volxv.
THE TIMES.
An Independent Family Newspaper,
IS PUBLISHBDBVBRT TUESDAY BT
P. MORTBIER & (30.
INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE,
f i.5o rr.it vr. vit, posTAiiE iiirn.
80 CTS). FOIl 6 MONTHS.
TESTING HER LOtERS.
"M
Y DEAR Mrs. Hartley, what can
I say more to convince you of the
truth ?"
"Nothing, Mr. Roberta. I am not a
girl now, but a woman of thirty."
"Surely not. You don't look twenty.
Hve."
Mrs. Hartley's eyes opened a little
more widely, and she gave Frank
Roberts so searching a look that he saw
that he had made a mistake, and hast
ened to try and recover lost ground.
"You doubt me again," he whispered.
"I tell you that in my eyes you do not
seem to be twenty-five. Mrs. Hartley
Julia why are you bo hard upon the
man who loves you with ail his heart?"
"Because I am a widow, Mr. Roberts,
ud trouble has made me bard and
worldly."
"Yes, because you were married to a
man who could not appreciate your
worth, and who did not do his duty by
you."
"Suppose we say no more about my
late husband, Mr. Roberts," said the
lady, coldly. "Mr. Hartley wa9 a just
man, eyen If he was btern."
"Yes, yes, of course," said the other.
"Oh, what an unlucky wretch I am.
Here am I trying to advance my cause ;
I came to the picnic on purpose ; I have
implored you to listen to me, and here I
am constantly saying things you don't
like, and makiug myself stand lower in
-your favor than I did a month ago."
"Nonsense, Mr. Roberts," said the
lady, smiling, and her face wore a very
winning expression as shespoke. "Why
cannot we remain friends as we have
been before ? Why," she added, laugh
ingly, "should I marry again ?"
"Why J"' he whispered, passionately,
and certainly Frank Roberts just then
looked very manly and handsome as he
pleaded his cause with the fair widow.
"Why ?" he whispered, bending toward
her ; "as a duty as a woman to make
the man happy who loves you with all
his heart and soul. Oh, Julia, be mer
ciful to me when I plead to you like
this, when Oh, Heaven I this is too
bad. You are laughing."
"Guilty, Mr. Roberts," said the wid
ow; "but how could I help It when I
-find you talking to me like a hero in a
story. I can only think it droll, and of
course I laugh."
"If I do not know you to be all that Is
tender and lovable and good," he cried,
"I should think your heart was of
tone."
"Now you are trying the compll
tnentary tact, Roberts, and you know
what I said about my age. Please do re
member that I am not a young girl."
"I remember nothing but that I love
you passionately," he cried, "and that
I would do anything, even to plunging
Into yon river, if it would make you
iiappy."
"And pray how could your doing such
a silly thing as jumping into the water
and getting muddy and wet make me
iiappy ?" she asked, merrily.
"You would be happier if I were
dead," he cried, tragically.
"Good gracious, no I" she cried.
"There's plenty of room in this world
for both. But now look here, Mr. Rob
erts, you say you have fallen deeply in
love with me."
"I adore you," he cried, rapturously.
"Heavens, what a goddess I must be,"
he said, merrily. "Well, then, you
worship me, and I understand from
.your discourse, Mr. Roberts, that you
would do anything to make me happy."
"Indeed on my soul I would."
"There is no occasion to swear it, Mr.
Koberts," said the widow. "Proof will
do." . . ,
"How can I prove it ? Tell tne, he
cried.
"By talking no more nonsense to me
for the rest of the day."
"Mrs. Hartley ! Julia !"
"And by taking me at once back to
NEW 13LOOMFIELD, IJ.A.., TTJESDA.Y, NOVEMBER 8, 1881.
the fclope there, wheie they are spread
ing the cloths, and giving me some din
ner." "I will," he cried.
"For I feel half starved goddess
though I be," she said, mockingly.
