The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-29
WON A WIFE.

y
your loss. Although my acquaintance with
yourself and my late uncle was limited to the
exchange of an occasional letter, I was sincere
ly sorry to hear from you of his death. Ealso
regret to learn that you and your daughters
are wholly unprovided for. As your nearest
relative feel some responsibility in your vel
fare and have therefore thought out a plan
whereby you may be relieved of All anxiety
concerning your future. The matter being one
which it is easier to discuss verbally than by
letter, have instructed q friend Of nine at
present in England to call upon you immedi-
ately ana place my proposition before you
His name is Mr. George Chillingvorth.
RALPH WEsTBRoOK.
The letter so long expected in the little
suburban villa had come at last, and in
the afternoon Of the same day the maid of
all work announced Mr.. George Chilling
worth.
''You expected me, I believe, . he said.
Eyes" answered Mrs. Durant Let
me introduce you to my eldest daughter,
Dora. These are Minnie and Grace. VIII
you take the armchair, Mr.. Chilling
Worth?'
''Im sure it's very kind of you to have
come SO promptly, = continued Mrs. Du-
rant tearfully-she was a lady who wept
easily and copiously. LAS you may i'm
agine. I am terribly anxious. To think
that, after keeping my own carriage, I
should come to thisp'
.'AIotherl - murmured Dora in a tone
Of distress.
AIr. ChilIingworth murmured condo
lence, fumbled his nat and looked at Dora
under his lashes.
Most men thought her worth looking
at, and be was no exception to the rule, if
his face was an index to his mind.
Obviously be was unused to women and
a little frightened Of them.
1.-The proposal I am to submit to you is
this, he said. Ralph Westbrook Is q
prosperous gentleman farmer, as dare
say you know; also he is young, a bach
elor and quite alone, and for some time
has longed for conpanionship-for a home
in a wider sense than that afforded by the
walls and furniture. To put it in plain
words, he wants q wife.
"a few months ago he received, with
the portraits Of yourself and family, a pho
tograph of Miss Dora here, and-weIl, he
fell in love with it. Very simple of him,
perhaps you think, but you must renem-
Der his great loneliness and let that be his
excuse
'sNOw coIas to the point If Miss Dora
would consen5 to marry him, of course she
would then be able to make any arrange
ment that seemed best to her as to the
comfort Of her mother and sisters. I am
about to return to the colony and would
take charge of her during the voyage, and
on her arrival she could stay with friends
until the wedding"
Gravel thousands Of miles to marry a
man have never scent faltered the girl.
81 never could do it-oh, couldn 'tI''
Nonsense, Dora, - said her mother
60 You should feel honored-dattered. You
will have kind husband-I an sure
Ralph must be kind. You will be provided
for all your life and I shall be relieved Of
this terrible anxiety. You cannot dream
of refusing"
''Of course, put in George Chilling
worth slowly, eff Miss Dora has a decided
aversion to the scheme, I am sure my
friend would be the last man to wish her
inclination forced in any way, and no doubt
he would arrange some other method Of
assisting you all. I may safely add that
he is q good sort Of fellow, and that If she
consented he would be devoted to her and
spare no pains to recompense her for trust
ing her life to him.
Mother, do you want me to go9 Would
1t make you feel safe and happy about the
futures''
"Of course it would, Dora"
"Then," said the girl, with a curious
hard note in her voice, since my mother
can do without me, will 60 VIII you
tell my cousin, or shall I2''
II will. There is no need for you to
write, - answered ChillingwOrth. sHe
will be very glad.
The voyage was all but over and the
girl who was On her way to an unknown
lover and the man who was his friend
stood on the deck together
'In a few hours we shall land - she
said, "and them
''Shau you be sorry?'' he asked. tHave
these been happy daysf''
Il wish they could last forever, - she
cried passiOnately-
Dora, if you were going out to me in
stead of to him, would you mind SO very
muehS"
1T would be paradise q" she said simply.
She began to sob quietly, despairingly,
and bowed forward on he taffrail in the
shadow of a friendly cloud
''DOn't, for heaven s sake, don't, >" plead
ed the man. Dora I was brute to mas
querade so long, but wanted to see you,
to study you-to be sure L had won, not
bought, my wife. am Ralph Westbrook.
You are coming to me. London News.