Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-10-03
ALL'S NELL TIA ! ENDS WELL.

I'LL " HILL ILL LitUO Ill ILL.
81 am so sorry this has happened she
said with forced calmness. Il like you
much. and thought we were always to
be friends. but you can see that it is i'm
possible for me to marry. 1t is my duty
to take care of papa and my brothers and
try to take the place of my poor mother
L felt from the first" said Harry, sor-
rowfully, that it was hopeless to think
of you. You are too good for me-
Don't say that, please, for [ like you
much more than anyone [ know. If L
ever did lo-marry, it would be just such
a man as you-good, clever and generous.
But you see that it is impossible, don't
you?a
He looked into her appealing eyes, but
could not answer. Nothing is so sublime
~ tragic as the beautiful girl sacrificing
herself to Il mistaken sense OF duty, and
she appeared so sublime to him that he
couldn't help thinking her in the right.
In affairs OF the heart a man, especially
a young man, needs Il disinterested wom-
an to guide, TO encourage, or to check
nm. as the case maye require. Now,
Harry Watson was so fortunate as to
have charming widow as his cOnfdant
and friend. She was several years his
senior. and he was once much in love
poohpoohed his proposal and told him
that, although she thought him fine
clever young fellow she had no desire TO
take boy to raise, and that he muslin t
talk nonsense Of course he was tragic
and went out West to hunt for grizzlies,
hoping to be masticated by one, but he
presently came 20 his senses and re-
turned to the city. He was naturally
rather shamed-faced when he met the
widow. but she was so jolly that he soon
forgot his previous absurdity and they
became fast friends.
You poor boyp' said the widow in
humorous sympathy. What would be-
come Of you if it were not for me? But
II you obey my orders | will guarantee
that you will win her.
After talking the matter over, Harry
felt comfOrted, and be felt that the clev-
er widow was going to do all in her
power to help him. But he did not i'm
aglne that while they were discussing the
subject the peerless, seif-sa crificing Els
ther was weeping bitterly and almost
rebeIllng against her fate. 1t was only
by magnlfylng her duty to an appalling
grimness that she finally recovered her
composure and soothed the pain at her
heart to an aching numbness
As soon as the widow felt that Harry
had recovered from the first bitterness of
his disappointment, she ordered him to
go and call on Esther He obeyed. and
a few such calls restored to some extent
their old relationship and they could
talk more like brother and sister. And
enc evening she talked to him in a most
sistcrly fashion, warning him wistfuly tc
beware of the widow
on know l look upon you as a broth
er and would not like to see one of nv
brothers as much in her company as you
are. Of course, she is nice, but people
say she is SO designing"
CaiH tbo 7,
she heard of it. Il know I am design
Ing but she will find that it is for her
happiness l am doing it now-and in
cidentalIy for my own-or just the re-
verse
She of course diagnosed the case as
one Of jealousy, and WAS pleased Harry
didn't understand the last part of her
remark, but he did not question.
Are you going to the Madison must
calo?" tho widow asked
Yes. Esther and her father will be
there Harry replied.
We'll, [ shall be there. too. and
may want you to do me a favor. Will
you do it,"
Certainly"
On the night of the musicale the widow
was triumphantly beautiful There was
the light Of battle in her eyes, and that
with good reason for she had brought
her own affairs and those of several 9th
look at her perfect figure and animated
face without feeling that she could con-
quer the most obdurate by her charms
and have her will. Harry had never
seen her looking so bewitching for he
had never seen her so thoroughly alert
and aroused. Had Esther not been pres
ent to allure aud yet repeI him with her
ily-like sweetness and mobility of soul
it is possible that old thoughts might
have been aroused. But his eyes We're
dwelling constantly on her pure. calm
face, and she seemed to him more than
ever unattainable When the evening
was well advanced the widow tanned
him on the shoulder with her fan.
II have come to ask you for that ia
yor,' she said.
L am ready to do your bidding
Take Esther into the conservatory and
propose to her"
Il can't"
You must. If you do, / think [ can
promise YOU that you will win her-if not
tOnight-soon afterWard. But you must
propose tonight"
Hope made him courageous, and he did
as he was directed
When ne had found a sufficiently-re-
tired alcove in the conservatory he re-
neWed his proposal with the stately beau
~. But it was in vain.
1t cannot be- she answered. My duty
IS quite clear to me. and | must sacrifice
my own feelings to it. | feel that to take
care of my father in his declining years
is trust imposed on me by my dead
mother"
Then you are not Indifferent to me-
She was too honest to deny her love-