Iron County register., 1904-06-09

I mean. Did he come to the point?"
Mother, l wish you wouldn't No.
he did not, and l would have refused
him if he had.'
Maria Ellen Turner, if you had
you'd a. broke my heart! You know
how | feel about this. Now I've got
through coaxin', and l command. IL
Elder Burrows proposes t you, don't
you dare t. refuse him."
"Mother!"
81 mean it. If you do, you'll make
me almost hate you. That's a hard
thing t. say, l know, but it d be more
than l could stand, seein' you throw
away such chance as that. Pm goin'
t. have my way, because know you'll
thank me for it afterwards. Promise
me, Maria Ellen, that you won't say
No t. the elder if he asks you t. marry
him."
81 can't promise that, mother. I
don't love him."
Love! Silly nonsense! He's a good
man, he'll be kind to you; he'd make
you love him. And see how rich he
is! Maria Ellen, you say you'll have
him!"
Maria Ellen looked at her mothers
wildly anxious face, almost frightened.
She fell into a chair, sobbing, with her
| face in her hands. Her mother did not
soften, even at those tears. She be-
lieved she was acting for her daugh-
ter's good and happiness, and she in
tended to conquer. She waited a mo-
ment, then she brought forth her
strongest arguments.
"We're poor, Maria Ellen. Here's
the winter comm on; there amt, pros
| poets of hardly any sewin'; We ain't
got anything in for winter much, ant
| amt got decent thing to wear
That's why I don't go out more thar
| do, t church or anywheres. Where'rt
we goin' t. get food n clothes, I'd like
t. know? D. you want t freeze n
starve? l never supposed you'd bt
that kind of daughter to mel"
Then Mrs. Turner herself sat doW1
and cried. Maria Ellen dried her owl
tears and got up. She looked at he
mother a moment in silence, then sh'
said:
Mother, see here Do you want mi
to marry Elder Burrows, knowing a
you do that II love another? Yo'
know | do. The question is, do yol
want me to wreck my happiness ant
his, too, just for nice home and lit
tie money!"
"I'm only wantin' what I know is fo
your own good, Maria Ellen, and wha
l know you'll thank me for afterwards
Goodness only knows what'll becom
of us if you don't marry him; I don't.
Then Mrs. Turner fell to sobbin
again. She knew how to play the wir
, ming hand with her daughter, an
when to play her trump card. Mari
Ellen turned a white set face towar
her.
"Then I'll marry him." she said.
"You will, Maria Ellen? You'll hav
!, the elder?"
"If he asks me, yes For your SAX
l can't stand it, mother, to have yo
think me ungrateful and unwilling
e make a sacrifice for you. We won
d say any more about it."
ooh, you make me so happy!" erie
her mother. She would have kisse
her daughter then, so grateful was 81
for the longed-for consent, but the gi
gave her no opportunity, going quick
upstairs without another word.
Nothing further was said about Il
u matter, but Mrs. Turner could not co
ceal her satisfaction, while Maria Z
g len went about with a pale face, {
1t which was the determined look of ma
% tyrdom.
II The next evening Elder BurroN
/ called. Maria Ellen was upstairs al
le her mother received him beamingly.
g set right down, elder" she sal
= while l slip in and light the fire
II the other room"
There was wood stove in the roo
III and the fire was soon throwing out
~ comfortable heat.
. "Ill call Maria Ellen" said M
:, a. Turner. She'll come right down. u
" Never mind" replied the eld
~ whats the hurry?"
~ well, l s'pose it amt hardly wal
-, enough in the other room yet. |
~ Maria Ellen have her company
there"
" "Oh, you do?"
- Eyes. l might be in the way, y
: know"
Not in my opinion" said the eld
- in tone which caused the widow
W look at him in surprise. Il want
keep you right close to me all the tir
10 Are you willing?'
"Well, / s'pose I'll have t go wht
Maria Ellen does, and I'm as will
l.. as can be, elder, if you are, a
nv thank you for the chance. It's
- happiness I'm thinkin' Of"
"Why, yes, of course, Maria Ell
., shall live with us till she finds &C
- husband of her own"
pfN
ou ou "What?"
The widow fairly sprang out of
~ chair in her surprise.
80 Don't you mean you want to ma
w Maria Elem" she cried.
Maria Ellen?" said the elder. ct
little girl? Well, no, I hadn't thou'
of it. It's you I want to marry.
VI thought you understood"
70 "And all the time"
'y A few minutes later there was
VIC knock on the outside door and
~ widow and her elderly admirer sudd
ly pushed their chairs a little furt
apart. There was something very
I've girlish blush on the woman's chez
ne as she went and opened the door.