
tails.
Very well, will cali In the morning at
nine, and ask Nine. Arnot for permission to
use her room"
"Isabel Grant, do, for PHYS sake, tell us
what Harvey Falconer could wish 20 see
you for" cried Nine. Arnot, who was in the
work-room when Isabel entered it at last,
with preoccupied, far-away look in her
eyes.
1--WE are dying to known said Jennie
Dewey; has he gone into the millinery
business and offered you q position as sales
woman!n The idea Of Isabel and bonnets
seemed insepafable.
"He has offered me a position" replied
Isabel, dreamily, mot as saleswoman,
but as his wife"
"EIis rife r. almost screamed Nine. Arnot
in her surprise; Harvey Falconer, the
millionaire; nonsense, girl, you're joking"
"The miliionairefp 1t was Isabels turn
now 10 be surprised she had thought little
of his position in life, and had supposed him
20 be comfortable tradesman, or, TO come
nearer the truth, she had had no definite
thoughts on the subject except as his words,
peace and plenty suge esfed Rome OF
comfortable abundance, and she sank into
chair trembling. "I'm not joking she
said, family. "but had no idea he was
man Of such wealth when accepted him"
There viii be fine humming among his
aristocratic friends when they hear he has
married sh0p-giri,n said Mime. Arnot,
scornfullv; she had married canal driver
in her days Of poverty, in lieu Of better
offer, and through all her years OF prosper
ity he had remained the same, low, vulgar
and illiterate, a creature 10 be kept out OF
sight Of her present circle Of friends, so far
IS possible, and il CALLED her and filed her
with wrath and jealousy that girl, hitherto
dependent upon her for her daily bread,
should by one stroke of fortune rise 50 high
above her in the social scale which she
would occupy as Harvey Falconerss wife.
"Bst there's no aaugerl He's fooliEg you,