Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-11-13


spoke Of going to the city and earn
iEg her own living.
You two have been so good TO me-
must not further burden YOU" she
said. 81 am sure ] can earn my own
way, Aunty"
Mrs. Morse grew very thoughtful.
Then. after long pause, she said 81
would like to see YOU married, with a
good man for a husband and home
of your own" but Elsie shook her
head smiingly
Two evenings later as Elsie sat ON
the porch Ransom Bliss appeared, He
and Elsie had been friendly acQuaint-
ances for over a year, and the latter
looked puzzled and then embarrassed
as Ransom after some casual CON
versation moved his chair closer to-
wards her and said
81 came on special mission this
evening Elsie, II is to ask YOU if you
will marry me-"
Elsie flushed quickly and her voice
was n triae unsteady as she said with
out the least trace Of affectation:
II never expected that you-you-
Cared for you, Elsie? Yes. Loved
you? No. True affection is too sacred
thing to be named lightly. | am
plain-spoken man. There is no wom7
an whom | more deeply spect and adj
mire, and ! would he proud to call
you my wife, / will devote my life
TO make you happy"
Elsie sat with eyes cast down and
fluttering secretly at heart. She did
not reply on impulse, nor for long
time Then, evenly enough, she
spoke
Il feel that you have honored me,
Mr. Bliss, and ! appreciate your clear,
honest words. We have always been
good friends. | shall be frank with
you In turn. You say you do not
love me, and / can confess for you
nothing deeper than esteem. am
poor, humble, and will soon be home
less. | would not have you later re-
gret that ! can be nothing more to
you than n loyal, helpful wife, who,
however, can never forget that in a
measure this would be a marriage Of
! convenience"
And so they were welded, and, after
the death of his uncle, Ransom Bliss
and his bride took up their residence
at the old family home They settled
down into their new life more like
partners than welded mates. In all
| things Ransom was considerate and
courteous and Elsie was a model house
Keeper and all that respect and
thoughtfulness could suggest Never
was there a jar or misunderstanding.
Many time, however, as he looked Mt
| the beautiful girl, Ike himself engaged
In reading. Ransom realized that she
was possessed of rare womanly quail
ties, while Elsie, In turn, when alone,
sighed drearily, acknowledging his per-
lection as a man among men, and she
was at variance with the compact they
had made.
There came an unexpected separa-
ton little later. The presence Of
Ransom was required IN settling M
some business of the estate at Abing
| don q miles distant. For the first
few weeks he came home over Sunday
but finally his absence ran into a full
| month. Elsie was wretched. An i'm
pulse came over her 10 at least see
him. A trolley line ran TO a junction
half the distance and then Joined nm
other line She reached it about eight
o'clock I'm the evening to wait for the
intersection car From Abingdon
there arrived a car branching of and
passenger alighted to wait for q
connection. He came into the dimly
lighted little station Elsie recognized
him as her husband.
"Why, Elsie" he spoke in surprise.
Il must tell you the truth" she said.
81 was lonely without you. was 20
ing ~ visit Abingdon, II 1t was only
TO see you at a distance.
The man drew deep breath and
l." he said in tones that thrilled her,
"only sought to look through the win
dow Of our home and see If you we're
well and happy
Happier nov than ! ever have
been" she breathed raptly, FOR his arm
had stolen about her waist
elsie" he cried "can It be possible
that we made a mistake In the pastT
you mean"
'In deeming that we cared for each
other as only casual acquaintanees
might
1T has grown into something deep
er than that with me- she whispered
teDderly.
And the surety Of a first and lasting
love enguifed the satisfied soul of tie
! lonely man.