The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-12
A SPINSTER'S ROMANCE

= tFiN il ttF 4bAGs NJ Li1tFia "a tA4'5 ''f't'N"f
children had fallen ~ this time' They
usually took their disorders turn ABOUT
must Toe thu Youngest instlnttiVsiH
she started Tor the gate, then suddenly
stopped
I've a}n.s>s gone to tneul Isl SICK
tess ana trouble. but It's Mrs. Browns
uuru now" she said aloud.
She resumed Ter wedding. Her face
! had a queer patient, pRtheti" look.
CHARGING ttp pSt Se-ttly, SNc saw Ehe-
Meier cunning swiftly up the road.
rs little Bcss'' 10 cried across the
garden fence. she keeps calling for
+ won, Dorothy. Won't YOU please com"
ut ol}cvn'
When she entered the slclt-roou Dr
H,laud glanced az her cuTtsJsiy across
the couch whore the moaning caiiH
Ia. That 4uscrelight Was stin H. his
se~@ W}sil after n brave 6ght. tine lit
TIE sufferer lay sleeping peacefully ia
Dur6thyH arms
"Thr crisis Is over" he SAID. IN "a
low voice to tbe auSjous father Miss
Changers uns-'tish devoit'm has say ed
( your childs HE
Etenezcr drew a rough sle,,t across
t1i1 eyes.
TIN little one thinks sight OF Dor
uIhy' he replied. It's going H. make
THINGS easier when she comes here for
good.
IT'S really settled the doctor ask
ed
As good ~ setticd, WAS the COM
UiaceEi answer.
for sem" time pr HNland sat IN
thoughtful silence. the pleasant, CHEEKY
smile tnat made patients love him aud
welcome his coming gone from his iips.
There vas u" occasion now Tor ltngcr-
iGE, but he felt unable to leave.
{ I,.,ty.,f
Presently she laid the sleeping child
oH the couch aud turned to pu Ene-
nezer rose hastily ana followed her
out.
See here, Dorothy he said IN some
agitation. My minds made ny. We
maN as vel! come to an understanding.
The children need you-so do /. Won't
you com" here next week to-tn--stay?
As my wife. / mean
There was short silence. then
! she returned quietly. Il thought it
was to he the Widow Brown"
I IL won't be anybody but vow II
/ you II say the word, I've thought 1t
all out. The widow has good points
! but rye fixed my choice On you"
/ Dorothy drew shrinkingiy away
! from him.
! i've done some thinking, too. MIR.
I Blake" she said. II cannot marry
/ you,
"You--ran't--marry me pc he ejac-
/. ulated. dazed ana incredulous. why
I not. I'd IKE to know"
Z because do not love You
{ He looked at her, hopping his
moist brow. How about little Bess
and this other chiI1ren?" he said,
appealingIr They are all so fond
, of you YOU know
She shook her head. Il couldn't
do it--eyep for the sake Of the chill
dren. But III come To them. as i
always have. If they ars III and need
me--ai least until there Ia somebody
else. But | cannot be your wife"
Evsding his outstretched hands sh g
? ran swiftly down the path. Her
heart beat fast with excitement at the
thought of having refused an offer OF
marriage; but there was sense OF
relief. even OF exuitation. Halt way
home she sat down on "A green bank
by the roadside and hid her burning
face In her hands,
II couldn't do It'll couldu't:-iust
to save myself from being nm old
maid: or even to Keep the dear little
! ones away from the Widow Brown,
who won't be any too good to them, -
| she said aloud.
She did not hear the sound OF pur-
mite tenderness spoke her name.
Looking up with gasp Of surprise
she met DIR, Hylands searching gaze.
! Dorothy. the window was open.
4 overheard" he said. Pm glad
you are not going to marry Ebenezer
I BIake--because II leaves me a clear
field. Your goodness and unselilsh-
ness won my heart long ago. hut
was never quite sure about Ebenezer
until to-day. May | tell YOU now how
very dear you are to me-
Dorothy felt herself trembling. II
seemed SO unreal, SO like a dream,
She had never dared hope for happi-
( ness like this.
I -@>-t"ftss' you don't mean fhst yuu want
ME for your Wife II can't be- she
gaFped.
/ For answer he lifted her into his
arms