The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-11-12

Neither have j. InaL Is the funny
part Of it, Then | explained my posi-
ton to him. talking with an ease and
| freedom which astonishcd me even
while ! was speaking. and finishing
| Ike this:
1T may be wrong to marry man,
or to think of It. in that way. but
shall try to give all take, and you
| know there are some old lines about
learning to love the lips you kiss"
IF you can manage to let me know
in time to engage a successor" said
| Mr.. Bentlic, and left me.
had feeling Of defeat and humilia-
ton the rest of that day and attended
very closely to my work. The next
morning. Mr.. Bentlie came to my desk
again and sat down.
How would do?" he said, without
any preface.
comprehended in IN instant.
You mean"
THAT If you think I would answer
the purpose l would like to apply for
the position of husband, which you
| mentioned yesterday"
lie spoke with his accustomed grim
ness; ! was making hieroglyphics with
my pencil on the sheet Of proof l was
correcting
Il can't think you are in earnest" l
| said.
Il am. l will give you a pleasant
home. and make you happy If can"
'Well l am very much obliged to
YOU said, my state of perturbation
| forbidding more appropriate language
Il will try to deserve it.
There we shall call it setted?' And
when had said yes he got up and
went into his private Office while l
breathed q long sigh OF contentment as
resumed my work.
| At noon he walked downstairs with
me, and stopped at the foot to say: IF
satisfactory to you | would suggest
that there be no delay. have planned
for a trip up the Hudson next week.
You might like to 70 with me-"
| Il will think of it | said.
As matter of fact we were married
in exactly six days from the time the
subject was first mentioned. In that
interval few words passed between us.
For the first three days | worked in the
office as usual. after that | did not see
my husband-elect until he called at my
boarding house with the minister and
his wife. We stood up and Joined
hands in the parlor. the minister S
wife. my landlady and one or two
boarders looking on. l was twenty
two he forty, and think we had never
even shaken hands before, though
had worked for him since l was eigh.
teen. / had hard work to get out my
II will' in answer to the ministers
questions, and there was a strange
sinking sensation around my heart
when he pronounced us man and wife;
stranger when a few minutes after
wards had laid off my hat and turned
to face my husband in my home.
/ had for moment a curious sort OF
desire to hold out my hands to him.
then the ludicrous side of the situation
struck me, and laughed.
whats the matter?" he said.
Nothing. was only thinking tina,
l can say whatever l like to you now
and you can't discharge me-"
"Yes, thought of that before. blu,
you won't take too great an advantage
Of your position, will you. Mildred?"
There was a peculiar infection in his
voice. especially on the Mildred,
which / had never heard in it before
1t brought the queer feeling bacl
again.
mo. l won't" said, I'll be good
fl can"
lie answered in the same tone he hae
used before. of half tender gravity;
THANK You, Mildred"
| Mildred. there he went again. Was
he always going to cali me that, Won
dered, and then of sudden the fear
full decisiveness of my position came
over me with a rush. / was bound,
fettered for life, and now that the pos
sibility of choice had gone from me,
began to see visions of young. arden,
husbands and lovers. and to dream
dreams of golden-hued romances.
believe ! sobbed half the niDht tina,
night while my husband was sleeping
away on the sofa in the farthest cor
ner of the room.
But, as l have said, I was strong
minded and, like Maud Muller. took
up my burden of life and my novel
out of which good deal of the zes'
had somehow gone. I worked ava,
on it however, got it finished and into
print, in course of time, ami had the
| satisfaction Of SEEING II create favor