"But one moment more," he said.
"No, no, nor half a moment," she
said, firmly. "We shall have the good
natured people of the party making all
kinds of unpleasant remarks about my
frivolous behavior as it is."
"Why should we care for the ill-natured
remarks of the malevolent ?" he
exclaimed.
"I don't know whether you need
care," she said, quietly, but I care a
great deal, and I do not disown it. Ill
natured, scandalous remarks make me
feel uncomfortable. Now, Mr. Roberts
will you give me your arm, or shall I
walk back alone?"
"My arm my hand my heart I" he
exclaimed, passionately. "Oh, Julia t"
"Gracious, mau," she cried, flushing
with impatience, "didn't I tell you that
I was horribly hungry ? Goddesses
want feeding like other people, and we
had just made a bargain that you were
not to talk auy more stud'. There goes
Miss Roliton, young, sanguine and fas
cinating, waiting for a cavalier. Go and
talk to her. She'll enjoy things that
only worry me. Why, what a silly
man you are to want to marry au elder
ly widow, instead of some nice, bright
young girl."
Frank Roberts, the handsomest man
in the large party, heaved a deep sigh,
and offering his arm led the lady back
to where beueath the umbrageous trees
the substantial cold collation was rapid
ly being spread, and soon after Mrs.
Hartley was seated upon au overcoat,
folded into a cushion, and dining with
excellent appetite off the various viands
The scene of 'the above mentioned
conversation was a pleasant green path
in extensive grounds on the banks of the
river Thames at Cookham. The place
was dotted with well-dressed people,
forming atoms in the whole of the grent
picnic being held on as lovely a June
day as ever added beauty to that charm
ing portion of our national river.
It might have been supposed that up
on such a day happiness would have
ruled supreme ; but it was not bo, for
several members of the party were not
in the best of tempers.
For instance, Mrs. Hartley, beneath
her )leasant smile, felt anything but
content. More than that, she was rath
er bored. The protestation of Frank
Roberts troubled her. She liked him
well enough, but she had her doubts of his
stability, and a suspicion had planted
Itself firmly in her mind to the effect
that he cared more for the handsome
sum of money left unconditionally to
her by her late husband than he did for
her handsome face and thoroughly hon
est heart.
Then, too, Mr. Frank Roberts, after
contriving his opportunity to make a
declaration, had been bo dissatisfied by
the result that he had gone aside, after
placing his inamorata in a good place,
to obtain a glass of lemonade, and swore
at the attendant for not putting in more
sugar.
Doubtless there were other discon
tented swains and ladies, but with them
we have nothing to do, but will turn a
once to a couple who were strolling
slowly by the river's brink ; an elderly
man with bent shoulders and white hair,
and one about middle age, slightly griz
zled, and with a massive head and
thoughtful face, that would have been
plain but for his magnificent gray eyes.
"Hal" said the elder, in a sour tone
of voice, "some men do make fools of
themselves; and how can you be such
an idiot, Morris, as to let that showy
butterfly of a fellow carry off a really
good little woman from under your nose
I can't think. I always fancied you
loved her."
"So I do, doctor, with all my heart."
"Then, hang it, man, marry her."
"What, and make her unhappy, doc
tor No, I love her too well for that."
"Stuff and nonsense, man 1"
"It is no Btuff and nonsense, doctor.
She cares for Roberts. Look at them
yonder. Why should I interfere V"
"Because it Isn't right, and I don't
like it. That fellow Roberts is a scoun
drel, I'm sure; and all he wants is the
widow's money ; and as soon as be had
got that he would break her heart.
Hang it, man. go and cut him nut. Go
and propose."
"I did, doctor."
"Well?"
"She bade me wait; asked for time.
I esteemed her delicacy, aud have wait
ed. There is the result."
"Humph!" said the old doctor.
