Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-08-21

| tu8U 1OUeEt 00uuy6 was uOpeloeSly IL
love with Edith; certainly he was dea
and blind to the destinations of hel
companions. As for her, she treated
him and every one else with the gracious
frankncss 90 charming in a friend o,
comrade, SO discouraging in a coveted
lady-love.
Well, the time wore on. The speci
fed exercises were ended, and thu
actors therein dispersed into pairs an6
groups, prepared to finish the day il
nnregulated fashion. Edith had seat
ed herself on the arm of the antique
chair, which, wreathed with flowers
and evergreens, had been her rega1
throne, and chatted gaily to young
Sandys, who leaned over it's back
Various others of our choicest spirits
were Immediately around them, il
attitudes more or less graceful and
picturesque. Laura's tongue was silent
for a brief space, as sitting Oh the
ground she tore open the wrapper ol
some ladies' magazines, taken probably
from the postoffice that morning, and
thrust into her pocket and forgotten
until now. 1 don't know whether We
were particularly witty, but we certain.
ly were uncommonly jolly, and we Jest.
ed and laughed and commented on per
sons and events with oil the buoyant
arrogance OF youth.
Suddenly said Laura, lifting her
eyes from her book, "See herel isn't
this absurd Z"
In her rapid and vigorous way she
half read, half narrated, to us the
story she had been reading. remem
Der only it's general outlines. It told
OF young man who, iar away from
home and among strangers, met with
an accident which caused temporary
blindness. He was tenderly cared fol
by q nurse previously unknown, with
whom he fell passionately in love, and
to whom he proposed marriage, but
saying, "God had placed bar be.
tween them" The lover returned
home, his sight was restored, and find.
ing it impossible to overcome his pas
sion, and feeling half assured that il
was reciprocated, he sought out the
lady, determined to solve tho mystery
and overleap the barrier. The latte,
proved insurmountable; the beloved
one was a quadroon, and the narrative
ended with some tall mock. heroics,
parodicd by Laura somewhat in this
"And I would give my eyesight,
would give my right hand, my new
diamond studs and all my real and per.
sonal estate, to know that the only
woman I ever Lowell was not quad
room! There's nice young man fol
you! wonder if he is intended as q
typical Yankee Z"
"Did you ever read 'Caete = SAID I;
"it is one of the best of the crop OF
anti-slavery novels which sprang from
the seed sown by Mrs. Stowe. Two
children, brother and sister, are
brought up and educated at the schools
in Northern state. That a mystery
surrounds their origin is we'll known,
but it's true solution is not guessed at,
even by themselves, and no objection
is made when the husband woos and
marries the daughter of q respectable
family. The marriage Is happy one,
the husband forms profitable business
connection, and all goes we'll until the
secret is suddenly dlvulged. Have
you seen in some pantomimic display
u garden of roses change rapidly to .
barren field, dimly descried through
falling snow2 So quickly changed the
hero's fair prospects, His wife dies,
her family disowned him, his partner
deserted him. His sisters fate was
more happy. Finally acknowledged
by her white father, she accompanied
him to Europe, whittier she was fol.
lowed by her lover, not Yankee, who
finally married her."
"All that is gross exageeration.
What shall a mau, possessed appar.
emily of all the graces of mind and
person which invariably adorn each in.
dividual of Caucasian descent, desert.
ed by the nearest and dearest because
it is discovered that eyer SO slight g
portion of African blood mingles with
stream that circles in his veins Z And
shall such desertions be sanctioned by
an enlightened community Let's put
the question to ballot. Here it is in
its plainest form. Miss Winthrop, it
shall be your privilege to vote first.
Would you, under any circumstances,
be willing to marry-a-nigger2" 2"
How absurd !" said Edith, her
bright face contracting with q moment
ary expression of disgust.
"Miss Edith" began Sapdys. his
voice tremulous with emotion, Ills ewes
full of pathetically childlike entreaty.
What he would have said heaven
knows; he had evidently forgotten
that ho had any auditors besides the
girl he addressed, but Just at that mo-
m ent there was a shrill scream and q
great commOtiOn in the bevy of chill.
dren. We all hastened to the scene :
there was no serious accident, only a
child had fallen from swing; but our
little party, thus broken up, did not
reunite.
AS our young people paired off fol-
the return noticed that Sandys walked
with Edith, and 1 afterwards passed
them rs they stood by Deacon Win
throp's gate. He was talking rapidly
and earnestly. She was motionless az
IL statue, but I fapcied that in the
moonlight could see the traces OF tears
on her face.
Next day it was said that Sandys had
left for home very suddenly. He hud
started on foot early in the morning,
and all his belongings were sent aftel
him in the mail coach to the next town
Ills abrupt departure made nine
days wonder, of course, and man,
were the stories framed in explanation
The one which gained the greatest dc
gree of credit was this: he had BEEN .
ri I'VE, the son of father who dared
not acknowledge him in his own home
He had confessed to Edith his love and
the secret of his parcntage m we'll, and