The Advocate and news., 1899-04-05

subject OF our connubial troubles, in
which was held up as an angel and he
as monster Of selhshness and wicked
ness. "Dottie, " he wound up 'I have
come to you TO simply and humbly ask
you TO return to me. Those two moth
erless girls want you, my lonely home
needs you, my own sad and chastened
heart cries out for you. Dottie, come
back"
He stood there with outstretched
hands, looking so pathetic and yet so
dignifed that was touched in spite Of
myself. 1t was impossible to be angry,
90 l invited him to have a chair, and
we had a long talk. He said that he
and the girls were living together in a
pretty home on Staten Island. He had
never been happy since / left him, and
he could never be happy until I return.
ed. He did not once mention Lydia,
and had strange reluctance to do so.
| said to Hiram that he could not ex-
pect an answer from me Immediately.
/ had no wish to make the same mis-
take twice, and he must give me, told
him, weeks time in which tn con-
slider.
/ thought the matter over for three
days and almost made up my mind to
accept. Hiram was evidently greatly
changed. Lydia, I reasoned, being
young and pretty woman, would marry
again, and then l should be alone. It
seemed the best thing 1 could do. Then
I went down to tell Lydia about it.
/ found her in one of her most seri-
ous moods While was casting around
for an easy way of introducing the
subject she said:
Dorothy, dear, have something to
tell you of a very serious nature. "
/ postponed my disclosures and sat in
an expectant attitude. 81 feel that l
ought to tell you this, continued Ly-
dia, "because we are like sisters and
have no secrets from one another. On
New Years day Hiram came to see me.
Do not start dear It is nothing alarm
ing. He simply wanted me to marry
him again. He is living in Staten Is
land with the girls He spoke in real
ly noble manner about our unhappiness
together, taking all the blame upon
himself, He said that his motherless
girls wanted me, his lonely home need
ed me and his chastened heart cried
out for me. was really affected.
IL will not conceal from you, Dot
tie, she went on, "that l considered
the matter. waited week; then
wrote Hiram that it could never be.
Do you think did right2" Lydia look
ed up to see why did not answer.
Perhaps l had better tell you what
came to say before l answer your
question, l replied. "Hiram came to
see me on Monday last and made me
the same proposal in just the same
wOrds-lonely home, chastened heart
and all. "
''Dottie Is it possibleH"
eyes, and, just like you, | told him
must take time to consider.
"And will you accept2" she asked
anxiously. ooh, Dottie, would you be
happierH Could you love him again 2
If SO, l will always love you and be
your friend, even though we do not
meet"
The frankness and unselRshness Of |
this woman were almost beyond belief
had been chagrined and inclined to
Do angry with her because Hiram had
chosen her first, but she disarmed me
1 kissed her and said: "No.
Lydia, / could never marry Mr.. Hiram
Cadwallader My mind is made up, But
should dearly love to be revenged up
On him, j."
"Should you, DottieH Then l will
help you'll" cried Lydia gayly. "And
now let us put our heads together.
This is what we decided upon: Lydia
was to write to Hiram at once intimat-
ing that she had experienced change