Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-03-06

! crying Tor the moon, pIedhlnS noi
heart, and making everybody un-
comfortable and miserable, and have
two sisters waiting to come out; so
| when Mr. Standish appeared on the
! scene about four months ago, and
showed pretty plainly that he liked
and admired newell, | thought the
position of Mrs. Dtandish would suit
me-"
But have you told him that you are
NOT in love with him, Dora?"
"Of course | have, and he is rather
relieved, for he is not really in love
with me. He has spoken the truth
honestly. too; he adored his first
wife. but she died when her baby
girl was born; he was devoted to his
daughter, and almost broken-hearted
when she died last year, and that's
why he wants to marry a girl like me.
He wants me to take her placein way,
to have youth about his home again,
some one to pet and spoil. He has
promised me that l shall be happy; |
hope to make him happy, too"
Dora looked sweetly serious. drew
my carefully sealed-up little parcel
from my pocket and handed it to her.
Here is a wedding present, Dora. |
wish you all possible happiness, dear"
"a wedding present! But you did
| not know, Jack, till father told you this
afternoon"
Never mind" l answered; keep it
as wedding present"
| She looked at me with brows slight
| Iy knit, a wistful expression in her
eyes; then, when unwrapping the pa
per, she discovered a ring-case, she
flushed all over her face.
do you think it pretty?"
| It was a simple ring, made to my
own design-One pearl, with a stem
and leaf of small diamonds, made to
resemble a mistletoe.
q think it lovely, Jack; but | don't
quite understand. Did you mean it
only for a New Years gift?"
| told her all then, told her how
had loved her from my college days,
and had always had before me the
hope Of winning her for my wife; here
she started little and paled.
why did you never tell me, JACKIE"
! she cried.
Il thought you ndfrstood, that you
must have seen"
90, no, Jack, l used to think once
upon time that you cared, but as you
never said anything, | fancied | must
have been mistaken, and that you
only cared for me as cousin. o,
| Jack, why didn't you speak,"
She had tears in her voice and tears
in her eyes.
why didn't ! speak? Because |
was a poor man, Dora. | have work
ed hard, Dora, and last week I was of
| fered place that means bread and
| butter and jam, so | went straight off
to tne jeweler and ordered that little
ring for you, Dora you have got a
! diamond hoop on the finger l hoped to
put it on"
She burst into a sudden shower of
tears. o, how l longed to kiss and
( comfort her.
! Il have loved you so, Jack. | felt
ashamed of myself at last, thinking
! you did not care, and then mother
was so pleased at the thought of my
making a great marriage, and, Of
course. it would be nice for the girls
and So
Don't marry him. O, my darling,
don't marry HIM" l cried passionately
why ruin both our lives? According
to your own showing, he really does
not love you"
But he has the finest place in the
country, and the Standish diamonds
are famous" Dora rose to her feet
with a little laugh; she brushed away
all trace Of tears with a dainty lace
handkerchief. Take back your ring.
Jack, dear, | cannot wear two on the
same finger; and, Jack, | have a
Year out and the New Year in with
you. Will you come and find me here
a little before u o'clock? But. of
course. you will come if | ask you to-
Before l could answer she had slip
ped lightly away. I followed her into
the crowded ballroom and saw her
walk swiftly up to George Standish.
who was standing talking to Mr. Foster
Dora put her hand on his arm and
drew him gently away The sight
was little too bitter. | wandered up
into the deserted bilIiard-room, and
there | cursed my luck in as strong
language as ever a man could use;
and l am not ashamed to say that if
ever in my life I felt like sobbing Il
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