Middletown transcript., 1893-10-14

WY tory ~, es T, tn !.
Orphans Home'-not, as may be sup
posed, home for orphans doctors have
made but for the children Of deceased
medical men. Miss Dwight was ma
ton there, and at the moment was
changing the pillow-cases before the
wash.
81 suppose it's about Jonny Gilroy
and his sweIIed knee" /" said the ser.
want. .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
surprise, she read the words:
my Dear Dora:-You have known
me since you were baby. Do you
like me well enough to marry mep OF
course, you and 1 have given up ro-
nance long ago. I have had two
wives. You must be thirty-two or
three.n (''Just thirty" said Dora to
herself; ''he is sixty-nine. "You
will greatly improve your position by
marrying me, and always liked you.
Please meet me in the garden after
hours. I hope to find you under the
willows.
"Yours hopefully, B. Emory"
1t was not love-letter calculated to
flatter the heart of woman of any
age. At first she said, 81 will refuse
him." Then she remembered how
good and kindly he was. II will accept
him. said she; "but no romance shall
be in my talk with him. He shall find
me like a stone. He shall have the
sort of wife he wants"
1t was early when the door-bell
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.
81 am glad to find you here." said
deep, old voice. ~ thought you would
be sensible enough to do what I asked,
but I was not quite sure-not quite.
No. You have read my note carefully2
Yes? Well, imagine that say to you
again what I wrote. l await your
answer with anxiety"
She looked at him. and he saw that
she smiled in an odd. embarrassed way.
"WilI you marry me. my dearP" he
added. 81 see / must make it easier
for you to speak,"
ut was little hard to begin." she
said.
THE usual reason moves me-" he
said. "I'm in love with you. think
it best to marry again, and l know no
one like you-no one. I've had two
wives before, 1 admit. However,
neither of them complained of me, l
believe. I have a nice home, and,
really, it will be very much better
position for you than being matron of
an institution. You do it admirably,
but l 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.
II am very practical woman, /" she
said. "If I marry you, forfeit a
good position that may be mine for
life-an independent position. 1t is
dangerou-."
my dear, you'll have half Of all
that is mine; and I'm not poor.''
"You don't think me young,
know y she answered. .'Who thinks
woman young atthirtyP But you have
four sons, hard, business men, older
than 1. They'll not approve of the
match"
"rhey are not at home; it can't
matter" said Doctor Emory.
"But, said Miss Dwight. with cruel
,dissinctness, "the trouble will come
when you die. You have made mis-
take; yos are older than poor father.
II you leave me widow, your sons
will make every effort to take every
thing from me; 1 shall be left
with nothing, my place gone, my habits
of industry, my briskness. l make no
doubt you have heard of such cases;
bave."
The slitor sat-and who can marvel
at il?-stricken dumb by this speech.
At last he gasped, You are candid"
81 am," she answered. am, in
deedl Now is your time. You can
take back your offer, DR.. Emory.
Everything can be as 1t was before.
I'll tear up your letter; am content
that all shall remain as it is.n
"But, then," he answered, 81 am
not. After all, all you say is only
true. 1 can face the music, hope.
nv answer Is this. Marry me, and I