Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-09-13

life was departing. She had been 50
happy here i'll her country home, com
tent 70 perform her tasks without
wish for what lay beyond her humble
sphere. Six weeks ago Ice Courtney
had presented himself ut Glen Cottage
and desired board for two weeks. The
two had multiplied themselves into siN,
however, and now summons from
his father, III the form OF telegram,
had caused him to pack up his effects
without loss Of time and take his de-
parturc. His stay III the little red-fam
house, or Glen Cottage, rs he himself
had christened it, had been most pleas
ant, and rs he walked slowly along the
thoaght of the girl who had met him SO
frankly npon his arrival NJ her home,
filled his room with flowers, prepared
his fayoritc dishes and picked the ripcst
berries for him, and inyoluntarily his
eyes rested upon her now walking hy
his side. She Secmeda different being.
The former was happy GIRL without Il
trace of care in the lovely brown eyes;
the latter seemed Il woman. The erect,
even naughty, figure walked steadily
bv his side, but there was il look Of Sor-
row in the eyes which could not hc CON
eealcd. The hand which carried Il
bunch of sweet clover trembled slightly
us he took il gently iii MS own, They
reached the elm tree ut length, and,
pausing, Josephine said with smile !;
"Well, Mr.. Courtney, | wish you 4
pleasant journey home. and Il pleasant
one through life"
Her GOODNESS vexed him, and he
made Il sudden resolve to compel her
to own that She loved HIM Where
would he the harm, he reasoned. Ii
harm there was, it had already been
done, 50 turning quickly toward her,
lie claspcd both her little toil-staincd
hands i'll his own, saying softly
Josephine, my darling, how can my
life journey be pleasant unless you
share ii with me! My love, tell me
that | may return TO YOU, may win you
and take you away from this country
life to homo you are So much better
adapted to adon. My sweet girl, tell
me that you love me-
Withdrawing her hands from his
grasp she covered her hlushing face
with them, while the bunch of sweet
clover fell unheeded 70 the ground, but
She made no reply.
Tell me, Josephine, do YOU care for
mc@ said he, drawing her closely to
his side and gently forcing the hands
from her face At length She raised
her head timidly, the color coming and
/, going III waves of crimson and white,
as She murmured softly:
Yes, Lee, do love you with all my
heart; but l-l-thought you were only
amusing yourself Mt my expense
There beneath the old elm they stood
talking until the coming shadows Of
night warned Josephine that She must
return home. The parting was bitter
to the girl, and her evident SORROW
touched even Lee Courtney's callous
heart and caused him to exelaim to
: himself, when at length he found HIM
self alone upon the road leading TO the
village Of Glenville
Il am Il precious rascal, and no mis-
take What possessed me to make the
girl love me? Wen, time will cure her
Of her folly, and will stop this business.
, BY George, | pitied her, bat it cannot
be helped now; and now for home and
Nora Wcston's bright eyes and golden
charms. ! wish Josephine had Nora :
wealth | do believe | should like the
former best if il We're ut all prudent to
do so. | will write her Il dozen letters
or SO and gradually let the affair die
away. Confound it | do believe |
have got conscience after all =
Back again to the quiet home =
lonely now, SO desolate. One by one
the stars came forth, and anon the
, moon shone down upon the quiet spot,
lighting il with tender radiance, and
falling upon tho sad face Of the Girl
, who leaned from her chamber window
i her eyes misty with unshed tears, wan
] dering toward the village whose tall
! church spires she could Just distinguish
III the dlstance-thinking Of him who
; had made 50 great Il change in her quiet
! life. She could never be the same
! again, tree from care, content to per
form her homely tasks, caring for
/ naught but her home, her parents and
| the few humble friends Of her girIhood
She must study-must fit herself for
the home % which he had promised to
take her She would 20 away where
She could learn AL the graces he ~
much admired. Her parents would
! miss her, but they would learn to 81
, without her, and when She had obtained
, the knowledge she ~ much desired
| and she was Lee Courtney's wife, they
should spend the declining years of lifc
with her. Al length She gave one last
, lingering look to the village where he
was stopping for the night and then shC
! sought her couch, but not T. sleep
j She heard tile whistle of the departing
: train which bore him away il tie early
J dawn and she could but wonder at thC