The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-05-06

to find his house dark and desolate,
his babies crying and his wife gone.
Two years after he received q letter
telling him Of his wife's penitence and
begging for help.
- He went to her at once, and found
her poor and dying.
She never asked for her children.
He took care Of her till she died, then
buried her, and placed stone at her
grave. ..l5. ..s1 .F5 &. Z s.s
II ought to have known he said,
humbly, that q pretty little thing like
her couldn't love homely, ungainly
man like me-"
A great wave Of tenderness and pity
for the lonely man surged up in Olives
iwsQmanly heart. z5.t s-.5 q
So she said, eagerly: "That don't
make no difference with woman,
Mr.. Leonard! She don't mind how
good, kind man with great kind heart
like yourn looks! Not if she's the
right kind u; &.-. ~ III
he looked up at her quecrly. do
you mean that??'' he asked, softly. .s.: ss.
YES" replied Olive; earnestly, never
realizing what dangerous ground she
was treading. =. -
He held her hand for moment, when
he went away, saying: ''Thank you,
Olive, you don't know how much your
sympathy means to me- -
And Olive sat till after midnight
by the window thinking of Mr.. Leon
ards sad story.
A few evenings after he found Olive
alone ON the porch. He was very 81
lent all the evening, but when he went
away he took her hand and said alb
ruptly:
solve, you said that woman didn't
mind a mans looks, and those words
make me dare to tell you that I love
you and need you. Will you be my
wife?'" 49, s>:
Olive looked at him a moment, the
color coming to her face. 80,
"For the land sake!" she exclaimed,
II hope you didn't think I said that
to make you propose. I'm sure never
thought of such q thing"
Il know it, he replied. ct was
your perfect Inconsistencies that at
tracted me. You never remember your
SELF -.
She looked at him with great solemn
eyes. "Are you sure you love me, or
do you want me; to keep your house
and look after your children? AVON
an amt never so old or homely that she
won't resent that
Before God, love you," he said.
do you think could ask anyone whom
did not love to marry me after my ex-
perience?"
EYES," said Olive, IT think can love
you well, and be good wife to you,
but have loved some one else bet
ter.
''But then, You have, too, an mebbe
thatll only draw us closer together.
Some day I'll tell you all about it,"
Olive did not make elaborate prepa-
rations this time, and as for Almira, Mr.:
Leonard told her the, news himself.
'Pooh!'' said that damsel, coolly,
1--WE known that longer than yeu tew
have yersef. 1 amt blind.''
Olive bought soft brown stuff for
her wedding dress, and one. day she
brought out the lilac-colored silk and
said toazAlmira, carelessly: "Here's a
dress pattern I never made up. You
may have it if you like
The wedding was very quiet, and that
night, as Olive stood by the children's
little bed with her husbands arm
around her, she said: I'm so happy
that I'm afraid. I'm inside now, amt
II" s....
He stopped and kissed her, say.
ing: eyes, love, you are inside my
heart forever
WELL" soliloquized Almira, as she
looked around her new room, Give got
u job tew clean up an get the furniture
mended. I'm thankful Olive ain't
done no worse.
"She wouldn't enjoy marryin' a
man with no one about him, because
she couldn't pity and coddle him, then,
only wonder she didn't take blind or
4 deaf and dumb one.
I'm thankful that Mr.. Leonard only
limps an has an all-killin' llomely
face. He's 50 meek he'll let me do
as like, too, so if she's satisfied, am
Boston Budget.