Smyrna times., 1893-08-02

- AOHi AOhOEdDlo cnafaCte
and you, who have always known hin
b would make him happy"
# II always liked JOHN" she said mu,
!, ingly, the color deepening in he
e smooth cheeks.
t And you will marry him? Re
f member he has asked me to plea
3 his cause" urged Bob, anxiously.
, But it was not so easy to do this, an,
} he went away and brought Maria, hi
wife, who was charmed at the though
OF Clarissa as mistress of the grea
, house on the hill and so finally, at ;
reasonable hour of the next morning
Robert went up to see John, armed
with letter of graceful acceptanc,
from Clarissa.
John was delighted to see his friend
and began to tell him his troubles. and
how wretched he was, living in such
discomfort. In the midst of the reel
tai, to divert mis- mind, Bob handed
him ClarisSa's letter.
His success was aston the
blood rushed in crimson tide to the
old bachelors very hair; his eyes
grew suddenly black and wild great
veins stood out on his forehead. Rob
ert, fearing apoplexy slapped him on
the back.
AS soon as John recovered himself
ne rose and began marching up and
down the room in great agitation.
Presently, stopping before his visitor.
ne exclaimed, in despairing tones:
Robert Wilkins, what you have
done will kill me, and my death will
be at your dOOrw
Come John !" said the other. sooth-
lngly, beginning to entertain doubts of
his friends sanity. Just tell me what
Is the matter with you"
Matter with me? Here-do hold
an acceptance of marriage from vour
sister.in-law, Miss Deane? Andn-in
an awful voice-''I never made a pro-
posal !"
he sank into a chair helplesslv.
1t was now Bob's turn to grow ex.
cited, and rapidly he related the or.
currence of the day before the recent
OF the secondhand proposal of mar.
rage and the urging it had required
TO induce Clarissa to give her consent
A comprehensive light dawned in
Johns eyes, and he exclaimed, in a
scarcely audible voice
Robert, as true as there is a heaven
above us, | wrote that letter with the
sole intention of securing house
keeper !"
But you spoke of Clarissa, and said
you repented of not having recognized
her true worth years ago" said Bob
watching him closely.
Il did, indeed !" he replied. "Mv
neutrality-suspicious. had been my nurse
when l was baby--was named Clar-
lssa, and have keenly regretted not
being more kind to the faithful Great
ure"
Bob's Heart sank within him. What
fool he had been Clarissa was q
proud, sensitive woman; the blow
would be crushing one to her.
Something of all this must have an.
peared in his OOuntenance, for. in a
quiet voice, John said,
Robert, do you think Clarissa
Deane would really by my wife !"
But Robert felt too much Inundated
to reassure him, and Ainsw orth picked
up the modest little letter and read it
This has been the grandest mistake
OF my life," he cried suddenly. 81
have always admired Clarissa Deane'
out should never have dared to ask
the question which my happy blunder
has caused that beautiful woman TO
answere favorably."
He suddenly beamed upon his aston
lshed guest. and begged him to relate
Just how Clarissa looked and what she
SAID but he drew the line when Bob
invited him home to dinner; and when
The latter, much gratifed at the turn
affairs had taken, rose TO go, John
bound him by the most solemn pledges
never to reveal the true nature of the
to either Clarlssa or to Mrs
And on parting he remarked,
n would-be cheerful tone, while the
expression on his face was like that of
Patience on a monuments"
Many man has marched with a
lrm step up to the scaGold, and I shall
pray for strength to carry me through
he ordeal of the marriage ceremonv.n
John AinswOrth's marriage created
more than nine days wonder. but
'nce enrolled in the list of married
men his extreme bashfulness wore off
md the big white house on the hill
With its pretty, brown.eyed mistress
became one of the most hospitable
llaces la town and ! cannot recall
among my circle of friends single in.
'ance where marriage has proven so
rec from failure Us the one which re-.
ulted from John Ainsworth's mistake