Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-05-02

other. | sought TO calm her emotion
| babe her be firm. and recommended
vinegar and brown paper for he
damaged brow. L said that | should
try them myself when | got home
told her that 1 would rather di'
than relinquish her; she said The
same thing in burst of uncontrolla
Bile emotion we renewed our vows
OF eternal fidelity, and tore ourselve.
from each others arms, crushed il
spirit, but strong yet to resist unjust
oppression.
told all my troubles to Jack Ed.
wards, my bosom friend and adviser
Jack and | had been school-feIlows
together; we were going into The
medical profession together present
ly; my father had resolved that
should walk the hospitals instead OF
the rosy path of love. Jack heard
my story, and said that he would
not have stood half of old Rowley S
nonsense but what be would have
done under the circumstances be did
4
forgot to ask him aftcrward.
Clara and / met clandestinely
We were lovers we had been lovers
from our youth the fiinty heart OF u
guardian who had outlived mortal
passion was not to stand between our
fresh young souls.
| met Clara in the village | scaled
the park fence and met her in the
green wood and Jack, good fellow,
kept watch on the door of the hall,
and old Rowley's library windows,
with telescope, lest we should be
surprised at any moment. Clara and
| passed much Of our time talking of
what we would do when she came
into her property at twenty.one, and
my grandmother favored me by de-
parting from this earthly sphere but
it was sharp winter, and our teeth
chartered over our prospects. Clara
and | used to arrange our meetings
in this wise Clara had q confidant
in the gamekeeper, Peter Stokes, an
invaluable man, with q weakness for
tobacco, and with a heart full Of char
ity toward his fellow-creatures. Pc
ter was always getting up subscrip-
tions for his fellow-creatures in the
village and what with his subscrip-
tions and bis tobacco kept him
entirely in tobacco-my pocket
money knew but little rest. Still, he
had o good heart, and was kind to us.
He took charge Of our correspond
ence, which was carried on by a cir
cumlocutary but sure process. Clara
gave it to her maid Selma, another
COMMUNICATIVE, alas proved herself
pertidious snake-and Selma en-
trusted it to Peter, who took it to a
gnarled monarch Of the iorest-an
oak tree, in fact-and concealed il
from all human gaze in a small hol-
low cavity, some ten feet from the
ground, where, at late honr, | found
it, and deposited my answer, to be
conveyed by the same process, into
my dearest Clara's hands.
Peter was Iank old man, and
very wiry he could climb tree like
a squirrel, and | was agile myeelf.
The whole conception was romantic,
if you will, but grand / thought so
Clara thoughtso--Peter thought SO
The idea was from Millais' picture,
which we both carefully studied and
if Peter had not generally deposited
his small notes to myself, at the same
time, asking my "kind considerashun
as a gentleman horn with a warm
hart. to an affecting lIase in the par
ish, the romance would have been
pure and unalloyed
Clara detied the obdurate guardian
for two months; it was February
when Selma Muggins betrayed us.
| was advancing in an innocent and
unsuspecting manner to the secret
post-office in the wood, half mile
from Mr.. Rowley's house, when | be-
came conscious Of the whole perfidy.
! was close upon the tree-that brave
old oak which had held so many Sc
crets-when voices in another direc-
ton filled my soul with horror.
They were the voices of Samuel
Rowley, Esq, j.. p, and Peter
Stokes, my Mercury. sank down
in the long grass-there was a rapid
thaw that morning, and the damp
struck me at once-and trembled for
my love. | was not an instant too
seon their footsteps were upon me.
Mr. Rowley's right foot was nearly
upon me, also he shaved my fea-
lures by u hairs breadth, and passed
on. The harsh tones Of his voice
rang in my ears an instant after
ward.
You don't outsider yourself an
abominable scamp, l suppose" Mr.
Rowley said, "an unprinciped old
vagabond, to act as go-between to
a silly school girl and that idiot of a
boy You never thought of the
harm of encouraging this, did you p
I'm very sorry, sill" whimpered
Peter
Bleaching my ward to be deceit
ful for the sake Of few sixpences, |
suppose"
1--WE never had a ha'penny, your
honor, much more a sixpence"
Neither had be. They were gen.
orally half crowns be was in the hab.
it of receiving from ME.
"You deserve to be kicked out Of
my service, Stokes-drummed out o.
the village for wicked old hypo
critic %
"They were very fond of each 9th
err, sir, and Miss Clara used to ash
me so besceching; and when | told
her there was harm in writing t
Master Huskisson without her deal
gardewan's knowing anything abou
il, she alters said it was for the las
time, sir-really."
Gift was not for your age, Stokes
I'd send you about your business
this very day"
'1'm very sorry, sir" Stokes saiC
again, shedding many tears.
'sIs this the tree 2"
Eyes, sir, that's the tree"
1 -.