"Well, I'm sorry deuced Borry. Hart
ley was a very old friend of mine, and
in his last illness he said to me: 'Of
course, it's natural that ray dear young
wife should some day want to marry
again. Watch over her, doctor, and see
If you can that she does not become the
prey of a scoundrel.' 'Tie your money
up tight,' I said to him. 'No, doctor,'
he said, 'I love her too well to insult her
like that. God bless her I've every con
fidence in her. She shall do as she
pleases, and I thank her for bearing so
long with the whims and caprices of an
old husband.' Ha! It's a strange world."
Luke Morris nodded his head and
joined the party at dinner, where he
tried to cast of his gloom, aud fate
throwing him near the pretty widow, he
was quiet aud polite to her, almost to
the point of reserve; but through all she
could read a chivalrous respect to her
feelings, aud Bhe knew that he had seen
her interview that morning with Rob
ert". Directly after dinner the doctor came
up smiling and asked Mrs. Hartley if
she would take a stroll with him. She
agreed with alacrity, telling herself that
she would then be free of lovers; and
they went down to the river's side,
where, in the course of a long con versa.
Hon, the doctor turned it into a series of
remarks concerning the early life of the
late Mr. Hartley,
"As good aud true-hearted a man as
ever I knew," said the doctor.
"He was, Indeed I" said the widow,
and she wiped away a very genuine tear.
"I esteemed him as much u any man
I ever knew, for I think he tried hard to
atone for the past."
"Atone for the past, doctor ?" said the
widow, wonderlngly.
"Ye-es! The way he got his money,
you know."
"Got his money, doctor?" cried the
widow, turning pale. "What do you
mean ?"
"Well, my dear, it's hardly wortbrak
ing up; but I always thought it my
duty to tell you in case you felt disposed
by a few acts of charity to try and make
up for what there was wrong in it."
"But, doctor," she said excitedly,
"pray explain yourself."
"There, there, don't be in a flurry,"
he said, taking another pinch. "No
body knows it down here ; but Hartley
used to keep"
He leaned forward and whispered
something in her ear.
"Oh, doctor 1" she cried, turning pale
and then bursting into tears. "What
have you done ? I could never be happy
again if I kept that money. Oh, how
dreadful!"
"Hush, hush, my dear child; what
are you talking about ? What nonsense.
It wasn't your fault."
"No, indeed !" she said. "But sooner
than keep money got in Buoh a way I'd
go aud perform the most menial duties."
"But you don't mean to say you would
give it up?" he said.
"Give it up ? Every penny, doctor,"
she said, with her eyes flashing and
cheeks flaming. "I could not keep a
shilling. I could not do it and Yes,
Mr. Roberts. Thanks, not now ; I would
rather sit here for a while; or, no, I
will go for a walk with you, if you will
have me," and darting a sorrowful, half
angry look at the doctor, she rose, took
Frank Roberts' arm and they strolled
away.
"How lovely the country is," said
Roberts, before they had gone far.
"Delightful 1" she replied, dreamily.
,"I could live here forever with a sym
pathiziug heart," he said, with a sigh.
"That sounds a long time, Mr. Rob
erts," she said, quickly.
"Oh, no," he cried, "not with you
The days would glide by like a dream of
bliss."
"And what about the years, Mr. Rob
erts, when I had grown old and plain ?
Yqu forgot that I am your senior, and
that I am not a girl of twenty."
"I forget nothing, and yet I know
nothing," he exclaimed, "only that you
are the only woman I could love, and
that I love you with all my heart."
"Indeed?" she said, laughing. "Why,
what can there be in me a poor, penni
less widow of thirty, to attract so hand
some and young a mau as you ?"
"Mocklug again," he said, appeallng-
ly. "How you love to torture me, Julia."
"Kxcuse me, Mr. Roberts' ; I am Julia
only to my nearest and dearest friends.
What Is more, lam not mocking. What
I said was the simple sober truth."
"What ! that you are a poor, penniless
widow ?" lie said, laughing.
