Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-10-30

NN--SN 10y i'RANSh 4psC W lGk MIN retain MS
place as friend even though dismissed as
lover
OF course you know what that came to.
Mr.. Gurney's health was failing raDidlv.
and Lieutenant Scarsdale was ALWAYS
coming to inquire after him, to see if he
could Go anything for Mrs. Gurnev. and
to bring Kate fresh flowers to cheer her.
In fact, his attentions were unbounded,
and as he showed 10 the best advantage.
SO II came to pass one day that he reaped
his reward
Dir. Quincy had been worse, almost en-
tlrely unconscious for two days, and Miss
Gurney was looking so white and wan
with day ana night watching, that | was
tam al last 10 order her out of the sick
room tor half an hours rest, promising 10
take her place myself the while. She
was very unwilling TO 20, knowing how
her mother depended on her company :;
but just then there came double knock
at the hall door, and put her gently out
side the room, bidding her trust me to
call her if she were needed. She must
have been thoroughly orerset; for, after
holding up so long and bearing more than
half the burden of homework and anx-
lety. she hurst into tears when I shut the
door on her.
POOR Kate. those tears were OminOus
In the course Of twenty minutes or so
Mr.. Gurney, whose wanderings had grad
ualiy subsidized, sank into a sort Of sleep :;
and leaving Mrs. Gurney by the bed, |
went down 10 tell Kate and get a cup of
tea. The drawingrOOm door stood aiar,
and as | was about to enter. I heard Scars
| dale-s voice say in low, caressing tones:
katie, Katie, darling, let me be your
com TIrtEr slv-q-g l.
Think how long | have loved YOU, and
know you love me a little Give me your
| hand II token Of 1t, my own, my pet"
She was standing by the fire, her arm
| on the chlmney-piece and her gaze bent
upon lt-Weeping still, | thought The
gas was not yet lighed, and the freight
I flashed upon the long, sweeping curves of
| heF 1.-The H4Ure, on the pure, pale oval Of
. cheek ana chin, the waving bands OF gold
/ brown hair. Round all the fair womanly
form II cIung with a loving clasp: and
/ then 1t leaped out and flung a broad
blaze on the dark, handsome face bend
ing over her. But even as he spoke. she
had lifted the slender White hand hanr-
ing so wearily at her side, and stretch
Ell It to him trustfully as child
might have done; and his last words
were said with his arms about her waist,
and her sweet pale face hidden on his
breast
went away very softly, and did not
ash for any tea that evening; but when
Miss GurneY came up stairs about ten
minutes later there was a new. warm
light in her eyes, which told me that even
il the blow fell which would make her
tatherless, she would not be left as one
utterly bereft of comfort.
Mr.. Gurney died a week later. I doubt
if he ever heard of his daughters engage
ment; and of course in that season of
trouble nothing was said Of it beyond the
family; but though his daughter grieved
bitterly over her fathers death, and work
ed harder than ever to supply his place at
home and abroad, she did not grow any
paler, and the new light never left her ewes
Lieutenant ScarsdaIe called every other
day, and | knew that in the midst of her
sorrow there was deep, wonderful hap
piness in her gentle heart-a well spring
OF JOY, which made her manner to all
around more tender and winning day bv
day.
About this time the Hussars were order
ed 10 ireland, and for some davs after
their departure the tender rose-coIor faded
out OF The girls check; and if one spoke
or absent friends, there would come a lit
tie culver over the sensitive mouth. which
told me OF whom she was thinking. Also
II l was spending the evening there. | no.
uced that her manner grew little-just a
( Ittle-distratt toward ten O'Clock She
would turn her head as if listening 10 the
po>tmdn's knock, and when il came at
last, bright, nervous flush would come
INTO her face, her lips would part, and even
the busy, quiet fingers remble till the
( f0gFI hr4yrfrhf lar IL. : l..
Then, after one little glance at the well
loved writing. her hands would close ten
derly over 1t, the sweet look of peace
would come back to her fair face and she
would strive by extra c0rdiality and at
tention 10 atone for her mOmentarv dis
traction. It must be said that, in pity to
her and myself, | never tried her patience
many minutes after the post came in.
| am lingering over-l0ng on this part of
Miss Gurney's story, vet God knows it
lasted d brief enough time. How soon he
began to tire of his love | know not. but
It cannot have been many weeks after it
found lis requital. II had come 10 be az
ranged that they were to be married at
the end OF the first wears mourning
Friends had offered their congratulations.
and once and again Mrs Gurney spoke to
me OF the impending event, asking me
some advice as 10 future arrangements,
etc. l think she guessed in some way at
my love for her daughter, though it was
never alluded 10, and so knew | could
share in her anxiety for the one being left
her She was q weak, clinging woman,
this widow-lady, kind-hearted and pious,
but not gifted with much penetration or
quick feeling; aud you may be sure |
never let her know how the subject
panied me.
1t was in this way that | came to learn
by and by that Miss Gurnev was not as
happy Is heretofore. The mother would
ask me some little question about the
Irish mails, or whether the Fifteenth was
still at the Curragh, showing that they
did not hear as regularly as before; and
though | stayed purposely after ten on
several evenings, and Kate would watch
for the post as wistfully as ever, no knock
came at the door; and it was piteous to
see the anxious, beaten look in her face as
the rapid 'Tat-tat' passed down the
street, dying gradually away in the dis
taDce. | used 10 set myself then to amuse
and divert her; but though she answered
with everready sympathy, the paIing
cheek and saddened voice showed me a
wound too deep for friendly salve
And twas only three months since her
engagement,
The blow came at last. For more than
SIX weeks her strength bad been visibly
failing; 80 vlsIbly, indeed. that it went to