Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-03-23


and the people. Oh, Sidney, you do
not know how much ! have always
loved you, and ] never dreamed UNI
til now that you cared for me other
than cousin! How my heart beats
| never expected to be SO happy
But thank God, who is 80 good to
us all.-and she wept little gush
of grateful tears.
On she went with her castle
building. Wonderful things were
to be done, everybody should share
something of her happiness,
Her sister Carrie, in year or SO
she was only seventeen as yet,
and too young-should go to New
York and make a fortunate mar
riage; it would, of course, as Carrie
was very pretty, be only a question
with herself as to which millionaire
and paragon she should choose;
they would all be at her disposal;
perhaps she would fancy some dukes
son from Disadvantages of this
sort were growing very common.
And 80 on builded Lavinia her
beautiful architecture, until with a
thrill she heard Sidney and Carrie
disputing about the strawberries in
the garden outside.
She went out to them, and Carrie,
sunburned and vexed, and with
hands like Macbeth's, ran away with
the berries to old Dorcas.
''She is such romp, Sidney. |
wonder you do not get out Of pa
thence with her."
No, my stock of that article is
unlimited. A wonderful day this
clear as crystal. The country in
summer-it is the nearest idea my
not very vivid Imagination can rea-
lie of heaven. think, dear VIM
he said, laughing, "this is just the
sort of day on which to say some
thing that has been in my thoughts
for a long time"
"What can it be, Sidney?"
"You could never guess. II is
something very serious and prosaic.
perhaps you had better postpone
it."
mo, | might never have the
courage again. DO you not feel an
intuition of what is coming? |
owe everything to you, dearest Vim;
your money paid for my education
for the very bread | have eaten.
| am in the attitude of one who still
asks favors; this is the last, | hope,
but the greatest Of all. Winnie, ]
am in love, and one word from you,
seals my happiness or misery"
She was silent, looking down ON
the grass; but after minute she
spoke.
Sidney, | must say frankly that
! did not expect it. As to your OBJ
legations, they are nothing; but
once | did think them tie that
should bind us together friendship
and gratitude-you understand?
But if it has, as you think, grown
into another feeling, those obliga-
tons are discharged; if, in fact, you
love me, Sidney, and wish to make me
your wife, it is | who am indebted
and grateful to you, for ] tell you
frankly that it was until this mo-
ment, dream | did not dare allow
myself to think of. But, since you
wish it, ! will be your wife, and
live henceforth with but the one
thought Of making myself worthy
of YOU"
Red and pale by turns-tremu-
lous, puzzled and bewildered at first
but devining at length the horrible
truth-stood Sidney Linden.
Was there ever before so incredi.
bic a mistake? He knew not what
to say or do. He had intended t.
ask Lavinia's approval of a contem
plated proposal to Carrie and what
an appalling situation had arisen.
He was, indeed. bound by honor
and gratitude to Lavinia, who hat
been so good to him, and he had in.
tended always in some dim fashion
to return something-he did no
know exactly what; but paying tn,
debt in this way had never entered
his thoughts. He loved Carrie,
hidden romance Of two years back
real Iove-a part of his life, in
deed. But here suddenly was a ca