Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-07-18

time, and then send message to dear
pa to forgive his erring children-that
we won't do SO again-although it will
be too bad to go off for SO long tour
without his blessing"
The colonel had, by this time, over
come his establishment, and eagerly &C
guessed in her proposal, only wonder
ing what would be the next freak of this
changeable bride of his.
well, but where are we going to be
tied-Gretna Green?" he inquired.
%, you naughty boy p answered
Kate tapping him lightly with her fam
How dare you say tied? 1 don't like
that word a bit But, on ! won't we be
happy? she cried, dancing merrily
around the room. And Gerald, |
know the prettiest little place to go to,
away down in Westmoreland- sweet
little church went to when down there
visiting Aunt Rachel Nobody knows
me, however, in it-auntie being high
church-sO we can take the train in the
morning, get there in the afternoon, and
the whole ceremony be over before pa
gets his wits together Oh won't it be
nice 2"
"What a precious schemer you are,
little wife," answered the colonel, adj
miringly, really astonished at the girls
audacity. a
=" Do you think so, Gerald dear? Oh,
those are not half my schemes !"
" More yet?' said the colonel
ooh, yes You'll find there's more
yet. ....-
"Well, he answered. II only hope
they may be as full of happiness to me
as this"
II hope So" said Kate. 49,.
Of course it rather astOnished Mr..
Warren and his neighbors to hear that
Kate and Darcy had eloped; but when
she wrote him a loving letter explaining
all, he was perfectly satisfied.
1t was about year after this when
Frank Seyton arrived home at Seyton-
vile, and it was not long before he was
made acquainted with all the country
gossip about the matter. Frank looked
older considerably, and handsomer, and
as he had realized far beyond his Eek
pectations on the continent-indeed, re-
turned wealthy-he was considered
quite prize now to matchmaking
mothers and their daughters. But it
was a sad fact to these well-meaning fe-
males that he very seldom came to their
entertainments, and, when there seemed
to be very needless of the charms of the
young ladies. Indeed, he came to be
set down as a confirmed woman-hater,
and this verdict, in his present state of
mind, was not far off the mark He
had scarcely been home three months
before he heard that Mr. Warren's
daughter had returned home, that the
colonel had deserted her, and that she
would be present at Mrs. Wallace's ball
the next week. Now Frank had re-
ceived an invitation to this ball, and had
just prepared an answer, pleading a
prior engagement, or some other polite
fiction. when he heard this Tearing it
up instantly, he substituted one of ac-
ceptance, resolved at least to get one
more glance at the only lady of his love
Mr. Seyton, Miss Warren" said Mrs
Wallace, introducing the pair on the
evening of the ball, not being cogni"ant
of their past intimacy
Miss Warren" repeated Frank, in a
rather incredulous manner.
eyes, Frank; did you never hear the
name before?' said blushing Kate, in
her old audacious style.
now. Then why this change?'' said
Frank, gravely.
.'Then you were nisinformed.'
"What, Kate! did you not elope with
the colonel?' inquired Frank, eagerly.
Eyes" answered Kate.
''Then what do you mean?'
II cannot explain to you, Frank, ex-
cept to say that did elope with Colonel
D'Arcy-that am not, never was, and
never intend to be Mrs. Darcy"
''But where have you been all this
timer"
'"That also must / keep to myself; be-
sides, | do not know that any one has
the right to question where | 60 or how
long stay" she added, haughtily.
"But Kate, what does this mean!
Pardon my lnquisitiveness-you say
you eloped with the colonel-that you
are not his wife yon don't explain
where you have been. What must
people infer?"
II don't care fig for peoples opin-
ion; but | tell you [ have never done
anything dishonorable. I wish you at
least to believe this"
~ do, Kate-I do from my heart
and if you think [ am still worthy OF
your love-ifyou will but give me some
hope of regaining tit will be the hap
piest moment of my Ife," said the
cynic, impetuously; and it was we'll for
the pair that they had wandered from
the ballroom to the conservatory, or
his manner would have made them the
cynosure of all eyes.
"And would you be willing to take
me, with SO many dark suspicious about
me, SO much unaccounted for, and
which must be forever hidden from you?
Could you still trust me?"
"Kate," answered the noble fellow"
II know there is some secret which
places you in false position, at present;
but, as there is God above us, I be-
ieve you are incapable of any wrong
that you are in some manner the vic
tim of circumstances-and if an angel
were to come down and confirm it /
could not be more positive than [ am