Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-03-08

. letter from Harry Ives
"Wel. it's a considerable spell, replied
the farmer; but letters DO take time TO
reach US, you know >
Yes. particularly when they're never
sent" sneered Grayiing.
Father, don't listen to him exclaimed
Bessie, passionately. ''If the whole world
were to tell me Harry Ives was untrue, l
wou dn't believe them
i And Bessie tainted quietly away with
her glossy oraids of hair dropping over her
fathers knee.
Poor child! Could she have forseen the
long weary months of waiting for the let
ter which never came FROM the far-oif
southern hills, the hope deferred which
maketh the heart sick, that were in stone
for her, she might have been sorry that
she hal not died then and there, holding
fast that firm faith in Harry Ives truth
fu'ness. 81 -r =.
James Grayling, crafty, patient man,
bided his time 1t came att last, when the
tender green of the hilisides shriveled up
and grew brown under the starry, silent
frost Of the bitter December nights, and
the keen wind rushed with thunderous
swell, through the lonely forests in these
wi 4 solitudes
Daughter, its the dearest wish Of my
heart, sail Farmer Attcriy. solemnly, as
he sat with Bessie in the old silent room.
I'm gettin. we'll on in years and if
could but see you married to some good
and true man e(ore ] am taken away,
shou' d rest much easier in my grave
james GrayIing has been almost son 10
me these months Of trial and trouble. He
is coming for his final answer tonight
Let it be Yes "
Bessie shuddered That year of sick
wistful grief had changed her into a pale,
fragile eiIl with large, frightened eyes
cr rowing from side to side as if seeking
something which never came.
"Wait, father" she Inurmared eagerly
as if pleading for lie itself; wait Il little
longer, only little longer r
II hare waited, Bessie It's year and
over since Harry Ives has sent yoa either
word or message lie may be dead-Jetter
dead than a ScoundreI hut James Gray
ling has been true as steel to ne all this
time He deserves YOU Bessie, and, when
Won arc once married, Won VII be sure 10
learn 10 love him. Sha we say this day
month for your wedding day, ny daugh-
tcr?'
That night Bessie laid her cold hand in
james Grayhn4s eager palm, and said
Yes, dreami Y. to w!latescr he propos' d
What had life left for her? IS well be
James GrayliuG's wife as anything Sc !
since God wiIIed that She should lie and
suffer on. and the dreary path Of years lay
spread out before her istIess feet
The 0 d smoke stained wal 5 were caily
wreathed with feathery garlards Of cedar
and pine, with the scarlet berries of the
mountain ash glowing here and there; the
great fire roared up the chimney with
festive sound, and all the neighbors were
gathered around Farmer Atterlys hearth
stone, ror pretty Bessie was to be married
that nirht
"Shc don't look jest rs 4 bride ought to,
somehow, whispered Mrs. Deacon Jcn-
nings to her companion, Mahala Bird
she seems to me like one o them snow
wreaths down in the no low yondcr
Maybe its that white dress, replied
Nahaia. but she does 'ook like 4 corpse
, Land o Goshen! what he I sayin' It
amt considered good luck TO talk about
j corpscs on a wcdJin' night"
For the pretty bridemaids had just led
Bessie in, robed in pure sheeny silk, with
, snowy geraniums in her hair and not u
ycsri=e Of color in her cheek
There, don't she look sweet p said
Susan Jennings Is it time to 90 into the
par or yet?''
, "Massy! no, my child = said Mrs Jen-
ninss mot for an hour Why, Jim Gray
ling hasn't come yet.
50 Bessie sat down in the midst Of the
assembled maids and matrons, and toyed
with the white flowers in her bouquet
+ thinking-who knows Of WHAT Perhaps
'onely grave under the cru, southern
stars perhaps the fair face Of the woman
who had wied her lovers heart away
Somebody spoke to her She looked up,
and all of sudden her frightened eyes
u traced a figure hevond the open door op-
! po~ite to which she Sat-a figure hurried
Il making his way through the assembled
crowd
Where Is she? vii see my own Bes.
/