Lincoln County advocate. (Canton, Dakota Territory, [S.D.]) 1876-1877, 1877-01-03

wonder. "By Jove what-a question.
What should I do with it but keep It'll"
"Resign it to Rose Hatton-Mrs,
Andrews now-to whom it rightfully
belongs"
"A most likely idea, and quite
worthy of Katie Englehart. ! have
had poverty and hard work for seven
and twenty years, and now, when the
golden shower falls in my arms, I am
to resign it to Rose Andrews and her
drunken brute of a husband No, no,
Katie; in the nineteenth century, men
keep all they get, and they ask for
more"
$50 I perceive" she says quietly,
though she is trembling as che stands.
She draws a ring off her finger and lays
it on the table before him. "Our en-
gagement ends tonight, then, Mr.. Hat
ton. Here is your ring.
He stands gazing at her, utterly be-
wildered.
"Katie," he e1claims, "you don't
mean this?"
II mean it, Harry. If papa had let
me, I would have been your wife in
your poverty-oh f! SO gladly-and
worked for you, and with you, with all
my heart; but now-now that you take
the portion of that woman worse than
widowed, of those children worse than
fatherless, would die first"
The gentle eyes flashed, into the pale
cheeks an indignant glow leaped, and
the soft, tender voice rang out as he had
never heard it before.
"But this is all nonsense, Katie" he
cried impatiently, "sheer nonsense !
Ask your father "a smile crossed
Katie's lps-"ask anybody if this
money is not fairly mine. Rose Hatton,
a headstrong, obstinate schoolgirl,
elopes with a scoundrel, who only
seeks her fathers money, and she
is disinherited, as she deserved. I am
his sisters son, and to me what she re-
signed has fallen"
"Her father forgave her before he
died, and would have made another
will if another day had been given him."
clock here, Katie" says Hatton
still impatiently, IL will seek out my
cousin Rosie, and if she leaves her
wretch of husband, I'll provide for
her and the little ones. Will that sat-
isfy your"
IL know Rose Hatton," Katie an
swers. "She was proud and obstinate,
and would die of starvation sooner than
accept as charity what. is hers by right"
He comes close and stands before
her, his eyes flashing angrily. .
II must either choose between re.
signing you or my uncle's fortune?"
"You must"
If I resign it, I an 9 pauper as be-
fore, and your father will order me
from his doors. You will not disobey
your father, so in either case am to lose
YOU"
II love you Harry" she says with a
gasp. II would wait"
"Thank you," he says, with short
laugh; "that is poor consolation. You
are woman, and waiting may be easy
to you. am a man, and don't choose
to wait Since I must lose you in any
case, I'll not lose my money as well.
Good night, Miss Englehart. 1 wish
you very merry Christmas"
"HarryW she cries.
But he has gone, gone in fine fury,
banging the street door after him; and
it is her father, white with passion, who
! st.st45as 5ef q her:
Twice the Christmas tide has come
and gone; twice the joyful anthem of
"Peace on earth, to men good will, -
has sounded down the stately aisles of
St. Philips, and the third time is here.
Once more it is Christmas Eve; once
more altar and pulpit are wreathed
with evergreens; once more the voices
of the choristers rise to the vaulted
roof; once more the slender, brown
.eyed organist sits'at her post, her fin
gers evoking wondrous:. music from
those pearl-white keys. But The face
mas graver beauty, the dark eyes a
sadder light than of old, and for the
silks and sables of other days her dress
is deepest mourning, plain of make
and poor of texture.
The last piece is sung-something
grand and old and triumphant, and
"Good night, Miss Englehart,"
one and all cry, as they
dutter away and down the stairs.
She smiles ner farewell, but fingers
.fter they have gone, as is her custom;
and as her hands float over the keys and
1er eyes rest on the music, she is think
ing of another Christmas Eve, three
years ago, and or her father and lover
who stood by her side that night.
She has lost them both-the lover
then, never to hear of or see since, the
father one year ago. A great financial
crisis had come, had involved shrcwd
lawyer Englehart, and swamped him.
he had broken down under the blow,
and in less than three months after was
| dead and buried. He had never for
given Katie her refusal of Harry Hat
ton; he did not even forgive her on his
| deathbed.
eff you had not been fool with