Alice Wilde: The Raftsman's Daughter — page 61: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ANOTHER PROPOSAL. iy foc Yet the preparations progressed, and on Christmas and New Year’s day the men at the mill were supplied with a feast ; but Alice could not bring herself to decorate the house with wreaths of evergreen, according to custom—it brought back hateful fears too vividly. The unceasing cry of her heart was for the river to open. She counted the hours of the days which must drag on into weeks and months. Ben now came frequently to the house. If Alice would not talk to him, he would make himself agreeable to the old servants; any thing for an excuse to linger about where he could obtain glimpses of the face growing so sad and white. Mr. Wilde had always favored him as a work-hand, and now he invited him often to his home. He hoped that even Ben’s company would amuse his daughter and draw her — from her “ love-sickness.” , It was a few weeks after the holidays that, one evening Mr. Wilde took Alice upon his knee, smoothing her hair as if she were a baby, and looking fondly into her face. “Tye some curious news for you, little one,” he said, with a smile. ‘ Would you believe that any one had been thinking of my little cub for a wife, and had asked me if he might talk to her about it ?” “ Was it Ben, father ?” “Yes, it was Ben. No doubt you knew of it before, you sly puss |” : | | “T refused him long ago, father. Didn’t he tell you that ?” ce No.” “Would you be willing I should marry a person like him ?” “No, not willing. Once I’d have set him afloat if he’d had the impudence to mention it. But you're failing so, Alice, and you’re so lonesome and so shut up here. I know how it is. The young must have their mates; and if you want him, I shan’t make any serious objection. He’s the best there is in these parts. He’s better than a flattering, deceiving gentleman, Alice. I was fool enough once to imagine you'd never marry, but live your lifetime with yer old father; but I ought to have known better. ’Tain’t the way of the world. °’Twasn’t my way, nor your mother’s way. No, Alice, if yer ever in love, and want to marry, unless | know the man’s a villain, 1 comilcboooks.c©