Alcott_An_Old-Fashioned_Girl.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
or two. just sat and looked at
as if he found it difficult to believe that the winter of his
discontent had ended in this glorious spring. , being a
true woman, asked questions, even while she laughed and cried for
joy.
", , how could know you loved me when you went away
and never said a word?" she began, in a tenderly reproachful tone,
thinking of the hard year she had spent.
" how could have the courage to say a word, when had
nothing on the face of the earth to offer you but my worthless
self?" answered , warmly.
" was all wanted!" whispered , in a tone which caused
him to feel that the race of angels was not entirely extinct.
" 've always been fond of you, my , but never realized how
fond till just before went away. was n't free, you know, and
besides had a strong impression that you liked in spite of
the damper which hinted you gave him last winter. 's such
a capital fellow, really don't see how you could help it."
" is strange; don't understand it myself; but women are queer
creatures, and there 's no accounting for their tastes," said ,
with a sly look, which fully appreciated.
" were so good to me those last days, that came very near
speaking out, but could n't bear to seem to be offering you a poor,
disgraced sort of fellow, whom would n't have, and no one
seemed to think worth much. ',' said to myself, ' ought to
have the best; if can get her, let him, and won't say a word.
'll try to be better worthy her friendship, anyway; and perhaps,
when 've proved that can do something, and am not ashamed to
work, then, if is free, shan't be afraid to try my chance.'
held my tongue, worked like a horse, satisfied myself and others
that could get my living honestly, and then came home to see if
there was any hope for me."
" was waiting for you all the time," said a soft voice close to
his shoulder; for was much touched by 's manly efforts
to deserve her.
" did n't mean to do it the first minute, but look about me a little,
and be sure was all right. 's news settled that point, and
just now the look in my 's face settled the other. could n't
wait another minute, or let you either, and could n't help
stretching out my arms to my little wife, bless her, though
know don't deserve her."
's voice got lower and lower as he spoke, and his face was full
of an emotion of which he need not be ashamed, for a very sincere
love ennobled him, making him humble, where a shallower
affection would have been proud of its success. understood
this, and found the honest, hearty speech of her lover more
eloquent than poetry itself. hand stole up to his cheek, and she
leaned her own confidingly against the rough coat, as she said, in
her frank simple way, ", dear, don't say that, as if was the
best girl in the world. 've got ever so many faults, and want you
to know them all, and help me cure them, as you have your own.
has not done us any harm, and love you all the better for
your trial. 'm afraid your year has been harder than mine, you
look so much older and graver than when you went away.
never would complain; but 've had a feeling that you were going
through a good deal more than any of us guessed."
" tough work at first, own. was all so new and strange,
'm afraid should n't have stood it if it had not been for . 'd
laugh and say '!' if he heard me say it, but it 's true
nevertheless that he 's a grand fellow and helped me through the
first six months like a well, a brother as he is. was no reason
why he should go out of his way to back up a shiftless party like
me, yet he did, and made many things easy and safe that would
have been confoundedly hard and dangerous if 'd been left to
myself. only way can explain it is that it 's a family trait, and
as natural to the brother as it is to the sister."
" 's a trait to do the same. tell me about ; is
really engaged to her?"
" much so; you 'll get a letter full of raptures tomorrow; he
had n't time to send by me, came off in such a hurry. is a
sensible, pretty girl and will be a happy old fellow."
" did you let us think it was you?"
" only teased a little; did like , for she reminded me of
you sometimes, and was such a kind, cosy little woman could n't
help enjoying her society after a hard day's work. got
jealous, and then knew that he was in earnest, so left him a clear
field, and promised not to breathe a word to any one till he had got
a or from his ."
" wish 'd known it," sighed . " in love always do such
stupid things!"
" they do; for neither you nor gave us poor fellows the least
hint about , and there 've been having all sorts of scares about
you."
" us right; brothers and sisters should n't have secrets from
each other."
" never will again. you miss me very much?"
", ; very, very much."
" patient little !"
" you really care for me before you went?"
" if did n't;" and with great pride produced a portly
pocket-book stuffed with business-like documents of a most
imposing appearance, opened a private compartment, and took out
a worn-looking paper, unfolded it carefully, and displayed a small
brown object which gave out a faint fragrance.
