Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-04-05

which he had watched her grow
ing beauty, loving her first for her
mothers sake. but as she bloomed into
womanhood so like that mother, he
found himself renewing the dreams OF his
youth, daring to hope that happiness
might yet be his. The strongest, the best
fortified woman's heart must ever be more
or less moved by the evidence of deep
and earnest affection; and poor Lizzie had
the yielding, plant nature of her mother.
And Mark BOynton was away-she had
not seen him for weeks and not knowing
that he was occupied at the county town
with the final trial Of his case, she felt
herself neglected by him. Why, il he
really loved her, was he not here to say
so, and to stand by her in this time Of
trial? So il came about that, HELPLESS in
the hands of her affectionate but i'll judg-
ing friends she yielded and promised to
marry Robert Jocelyn.
1t was day or two after she had form
ally given her word that she was return
ing one evening alone from neighbours.
She had not walked far when she heard a
quick step behind her, and turning saw
Mark Boynlon.
He greeted her gaily, and the dim light
prevented his observing her pale and
troubled face. He took her hand and
drew it through his arm with an air al
most of ownership, saying as he did so,
This was just what | wanted, Lizzie, to
meet you. was going to your house. l
am such q happy fellow tonight that l
want TO tell you about it,"
She made no answer; indeed, he gave
her no time, but went on
Il have been all the week at Milford,
attending court, and have gained my case.
My farm is my own at last, and l am an
independent man."
She murmured some half inaudible ex.
preston of pleasure in this result
Lizzie" he said, stopping suddenly
and taking her hand in his, "there is
only one thing l want now to make me
the happiest man in Byfield. l want
you to come and share my home with
me-"
Here Lizzie drew her hand hastily from
him, and said in frightened tone,
Don't! don't, Mark! You must not talk
to me So"
What do you mean, Lizzie? Why
may not ted you that l love you better
than all thcworldS / think you must
have known 1t without my telling"
Poor Lizzie burst into passion of
tears, but could not speak. Mark drew
her gently out of the path and seated her
upon stone, placing himself beside her
lie waited some minutes for her answer,
but she remained silent. dear Lizzie"
he said at last, ''you must know that |
love you. Can be mistaken in thinking
you care for me?'
lie drew away the hands with which
she had covered her face, and begged her
TO speak to him. "Oh, Markn' she
gasped out in kind of depreciation, Il
have promised to marry Robert Jocelyn."
Mark Boynton flung away the hands he
held with an angry gesture, and sprang
to his feet. LizZier he cried indig.
nantly, "you are not, you cannot be in
earnest"
No answer from Lizzie. Her voice was
choked with sobs. Poor Mark broke out
in bitter reproaches. He accused her of
cruel tritling with him, and declared his
belief that she had accepted Jocelyn be-
cause he was the richer man, and his own
case doubtful one. Lizzie had but one
answer to his reproaches: she cried as if
her heart We're broken; and the strong,
tender hearted fellow soon grew pitiful of
Nv iNl, anu soottsto Htl, anu DtSgcu
forgiveness for his harshness. After
while he drew from her the whole story.
He understood the pressure which had
been brought TO bear upon her, and how
powerlesS she had been To resist it. He
saw that she loved him, and that if she
had felt sure of his affection, she would
have stood out against them all. If he
had but spoken out before! But his own
pride had been 10 blame.
Though he argued long and earnest.
ly, he could not convince Lizzie that
she had any right TO draw back She
had given her word, and she held her
self bound by it, persistently decar-
ing that he must not talk or she listen.
So at last he gave up in despair, and
the two walked home in gloomy silence.
In Rytield everybody's affairs are known
to everybody else; and SO it was but few
days before the whole neighborhood
was informed of Lizzie's engagement to
Robert Jocelyn, and by some mysterious
agency, known only Ia rural commune
ties, the secret OF Mark Boynton's love
and disappointment was also generally
understood. The circumstances created
"A kind of excitement The general opin.
ion was that the two young people were
being sacrificed TO the wishes of their
elders and sympathy was strongly with
them, as always where true love is
crossed. The young people blamed Lizzie
for her want of tirmness; but parents, in
terested perhaps in the cause of au
thority, exonerated her, and censured
those who were taking advantage of
her flial duty. Robert, too, came in
for his share of sympathy. The sad
story of his love for Phoebe was well re-
membered. and there were not wanting
some romantic souls who thought it fitting
that the daughter should compensate to
him for the pain her mother cost.
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