The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-04-15
SHE REFUSED
HIM AT THE CRITICAL
MOMENT
Your mother seems determined. /" :


If she can. What shall I dor I'll run
away or do something. Oh, If Cousin
Max were only here, he wouldn't let her
do 1t. Oh, Max, Max, come home!'
If Max Bennett had only heard that
cry he would have flown to bis little
cousin, but he was far away across the sea.
Dorothy tried to comfort her friend and
at last succeeded in stopping the tears
Mabel bathed her face and eyes and went
out doors with Dorothy.
Nehemiah jerks was the name of the
man who was so anxious to marry her
against her will. He had been dropping
in nearly every evening before he asked
for Mabel Mabel had never thought he
came to see her and was astonished when
her mother told her he wanted to marry
her.
Mrs. Brewster did not tell her that he
had promised to destroy mortgage he
held upon their home the day Mabel be.
came his wife. Mabel had taken his calls
for her mother and never dreamed he was
''courting" her, as he called it.
One night she thought she'd try Nehe-
miah. She was very pleasant, played crib
bage with him, did all she could to please
him, agreed with everything he said, and
finally when her mother left the room for
something went over and laid her hand on
his shoulder and said, timidly, "Mr.
jerks"
Eyes, my DEAR" said Nehemiah
"Why do you want me to marry you
when you know don't love your 1t will
make us both so unhappy. I'm so young,
too, Mr.. jerks"
why dew want tew marry yer? Be-
cause dew. want a nice, young house
keeper. Peggy's tew old"
why don't you marry my mother IL a
housekeeper is all you want? She's far
better housekeeper than / am.
''What dew l want with an old woman
like that?" he said, with sickly smile.
"She's younger than you are, Mr..
jerks.
Dorothy Knowles talked it all over with
her mother one day and finally said,
Mother, do go over and talk to Mrs.
Brewster and see if she won It relent"
YES 1 will" said Mrs. Knowles, "but
how shall 1 approach the subject? AL
though we have been neighbors for years
1 have never felt acquainted with her;
but I'll try, Dorothy, dear"
"Oh, mother, if you were Mabel's moth
er, she would not have to marry against
her will, would she?"
mo, my dear. Your mother will never
hasten your marriage, and l hope it will
not be for years. Find a truly good man,
my dear Do not be in hurry. The
cares of life come soon enough"
Indeed 1 shall not be, and Mabel is
not. 1t is her terrible MOTHER
Mrs. Knowles went over to see Mrs.
Brewster that afternoon. Mrs. Brewster
showed her Mabel's trousseau, Mrs
Knowles all the time trying to screw her
courage up to the all important point. She
began:
docs Mabel care for Mr.. jerks, Mrs
Brewster?"
ooh, well, perhaps not, but she soon
will guess he'll be good to her,"
How can you bear to give her to such
an old mani"
"Oh, yes. Where will she get bettor
mani That's all very pretty-'love in a
cottage'-but believe in good, substan-
tial home and sensible man..
mabel Is very young, Mrs. Brewster,
only the age of my Dorothy, and I hope
she will not be married for many years. "
'Well, Mrs. Knowles, is Mabel my
daughter or yours' Don't you suppose I
know what is best for my own childf Good
afternoon!"
She said this so decidedly that Mrs
knowles left hastily.
'Well Dorothy, dear she said when
she reached her gate, where Dorothy was
watching anxiously for her, Il failed to
make any impression upon that stone
image"
One evening Mabel ran over to Mrs
Knowles to escape the dreadful Mr.. jerks.
She told Dorothy If she married him she
should have enough of him, and she
thought she could dispense with his society
for ono evening. Dorothy said: If you
marry him? Why, aren't you going tos"
"Oh, Dorothy, dear, how do know Do
you think God will let mo be sacrificedf
Oh, if my father had only lived, or if Max
were only here!''
Always that refrain 'If Max were only
here!" Max Benefits father and Mabel's
had been cousins. Max had moro infu-
enco over Mrs Brewster than any one
simply because he did not stand in awe of
her He had saved Mabel many scoldng
and had given the poor girl many pleas
ure in the past. No wonder she longed for
Max.
The dreaded day came. Mabel allowed
her mother TO dress her in her bridal robes
and went with her to the church. AS she
walked up the aisle her friends noticed an
unusual brilliance in her eyes and an I'M
wonted color in her cheeks and little de-
faint look also
They stood before the minister. Mr..
jerks answered the questions put to him.
The minister turned to Mabel and said:
Mabel, do you take this man to be your
lawfully welded husband?"
mo, sir, do not, " said Mabel.
The guests started as if they had receiv
ed an electric shock. Mabel continued:
my mother compelled me to come, but
J. will not marry him"
Every well" said the minister II will
marry no ono against his or her will
Mrs. Brewster was so astonishcd she
could not speak. Hurrying up the aisle
came young man. He took the minister
aside and spoke to him. Ho waited while
Max, for it was he, went to Mabel.
Mabel dear, am just in time Will
you marry me here, now?''
Yes, Max" she whispered.
He led her up before the minister. Mr..
jerks turned and fairly flew from the
church, Mrs. Brewster following.
Max took Mabel to all places she had
longed to see. They were gone for months,
and when they came back Mr.. jerks had
married Mrs. Brewster.
Mabel's old home was for sale, and Max
bought it. Mabcl's mother did not forgive
her for a long while, but Mabel was too
happy to mind it much. She can't bear