" 's the rose you put in the birthday cake, and next week we 'll
have a fresh one in another jolly little cake which you 'll make me;
you left it on the floor of my den the night we talked there, and
've kept it ever since. 's love and romance for you!"
touched the little relic, treasured for a year, and smiled to
read the words " 's rose," scribbled under the crumbling
leaves.
" did n't know you could be so sentimental," she said, looking so
pleased that he did not regret confessing his folly.
" never was till loved you, my dear, and 'm not very bad yet, for
don't wear my posy next my heart, but where can see it every
day, and so never forget for whom am working. n't
wonder if that bit of nonsense had kept me economical, honest,
and hard at it, for never opened my pocket-book that did n't
think of you."
" 's lovely, ," and found it so touching that she felt
for her handkerchief; but took it away, and made her laugh
instead of cry, by saying, in a wheedlesome tone, " don't believe
you did as much, for all your romance. you, now?"
" you won't laugh, 'll show you my treasures. began first, and
've worn them longest."
she spoke, drew out the old locket, opened it, and showed
the picture gave her in the bag of peanuts cut small and fitted
in on one side on the other was a curl of reddish hair and a black
button. laughed when he saw them!
" don't mean you 've kept that frightful guy of a boy all this
time? ! ! you are the most faithful 'loveress,' as
says, that was ever known."
"'t flatter yourself that 've worn it all these years, sir; only
put it in last spring because did n't dare to ask for one of the new
ones. button came off the old coat you insisted on wearing
after the failure, as if it was your duty to look as shabby as
possible, and the curl stole from . n't we silly?"
did not seem to think so, and after a short pause for
refreshments, turned serious, and said anxiously, "
must you go back to your hard work?"
" a week or two; but it won't seem drudgery now, for you 'll write
every day, and shall feel that 'm working to get a home for you.
will give me a forty-man-power, and 'll pay up my debts and
get a good start, and then and will be married and go into
partnership, and we 'll all be the happiest, busiest people in the
."
" sounds delightful; but won't it take a long time, ?"
" a few years, and we need n't wait a minute after is paid,
if you don't mind beginning rather low down, ."
" 'd rather work up with you, than sit idle while you toil away all
alone. 's the way father and mother did, and think they were
very happy in spite of the poverty and hard work."
" we 'll do it by another year, for must get more salary
before take you away from a good home here. wish, oh, ,
how wish had a half of the money 've wasted, to make you
comfortable, now."
" mind, don't want it; 'd rather have less, and know you
earned it all yourself," cried , as struck his hand on his
knee with an acute pang of regret at the power he had lost.
" 's like you to say it, and won't waste any words bewailing
myself, because was a fool. will work up together, my brave
, and you shall yet be proud of your husband, though he is
'poor .' "
was as sure of that as if an oracle had foretold it, and was not
deceived; for the loving heart that had always seen, believed, and
tried to strengthen all good impulses in , was well repaid for
its instinctive trust by the happiness of the years to come.
"," she said, hopefully, " know you will succeed, for the best
thing a man can have, is work with a purpose in it, and the will to
do it heartily."
" is one better thing, ," answered , turning her face
up a little, that he might see his inspiration shining in her eyes.
" is it, dear?"
" good woman to love and help him all his life, as you will me,
please ."
" though she is old-fashioned," whispered , with happy
eyes, the brighter for their tears, as she looked up at the young
man, who, through her, had caught a glimpse of the truest success,
and was not ashamed to owe it to love and labor, two beautiful old
fashions that began long ago, with the first pair in .
any of my young readers who have honored with their
interest should suffer the pangs of unsatisfied curiosity as to her
future, will add for their benefit that she did not marry , but
remained a busy, lively spinster all her days, and kept house for
her father in the most delightful manner.
's ministerial dream came to pass in the course of time,
however, and a gentle, bright-eyed lady ruled over the parsonage,
whom the reverend called his "little ."
into futurity even this rash pen dares not proceed, but
pauses here, concluding in the words of the dear old fairy tales,
" so they were married, and all lived happily till they died."