Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-12-27

might turn to curses, said Sir Gala
had, upon us both. I will not bless
her. Now he turned his head, at
this, and saw her coming up the
court. 81 will not, will not!" said
Sir Galahad. But all his soul rose
up and went to meet her, and laid
it's hands upon her head in benedic-
tion. And when Sir Galahad felt
within himself that this was SO, he
fell upon his knees, and there re-
mained till midnight. And in the
morning he arose with counten-
ance as calm as ever knight wore in
love, or death, or victory, and away
in his blue overalls to work, with
his dinner-pail on his arm, and nod
ded gravely at Rebecca; but smiled
little and spoke less.
And SO the Lady Rebecca, griev-
ed and puzzled in her heart, would
have dropped tear or two upon
her foundation strips but for a heat
upon her cheeks that burned and
dried them all the day; and so at
night, being feverish and wakeful,
and stepping down into the court at
an early hour for fresh water, she
came suddenly upon woman clam
bcring into Sir Galahad's low win
dow.
She dropped her pail, and, in the
icy swash that fell about her feet,
sat down to catch her breath.
There, in the puddle which the
chilly water made, Sir Galahad
found her sitting, when he had shut
his window, had turned the key in
his door, had come out, and had
stopped and stood beside her.
"That's my wife, Rcbecca, I've
just locked in there" said Sir Gala
had, standing in the starlight.
"Will you come in and take look
at her?"
"1'd rather not" said Rcbecca,
from her mud-puddle; but she rose
and shook the spatter from her
clothes.
every well," said Galahad.
"You never told me-" said Re-
becca, picking up her pail, "that
you had wife, Sir Galahad.
81 never thought of it till yester.
day." said Galahad. 81 ought to
have. l ask your pardon, Rebecca.
She's crazy"
"Oh!" said Rcbecta, stretching
out her strong, large hand; but she
drew it back and hid it beneath her
shawl.
"And takes opium" continued
Galahad Holt, patiently, "and is up
to pretty much anything. It's going
on SIX years since she left me. Blu,
she keeps coming on me unexpcct
ed. The ground floors saved a
deal of talk and shame, I think
: don't you? l thought best keep
house for her, all things taken int
the count, don't you? Sometimes
think she'll slick herself up little
and stay; but in day or two she's
off. She's got the Old I'm in he,
head tonight"
"It's very hard-it's very, very
hard" Rcbecca moancd.
"Rehecca R'ck," said Sir Gala
had, solemnly, "it's curious time
!, and place to say it, but l think
thcre'll never come better"
"Oh, no!" said Rcbecca.
"And may as we'll out with it.
my girl, first as last, and once fo'
ali, and tell you how it yo"'d been
my wife instead Of her l couldn't
have loved you truer nor more sin
gle in my heart than love you in
the sight of God and these here
stars this wrctched night. And I'm
n married man!'
"Oh! yes, yes!" said Rcbccca.
"But Pm a married man." said
he.
"Pcoplc unmarry," said she.
She looked in a frightened way
about the court, at the pump, at the
stars; she gaspcl and thrust her
hand out, but drew it back within
her shawl. Sir Galahad did not
touch it.
81 suppose" said Sir Galahad,
very slowly, "as could get divorc'
cd from Merry Ann; I've thought
OF. thought OF yesterday long
while. But it seems to me as If I'd
better not. She'd be comm back,
ye see. Any ways, she'd be a livin'
on this livin' arth, and we might be
meeting her face to face most any
day. It seems to me, febecca, as
it was agin natur for me to marry
any woman while Merry AIMS a
livin' cretur. How does it seem to
you?"
"Galahad Holt" said Rebccca,
"I'm not as good as you, and I'm
very fond of you"
"For Gods sake, don't tell me of
it," cried Sir Galahad.
"Well, WON'T" said Rebecca.
"For, if it's agin natur," said Sir
Galahad; lifting up his eyes to the
stars above Primrose Court, "it's
agin God! And rather than be agin
them both I'd be ON the safe side, it
seems to me-"
every WELL" said Rcbccca.
$50 / think we'll watt" said Sir
Galahad, taking off his hat and
holding out his hand.
"Is the safe side always the right
side, Galahad?" asked Rcbecca.
II don't exactly know" said he,
with puzzled look.
"Nor l." said Rebecca; "but l
think we'll wait"
"Some folks wouldn't," said Sir
Galahad. "But don't see as that
makes any Odds"
"No," said Rebecca.
So they shook hands, while Sir
Galahad stood with his hat on be-
meath the stars; and Lady Rebecca
picked up her veil from the mud
puddle, and went up stairs, and Sir
Galahad went to the grocer's to get
q little tea for his wife-and the
world ran on as if nothing had hap
pencd.