Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1899-12-06

Aer reply WIS an lluItcNidtc lhul-
muir of surprise.
81 cannot dare to think flat you will
consent to bo my wife just now. hut
perhaps some day-will you not let me
hope? viii do anything to win your
love-
"peasc don't, don't, Mr.. Watson. 1t
is Impossible"
He sank back into his chair with n
groan and covered his face with his
hands.
Il am so sorry this has happened
she said with forced Cnlmncss. II like
you very much, and | thought we were
always to be friends. but you can see
that 1t IL impossible FOR me 10 marry.
1t is my duty to take care Of papn and
my brothers and try to take the place
of my poor mother"
81 felt from the first" said Harry
sorrowfully, that 1t was hopeless TO
thinl; of you. You are too good for me-"
Don't say that, please, for like you
very much more than airy one | know.
If ever did lo-marry 1t would be just
such II man us you-good. clever and
generous. But you see that it is lmpos-
sible. don't you?'
He looked into her appealing eyes,
but could not answer. Nothing Is so
sublimely tragic as beautiful girl sac
rlflcing herself to mistaken sense Of
duty, and she appeared SO sublime to
him that he couldn't help thinking her
in the right.
please leave Inc now. Mr. Watson. |
am so sorry this has happened. You
must forget memo, not that--for |
shall always like to think of you as n
friend. and when you have forgotten
this-thls-please 60 | must be true to
my duty"
When Harry had reached the street,
the weight of his disappointment
pressed down on him in the darkness
and maddened him. He loved her
more than ever and was utterly with
out hope. When he had walked about
until his sorrow had somewhat OK
hausted itself, he began to crave SYM
patty and naturally sought the widow.
1t was delicate matter to handle, but
she questioned him tactfully and soon
learned all that she wished to know,
and that WIS thet his love was un-
tirHttedly returned.
After talking the whole matter over
Harry felt conferred, and he felt sure
that the clever widow was going to do
all in her power to help him. But he
did not Imagine that while they were
discussing the subject the peerless. self
sacrificing Esther was weeping bitter
~ and almost rebellng against her
fate. 1t was only by magnlfylng her
duty to an appalling grimness that she
finally recovered her composure and
sootled the pain at her Leart to an
aching numbness.
AS soon ms the widow felt that Har-
ry had recovered from the first bitter
ness of his disappointment she ordered
him to 20 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
aud sister. And one evening she talk
ed to him In most sisterly fashion,
warning him wlstfully to beware Of
the wiles of the widow.
"You know look on you as n broth
er, and | should not like to see one Of
my brothers as much in her company
as you are. OF course she is very nice,
but people say she is so designing"
"The little mink" said the widow
when she heard of 1t, II know l am
designing hut she will find that it Is
for her happiness am doing it now
and incidentally for my own-or just
the reverse"
She of course diagnosed the case as
one OF jealousy and was pleased. IIar-
ry didn't understand the last part Of
her remark, but he did not question.
Are you going to the Madison mu-
sicale?' the widow ASKED.
Yes. Esther and her father will be
there" Harry replied.
"WelL | shall be there. too, and
may want you to do me favor. win
yon do it,"
Certainly"
On the night of the musicale the wild
ow was trlumphantly beautiful. There
was the light of battle in her eyes. and
that with good reason, for she had
{ sc, I'D
y 80; q u /