"Yes," she Bald. "From tbiet day
forth a little annuity of eighty pounds a
year is all I have on which to live."
"You are joking. with me, Mrs. Hart
ley," he Bald, laughing; "but why do
you tell me all this ? What do you sup.
pose I care about whether you are rich
or poor? Tome you will always be
rich in every virtue, aud now once more
listen to my prayer."
"Yes, when I have undeceived you,"
she said. "Mr. Roberts, it Is my duty
to let you know my true clrcumstauces.
I feel assured that you have too gener
ous a heart to have approached me from
mercenary motives."
"Thank you, and bless you, he ex
claimed. "It is you only that I love."
"Under these circumstances, then, I
have concluded, as I am poor and the
handsome income I have enjoyed goes
from me at once, that it would be unjust
to you to accept your generous offer to
make me your wife. We will remain
friends then, Mr. Roberts, but that is
all."
"Do I understand you aright?" he
exclaimed.
"Perfectly," she replied.
"I shall try and bear It," be said, in a
resigned tone of voice ; "but never while
this heart beats shall I cease to love you
or to pray for your welfare, dearest Mrs.
Hartley."
"Thank you, Mr. Roberts," she said,
quietly; and somehow, instead of their
steps taking them farther from the com
pany, they began to approach them rap
idly, joining a group of ladles, and in a
few minutes Mrs. Hartley was without a
cavalier.
" I always doubted him, " she said to
herself. " He did want me for my mon
ey. Heavens, what a wretched world it
is for a man to be protesting and swear
ing as he did, and then give up so easily
as soon as he heard that I was penniless.
Well, thank Heaven, that is one es
cape." She remained very.thoughtful for a
time, for there was the other proposal of
marriage she had received, the one to
which she had promised some day to give
an answer.
Suppose Luke Morris, the quiet,
thoughtful, manly student, should prove
to be as sordid as Frank Roberts.
Ab she mused upon this, hardly heed
ing the babble going on all around, she
trembled at the glance within which Bhe
obtained her own feelings. It came upon
her by surprise that Bhe really loved
this quiet, middle-aged man in despite of
his plain features and Btern ways.
" And suppose be did prove to be only
a money-wooer? Oh, it would be dread
ful 1" she muttered, as the tears started
to her eyes.
She had hardly dashed them away
before she saw Morris approaching slow
ly and thoughtfully, and in spite of the
suffering which she knew it would cause
her, ehe made up her mind on the in
stant to open the ball by telling Mr.
Morris of her altered circumstances.
"Ah, Mrs Hartley," he said approach
ing her with his grave smile and extend
ing his hand, " other people engross you
so much that it is only by chance one
can get a word with you. May I ?"
He offered his arm, and trembling and
changing color she took it, and he led
her along the river Bide, both of them
being silent, for he was thinking deeply,
and she was beating about for words to
commence what would be to her now a
most painful subject.
She felt that she was growing more
and more agitated, and as if sooner than
lose him, to whom ehe now realized
that her heart clung, she would retract
ber intention of giving up her late hus
band's ill-gotten store.
Luke Morris relieved her of the diffi
culty of speaking by commencing him.
self.
" My dear Mrs. Hartley," he Bald, "
plcnio party of pleasure seems an 111
chosen time for speaking .to you,. but
there are matters of such urgent import
NO. 45.
la our lives that we are compelled to
seize any opportunity for saying what
perhaps may prove distasteful things."
' Yes of course exactly," she stam
mered.
" There," he said, turning upon her ft
grave, kindly smile, " I meant to Bpeak
to you In plain and Biinple words, and I .
And myself, old as I am, as agitated as
some youth. I will try and be plain."
"Yes," she Bald quickly: "please,"
and her breath came shorter in her agi
tation.
" I have just learned some very seri
ous news."
' Indeed?" ehe said, her voice shaking
in spite of herself.
