The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-01
title. then went on anew

l1ttIe, then went on anew
But had to to live on. If not for NJ
self, for Prue-for our child. How
forced myself night after night to &C
to appear merry and light-hearted-I ca
not even at this distance of time ina
inc. l had offers Of marriage again a.
again repeated, for was 1 not the reig
ing toast OF the town? But refused
suitors. And now she proceeded, W
slight change of tone, after all t,
lapse of time, you have come. thinking
was in reality what I had only the ser
blance of being. Fortunately for you
self, your eyes have been soon openC
and so no mischief has been done. b
even had [ been In truth the girl "
believed me to be, instead of the home:
middle-aged woman you behold, ev
then you would have been fll-advisf
rash, to have flung yourself needless
into matrfmony upon so short an
quaintance. No, take this advice fro
one who has seen more of the World tn
you have. Leave irnpetuousity behii
you in your choice Of wife. Should Y
feel attracted by comely face-al
there is little harm in that-see what
at the back of such mere prettines
Seek to know the girl herself, judge
her temperament, weigh hers with your
Take these precautions, and more, ]
fore you offer her your hand, and VII
should go with it, your heart.
And now, SIR she added in concl
sion, and rising as she spoke, L must
preparing for the theater, therefore mt
bid YOU farewell. Consider we'll the wol
I have addressed to YOU Have you
mother? No? Then think of what ha
said as though twas your mother he
cGlf had hot CO .n,tJI
sacredness my poor syllables eanr
pretend to-
"She gave me her hand. and I coui
not forhear pressing my lips to 1t fe
vently. What a woman. Jack! Wor
there were more such. l know of on
one other.
Even now I could not free myself fro
the image of the woman 1 had seen IL
night before. I could think of my cor
panion only as I had seen her. not as
now saw her, and longed to believe tn
such creature did in reality exist.
cat that moment, as / still Stood h.
in hand, irresolute, unwilling to go,
door behind me opened and a youn
melodious voice cried out. The mercer
below. mother, and would Then Il
voice stopped short, and added in co
fusion, I ask your pardon-I did u i
Know you mad company.
81 turned in amaZement. The voic
was the self-same voice / had heard t.
night before, / wondered If my sens
were playing trick upon me. l turne
I tell you, and-was it possible.-saw Il
Peggy that had stolen my heart n
twentyfour hours before, the ven
Peggy, or her counterpart
ri looked to see if the lady who hs
rewarded my impetuosity with such gof,
words of wisdem-and by every one
which l swere I'd proit-was still BEST ,
me or by some magic had merged he
self into the other No, she was st Z
there at the right of me. while at II
left her double-only score of yea
younger-paused timidly on the threshol
81 declare to you | was too dumbfoun
ed to speak or to move. but gazed fir
at the one, then at the other, in stup
surprise.
At length the elder lady broke the
silence
".My daughter, sir, she said; Il
daughter Prue.'
She is your very self, madam
ventured to reply, feature for featur,
note for note your voice!
Myself as I was twenty years agi
she returned, with, | thought the san
half-sigh T had noticed once before.
There's my story, Jack. What, you:
not satisfied with it? You want an en-
ing? Well, you shall have it. 1t
waiting for us in the next room, and,
believe. is at this moment preparing f
US a dish of tea. / devoutly trust aft .
my description of her-er rather, of OF
that was once the same as her-you W
not be disappointed either in my wife, 8.
for the matter of that, in our two mo
unruly boys''