The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-14
HE GAVE HER UP.

josiah DaQ DdGuTal pE6Juule0 dBalHSb
both her and her mother They were
worldly people, and the girl was by no
means the wife he would have chosen for
his adopted son and nephew, John Parr.
Even q Quaker maid would have been
likely to become demoralized by the per-
petual making of fine gowns and furbe-
lows for the ladies of the eighborhood,
and Ella Massie-why- Suddenly his
train of thought was broken by Elias gay
voice.
ooh, Mr.. Fryl'' she said. ST have
watched you all day, and have thought
how tired you must be. You are a good
bit older than I am, and know I get aw
fully tired of work, and I expect you do
too.''
The Quaker drew himself up to his full
height, and his handsome, middle aged
face, with it's fine eyes and gray locks,
looked grand to Ella as he replied:
''Work is good, and, thank God, I have
plenty of it. 1t keeps one from sin.''
s'I am afraid do love the world very
much 1t is so beautiful, and every one is
SO kind to me, but 1 should like to be bet
ter. Won't you teach me? I will try so
hard to learn
Josiah's reply was not very coherent,
but whatever he said he certainly thought
a good deal Of Ella after this, and be de-
oided that, although she did not belong to
the Society of Friends-she looked as
sweet and good as any young Quaker maid
she might yet be converted, and she had
asked him to teach her to be good. "And
so 1 WILL he suddenly startled himself
by exclaiming he pondered over the
matter in the silence of his chamber that
night.
''She is only frail sapling now," he
said to himself, "but she will learn and
will grow, and the mightiest oak was once
an acorn" "
From this time Josiah made point of
seeing Ella Massie frequently and doing
his best to convert her to his ideas and
opinions. He found in her docile, low
ing nature, and her pretty ways fairly
charmed him.
The idea of having her about the house
was certainly attractive, and yet-some-
how he could not picture her there as
Johns wife-the girl had fairly twined
herself about his heart, and by the time
the golden harvest had come Josiah knew
the fact only too we'll.
At first he chided himself and told him
self he was an old fool 1t was absurd to-
think that beautiful girl of 90 would
care for an old widower of more than dou
BILE her age. STILL after all, at even five
and forty, man can love, and love pas
sionately, and Josiah loved Ella with all
the strength of his soul. He would not,
of course, wish to steal her away from his
nephew, but Johns had been probably
mere passing fancy, and he was sure-was
he, though?-yes, he believed he was quite
sure-that Ella loved him.
One beautiful August evening, after the
days work was over, Josiah Fry and Ella
stood talking in the cleaning at her
mothers gate
ella he said, ST have come here this
evening because l have something impor-
tant to say to you. Ah you SMILE You
guess what it is, don't youf"
The girl looked down for moment, and
-kr
gazed at him with her lovely blue eyes and
said:
eyes, Mr.. Fry, felt sure you would
say something soon.''
Josiah looked radiant. 1t was strange
how Elias words pleased him, and yet
they were not like those he should have
expected from a Quaker maid. Still it
was delightful to think how she had un-
derstood him, and no one could be more
charming or more sweet
'tThen thou art not afraid to trust mea
Thou thinkest shall suit thee?'' he said
eayly :,
They used to tell me you were cold and
hard, but did not believe it then, and
now laugh when / think of it, for have
learned to love you.''
She accompanied her words with little
squeeze of his brawny hand, which she
then raised to her lips and kissed. Josiah
veins. He was delighted to find himself
so beloved, and, though he was distinctly
being courted by this young maid, it was
so sweet to him that his sense of the pro-
prieties was in no way shocked.
"But, my dear, thou knowest am five
and forty and sometimes cross and crab
bed.''
''That's nothing" laughed Ella. "I love
old men, and feel so proud of you with
your beautiful gray hair and your straight,
tall figure. You will be a lovely old man,
and shall be prouder than ever of you.
"Jack wanted to tell you all about 1t
long ago, though he knew you would dis
approve of me for his wife, but 1 begged
him to wait. 1 told him if you were-aH
he said-and you are-that I was sure
could make you fond of me. I loved you
little already because you were jacks
uncle and had been SO good to him, and if
like people can always make them like
me little She paused, and then after a
moments silence she went on:
"Only yesterday told Jack he might
speak to you today, and now 1 do believe
you must have guessed it, for here you are
giving all that We want without our even
asking it, and am glad, for we could
never have married without your consentI"
Darkness seemed to fall over the land
scape, and Josiah Fry felt it suddenly
turn cold. His face blanched, but he ut
tered not sound. He merely turned as If
to go home.
'tMust you go now?'' cried Ella, seeing
and suspecting nothing. "Well, perhaps
it's time. It's getting dark, and Jack
will be in from Birchley fair by this time
and will want his supper. Besides I know
you want to make him as happy you
have made me. Good night and thank
you SO much. Jack and 1 will never for
get your goodness.
"Good nightl" said Josiah mechanically,
and he made his way across the field to his
own home. He taggered somewhat as
he walked, and his feet seemed like lead,
so that the short distance across the mead
ow to the farm seemed longer than ever