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THE SON’S VETO
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Soon, however, she gave way to the temptation of going with him again, and on this occasion their conversation was distinetly tender, and Sam said he never should forget her, notwithatanding that she had served him rather badly at one time. After much hesitation he told her of a plan it waa in his power to carry out, and one he should like to take in hand, since he did not care for London work ; it was to set up as a master greengrocer down at Aldbrickham, the county-town of their native place. He knew of an opening—-a shop kept by aged people who wished to retire.

“ And why don’t you do it, then, Sam ?” she asked, with a slight heart-sinking.

“ Becgaae I’m not sare if—you’d join me. I know you wouldn’t—couldu’t! Such a lady as ye’ve been so long, you couldn’t be a wife to a man like me.”

“I hardly suppose I conld!” she assented, also frightened at the idea,

“If you could,” he said, eagerly, “you'd ov’y have to ait in the back parlor and look through the glass partition when I was away sometimes—just to keep an eye on things. The lameness wouldn’t hinder that. Td keep you aa genteel as ever I could, dear Sophy—if I might think of it,” he pleaded.

“Sam, I'll be frank,” she said, putting her hand on hia, “If it were oaly myself I would do if, and gladly, though everything I possess would be lost to me by marrying again.”

“I don’t mind that. It’s more independent.”

“That's good of you, dear, dear Sam. But there's something else. I have ason. I almost fancy when I am miserable sometimes that he is not really mine, but one I hold in trust for my late hosband. He seemea to belong so little to me personally, so entirely to his dead father, He is so much educated and I so

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