The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-03-15
When Romance Was Over.

! birthday, received the first love- lette or
! Of her lfe-the frs: offer of marriage
! 1t was handed into the dormitory OF
the Physician, Orphans Home"-not,
as may be supposed, home for the Or
phans doctors have made, but for the
children of deceased medical men.
Miss Dwight was matron there, and at
the moment was changing the pillow
cases before the wash.
81 suppose it's about Johnny Gilroy
and his swellcd knee" said the servant.
Doctor Emory seems to think it wuss."
Miss Dwight, however, waited until
the girl was gone before she opened the
note. Then, not greatly to her sur
prise, she read the words:
my DEAR Dora: You have known
me since you were a baby. Do you
like me well enough to marry me2 OF
course, you and I have given up ro-
nance long ago. / have had two
wives. You must be thirty-two or
three" "Just thirty" said Dora to
herself; The is sixty-ninc.' you
will greatly improve your position by
marrying Inc, and always liked you.
Please meet me in the garden after
hours. lhope to find you unde the
willows. Yours, hopefully.
''B. EMORY
1t was not love- letter calculated to
f1atter the heart OF a woman of any age.
At first she said: al will refuse him."
Then she remembered how good and
kindly he was. Il will accept him."
said she, 'but no romance shall be in
my talk with him. He shall fn1 me
like stone. He shall have the sort of
wife he wants"
1t was carly when the door-bcl
changed, and foot crossed the long
passage, and ceasing to echo on the
painted floor, struck the stones. Earlier
than she had expected him, but she was
ready for him under the willows in the
garden.
Il am glad to find you here" said
deep, old voice. 81 thought you would
be sensible enough to do what i asked,
but l was not quite sure-not quite.
No. You have read my note carefully?
Yesa Well, imagine that l say TO you
again what l wrote. l await your an
swer with anxiety"
She looked at him, and he saw that
she smiled in an odd, emba raised way.
"Will you M .rry me, my dearl" he
added. 81 see must make it easier
for you to speak,"
st was little hard to begin" she
said.
"The usual reason moves me-" he
said. 'Im in love with you. think
it best to marry again, and 1 know no
one like you-no one. I've had two
wives before. 1 admit. However,
neither of them complained of me,
believe. have very nice home, and,
really. it will be a very much better pc.
sition for you than being matron of an
institution. You do it admirably, but
I hate to see you here. Your father
was Older than /, but we were great
friends. think he would advise you
to say .yes.''
She put her hand upon his arm.
al am a practical woman" she said.
if marry you, forfeit good posi-
ton that may be mine for life-an in
dependent position. 1t is dangerous.
My dear, you'll have half of all
that is mine; and / m not poor"
'You don't think me Young. II
KNOW" she answered. 'Who thinks a
woman young at thirtyl But you have
four sons, hard, business men, older
than I. They'll not approve of the
match"
''They are not at home; it can't mat.
ter" said D.. Emory.
"But," said Miss Dwight, with cruel
distiuctness. 'the trouble will CONS
when you die. You have made q mis-.
faks. von arc olda. H.. e.I