Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-07-12

hand covered them. Grandpa drew me
to him.
"Thou art young lass lie said, "and
they are right who call thee pretty. Say,
could'st like the Squire well enough to
wed him p
"Eh?' cried grandma. "Sure, you're
not wandering?'
Esquire Turner asked me for tins
lass of ours tonight. OF all women in
the world there is but one he loves rs
lie should his wife, and that is our
Agatha
Il dreamt of golden rings and II bunch
of white roses ON Christmas eve" cried
grannie (" / knew the lass would be
lucky.
But put my head on grandfather's
shoulder and hid my face. The truth
must out, knew.
"Wit have him, and be rich lady ?"
And when he had waited for M
answer burst ont with mo and Il
sob together.
shes frightened, said grandmam-
ma. Nay, we must all we'd once III
our lives my child
Then grandpa talked to me. He told
me how poor they had grown, and how
kind the Squire was, and had but to
marry him to make my grandparents
free from debt and poverty their lives
through If | refused and yeXed the
Squire heaven only knew what might
happen.
"Shell never ruin her poor grand
papa, sohbed grandmamma.
Ali it was hard to bear bitter hard;
but now there wa; no help for it. |
took the ring from my bosom and laid
il on my palm, and told them that it
was Evan Locke's, and that | had
plighted my troth to him. And grand
mamma called me deceitfll wench,
and grandfather looked rs though his
heart would break.
ON. would have done anything for
thcm-anything but give up my true
love.
That night | kissed his ring and
prayed heaven that he might love me
always. lii the morning il was gone,
ribbon and all, from my neck. | looked
for il high and low, but found no sign of
it. And began to fear the loss of the
dear ring was sign that ! would never
marry Evan Locke. The days passed
on and he never came near me.
"Oh, ii was cruel i'll him." thought
"to hold such anger for II hasty word
he had provoked, when skoke if that
he must know | loved him SO.
And grandma would scarcely look ut
me | know why now, and grandpa
sighed and moaned and talked of the
workhouse. And | thought | should
die Of grief among them.
One day grandma said 10 me. 1T
seems that your sweetheart is not over
fond of you, nor over anxious to see
you
"Why not?" said |.
"Where has he bcan this month
back ?"
Busy, doubtless" said |, with a
smile, though ! thought my heart would
burst.
Perhaps you know all about it, said
grandma. You are going with him,
maybe"
"Where?' said |.
She went to the kitchen door and
beckoned in a woman who sat there
Dame Coombs, who had come over with
eggs.
II heard you rightly" she said.
" You told me Evan Locke and his
mother were making ready for voy-
age"
They're going to Canada. My son, Il
carpenter-and a good one, though !
say it-madc the doctor Il box for his
things. The old lady breads the new
country, but she goes for the doctors
t,,I IL Al hn
they say. That's what takes him"
~ told you so, said grandmother.
j dent believe it, said |.
"They've sold the house, and gone to
Liverpool to take snip; and you may
find the truth for yourself, if you choose
to take the trouble, said Dame Coombs.
" I'm no chatterbox, to tell falsehoods
about my neighbors." And she went
away in wrath.
And still would not believe it till |
had walked across the moor and had
seen the shutters fast closed and the
door barred, and not sign of life about
the place. Then | gave up hope. ]
went home all pale and trembling, and
sat down ut grandmammas knee.
It's true" said ].
And for the sake OF SO false lad
you'll see your grandfather ruined, and
break his heart, and leave me that have
nursed you from babe, widow. Z
looked at her rs She sobbed, and ]
found strength to say:
"Give me to whom you will, then,
since my own love does not want me-
And then crept up stairs and sat
down on my bedside, weak as though !
had tainted. ] would have thanked
heaven for forgetfulness just then, but
ii wouldn't come.
IT,, ,,awt ,Ia,, tS1YIirn tTttr,pr rag iii