"Yes. I have learned from two sources
that your late husband's fortune leaves
you at once, and that you will be almost
penniless. Is it true ?"
"Yes," she Bald, "quite; and you
have come to Bay that I was not to think
anything more of what you asked me a
short time back."
He looked at her half surprised, half
hurt, and then smiled sadly.
" May I ask' you one question ?" he
Bald.
" Yes," she replied, In a quick, Bharp,
agitated way.
" It is a plain one, but my happiness
depends upon your reply, and I ask you
boldly, have you promised your hand to
Mr. Roberts?"
"No!" she cried, her eyes flashing
scorn, "nor to any eucn mercenary
creature."
"Then there is hope for me, Julia,"
he Bald in a low, deep voice. "A month
back I felt that it was presumptious to
ask you, and that my sentiments might
be misjudged. It is still presumption
on my part, but I cannot be charged
with sordid motives now, and I am
glad that the money I looked upon as
an obstacle is no longer there. I cannot
olfer you more than a comfortable home,
but I will try and make that home rich,
Julia, with the devotion of a life."
Hue panted ana tremoiea ana ineu to
speak, but her emotion choked her, and
so overcome was she by the the ditt'erent
way in which matters had turned, that
in spite of ber strength of mind, she
broke into a passionate burst of hysteri
cal weeping, and unresistingly sobbed
herself calm upon his breast.
Luke Morris blessed tbe thick clumps
of bushes that hid them from the rest of
the company and he blessed the day
Mrs. Hartley's poverty he blessed her
for letting him draw her uuresistingly
closer and closer to his breast, where
she sobbingly told him that she should
only be a burden to him for life, and
finally she walked away with him, radi
ant and happy, and with ber cheeks
and eyes telling tales.
They passed Frank Roberts soon after
with one of the Grantby girls, a rather
plain brunette, with a handsome posi
tion ; and Roberts looked a little con
scious, though he need uot bavetroubled
himself, for the blush on Mis. Hartley's
cheek was called forth now, not from
meeting him, but on account of meeting
the old doctor, who looked curiously
from one to the other.
"May I tell- him, Julia?" whispered
Morris.
" Yes."
"Doctor, Julia Hartley has promised
to be my wife," said Morris quietly.
"Has she?" cried the old man, and
his scarred wrinkled face lit up with a
broad smile. "I'm glad of It; Julia, my
child, I'm glad of it, for you've won a
true, sterliug man for a husband ; and
as for you, Morris oh, I'm ashamed of
you you mercenary dog."
"Mercenary ? I mercenary," exclaim
ed Morris. " Well, come, that is good.
Why you told me an hour ago that Mrs.
Hartley's fortune was gone."
"To be sure I did."
"And it is quite right," said Mrs.
Hartley. "At least it will be gone."
"Not it, my dear," said the old doctor,
chuckling. -'That was a dodge of mine
to try for you which of your lovers was
worth having. It was my touchstone,
and you see it showed you at once that
Roberts was base metal, and Morris
here true gold."
"But'do you mean to say, doctor,"
cried the lady, "that what you said about
Mr. Hartley's property was untrue ?"
"livery word of it, my dear."
"Then you are a base, cruel, wicked
old man; if my por dead husband,
whom you called your trlend,could know
how you defamed him "
"He would slap me on tbe back as he
used to do, my dear, aud call me his true
friend for securing by a trick a genuine
honest man for his wife, instead of a
heartless, mercenary scoundrel ; and God
bles you both, Pwish you joy."
Mrs. Hartley only exclaimed " Oh I"
and when the doctor pressed her hand
she evidently forgave him, for she press
ed his warmly in return. But when
Frank Roberts found out the truth, be
was furious, and called the doctor a bad
name, that perhaps it would be as well
not to mention here, while he said it
again for the benefit of Luke Morris
on the morning when he led the pretty
widow to church to change ber name.