Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-07-18
ENyoI.
WHEN ROMANCE WAS OVER

Miss Dora Dwight, on her thirtieth
birthday, received the first love letter
OF her life-the first offer OF marriage.
1t was handed into the dormitory OF
the Physicians Orphans home-not,
as may be supposed, home for the
orphans doctors have made, but for
the children OF deceased medical men.
Miss Dwight was matron there, and
at the moment was changing pillow
cases before the wash.
4 suppose it's about Johnny Gilroy
and his swelled knee. said the servant.
'Dr. 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
surprise she read the words:
''AIY DEAR DoRA-You have known me
since yon were baby. Do you like me
well enough to marry me? OF course, YOU
and have given up romance long ago. !
have had TWO wives. You must be thirty
two or three" TJuSt thirty, said Dora TO
herself, he is sixty-nine, ID You will great
ly improve your position by marrying me,
and | always liked you. Please meet me
In the garden after hours. hope to find
you under the willows.
Yours, hopefully, B. Emory"
1t was not a love letter calculated
to hatter the heart of woman Of
age. At first she said: 81 will refuse
him" Then she remembered how
good and kindly he was. II will ac-
cept him, she said, .but no romance
shall be IN my talk with him. He
shall find me like stone. He shall
have the sort of wife he wants"
1t was early when the door bell
changed, and a 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.
II am glad to find you here" said a
deep old voice. II thought you would
be sensible enough to do what Iasked,
but | was not quite sure-not quite.
No. You have read my note care
fully? Yes? Well, imagine that | say
to you again what | wrote. await
your answer with anxiety"
She looked at him, and he saw that
she smiled in an odd, embarrassed
way.
'Will you marry me, my dear?" he
added. II see / must make it easier
for you to speak"
1T was little hard to begin, she
said.
''The usual reason moves me-" he
said. "Im in love with you. think
1t best to marry again and know no
one like you-no one. I've had two
wives before, / admit However,
neither OF them complained OF me, /
believe. have very nice home, and,
really it will be very much better
position for you than being matron of
an institution. You do it admirably.
but | hate to see you here. Your ia
ther was older than |, but we were
great friends. | think he would adj
wise you to say yes.
She put her hand upon his arm.
II am a very practical woman, she
said. "If | marry you forfeit good
position that may be mine for life-an
independent position. 1t is danger
Gus"
my dear, you'll have halfof all that
is mine; and I'm not poor"
"You don't think me young,
know" she answered. "Who thinksa
woman young at 30? But you have
four sons, hard, business men, older
than |. They'll not approve OF the
match"
''They are not at home; it can't
matter" said DR. Emory.
"But," said Miss Dwight. with cruel
distinctness, 'the tronble will come
when you die. You have made a mis-
take; you are older than poor father.
If you leave me a widow your sons
will make every effort to take every
thing from me; | shall be left with
nothing, my place gone, my habits of
industry, my briskness. / make no
doubt you have heard of such things;
| have"
The sutton sat-and who can marvel
atit?-Stricken quite dumb by this
speech. At last he gasped:
"You are candid"
81 am" she answered-sI am, in
deed. Now is your time. You can
take back your offer, DR.. Emory.
Everything can be as it was before.
I'll tear up your letter; am content
that all shall REMAIN as it is"
But then" he answered. ~ am
not. After all, all you say is only
true. lean face the music hope. NV
answer is this: MARRY me, and ii
will make will, leaving you every
thing, on our wedding day"
'"That would be unjust" she said.
cit would be will to be contested.
Leave me home and an income"