New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1892-09-21

was an offer on the Doctors part.
He could but notice her grace, her
gentleness, the strange sympathy
between his children and herself One
night when he came into Dolly's room
and saw Mrs. Enderby sitting IN an
armchair by Dolly sofa, with Dolly's
hand in hers, and Janet on the other
side Of her, while Jack lay on rug at
her feet gazing at the fire with his
fingers crossing a corner of Mrs. End
erby' s drapery. it came over him with
arush that Mrs Enderby was the
sweetest woman in the world.
WidoWers are proverbially awkward
In their courtships. Perhaps knoWl-
edge OF the immensely of the act makes
them less glib. Anyhow, when hand
some, sensible, gentlemanly DR..
Brooke made an offer soon after to
Mrs. Enderby, in her own drawing
room, he Worded it SO clumsily that
he seemed to be proposing co-opera-
tive society, ofwhich Dolly and Janet
and Jack, and Archie were to be the
benefciaries, and was met with a
point blank refusal.
Don't speak Of it again." she had
said.
81 will mott will not" answered
the Doctor in a low voice aOnly you
must und erstand that it is at. the cost
OF a perpetual struggle. / will not try
no forget you, because I knoWit is i'm :
possible, but respect too much the
profound affection even If / did not
wish to spare you the annoyance.
He was gone. Mrs. Enderby felt that
the way he spoke these last few words
almost atoned for the happiness of his
first words. She walked up and down
once or twice. ''They canno st now say
that | want to marry him, = she said
triumphantly, and felt flushed with
victory Yet there was something like
GOODNESS ofdisappointment upon her.
OF course this put an end to Mrs.
Enderby IS going to DR.. Brooke's house
at Dolly's and Janet's most urgent
request.
But they were now almost we'll
again, and on fine days Jack would
bring the two girls-Janet still limping
little, and Dolly rather pale and
wan-over to Mrs Enderby's; DR..
Brooke did not put any bar upon
the continual presence of the children
in Mrs. Enderby's house. He wisely
left that thing alone
But DR. Brooke was suffering from
bitter disappointment. His CHEEKY
handsome face took on a stern and
troubled look. When he came home,
Dolly's and Janet's songs had no pow
er to charm him. He would sit and
look at the fire in a way that would
make the hearts of his children ache.
One night as he sat thus grave and
preoccupied, Dolly crept up to him.
She laid her cheek in the old wayagainst
his bearded face Darling papa" she
said, t*what is it trouble your"
DR.. Brooke held her close. Her in
nocent sympathy did him good.
"Something, my dearest, you can
not help, he said. Dolly, who was
queer girl, with strange imaginative
fancies, slipped upon his knee.
'Papa, sometimes I have thought
you won't be angry, papa?" The
Doctor held her to his breast. Hehad
never been angry with her in all his
life.
Because" whispered Dolly, in a
different whisper, sometimes I've
thought Archie's mother were our
stepmother-"
''There is no chance of that, my
little girl, !" he said. ''Would to God
=" He stopped.
But Dolly knew it all. That night
in the moonlight she sat up in bed and
told Janet, and by the end ofthe week
Jack knew it. "And that's why papa
is SO Serious" said Dolly in her soft
voice.
"All broke up because the widow
won't smile on him, unused Jack, to
whom the tender passion was an in
scrutable mystery.
These young creatures talked their
fathers romance over with the keen
relish OF sixteen-year-o for these
things. Only Janet was indignant.
"What can she expect if papa is not
good enough for her?" cried she vehe-
mently; $50 handsome, so kind"
''P'r'aps," said Jack, "she's afraid
OF us. She thinks Well 5bedevil her
and the kid todeath."
This solution amazed the girls with
its simplicity and perspicacity. Only
that could account for any woman's
not jumping at the chance OF marry
Ing their 1ather.
ON tell you what it is, girls" said
Jack, ri think it would be ajollygood
thing if we could let Mrs. Enderby
know that we haven't any objection,
and we wouldn't be hard on the kid.
1t cuts me to see the governor going
around looking like a cracked pitcher.
We needn't call any names, just init
mate it in a general sort of way"
"Jack, (" remarked Janet solemnly,
you've got a great deal more sense
than you ever got creditfor."
It was some days after that when
Mrs. Enderby experienced an ir-
ruption Of the Brook family into her
drawing-room.
Dolly, as chief diplomatist, soonled
off on the important subject.
1T is such a comfort, Mrs. Enderby,
to come over and see you. It would
be so nice if we only had somebody
like you at home"
1t was now Janet's turn.
eve wouldn't object to a step
mother ii she was nice-nice enough