The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-11-15

|
face.
"I mean that what I told him is true.
| and the sooner you put thoughts of him
! QUO of your own mind the better for your
peace. No lad from foreign parts with
such a blackamoor face can marry my
snow white lass"
A sudden jov kindled the pale face and
looked out of the wide eyes.
"Oh, father, did be ask you for me?-
| Then heaven be praised | read his looks
and acts Alright. Oh,'' said she, sinking
down upon her knees and catching her
fathers horny hand and kissing it, 81 had
lost my faith in human nature, and you
have given it back. Bless you for IL ! Oh,
| father, if that face could tell a false story
then the angels themselves would be un-
! true -
"Calm yourself, Msrian,'' interrupted
her father, sternly. Ibid you Eot hear
me? It's all at an end. You cannot be
his bride. 1t would be like mating a Glow
and dove"
81 care not so he loves me-" murmured
Marian, softly. Hear my VOW" she
said, suddenly, and again she sank upon
her knees, and raised her pure, childlike
but resolute face to his. 81 will never
marry Louis De Mornay without your con-
sent but I 1oiH LOUe him ny life long. and
die a maid for has sake if I cannot be has
| aoife %
1t was TOO late 20 check her. The VOW
vas taken. and would be kept. The strict
old father himself would not have dared to
| ask her to break it.
Matters went on about the same at the
farm. Several years passed by, during
which Louis was constantly changing his
his location, as indeed it was necessary for
him to do to give personal supervision to
his various estates.
During this period of unmitigated pros
! Aa
! farmer McGregor bad been gradually but
surley going down in the world. a sue
cession of bad crops, a disease among his
fine Durhams, until scarcely a poor half
| dozen was left of his large herd, and a
murrain which proved fatal to the sheep.
left him at last in very straitened condi-
| tion.
| together. The pay day was near, aud the
farmer had put the hardly earned money
in leatheTn wallet preparatory to a start.
"Well, wife he said with a sigh, "here's
pay for the last year. It's main doubtful,
though, where the next will come FROM"
s'Keep up, Duncan" was her cheerful
! answer s'It's all for the best, though one
cannot always ken why"
So he started away to the laird's county
seat on his stout cob, without weapon of
| defence foI it was a peaceful country,
and he had no fea~ of molestatiOn.
But his Journey was not half over when,
in some lonely woods through which the
road ran, an escaped convict seized his op-
portunity and struck him senseless from
his horse, rified his pockets, and, mount
ing, rode rapidly away with the pluuder.
About half an hour later he was found
by the gamekeepeT of an adjoining estate
and taken at once to the big house and
cared for. The master was away, but the
housekeeper was good and efficient, and
under her good Offices he soon came to con-
sciOusneSs, but not to the ability to help
himself. One blow had fallen upon his
shoulder, and it proved to be dislocated.
There was no alternative but 20 remain
helpless for weeks. So the good woman
sent for Marian to come to her father,
having by iudiciOus questioning learned
that she was the light of his old eyes next
to the good wife, who of course could moi
be spared from the home duties.
Marian came, much to her fathers joy
The day afterward the young proprietor
arrived also. The hOusekeeper told him a
once of his strange guests, and he FASTENED
to assure them of bis cordial welcome.
AS he entered the room Marian rost
from beside her fathers bedside, and aftei
one surprised glance held out her hand
her eyes shining like twin stars. 1t atd
Louis De M0rndy.
His pale face frightened with a sudder
light as lie wentIforward. Taking her tive
tender hands within his own he turned L
the old father.
'.See,'' he said, gravely, ''t is the will
of God that you should give me Marian
for m very own. Her steps have been lee
to my roof tree by the hand of fate. She
is to me the most precious treasure in The
whole world. Viii you not give her to me?'
The old man looked up into the dark
earnest face. Its expression of sincerity
and kindness could not be misunderstood
and in spite of himself be became for The
first time conscious of his noble, and man
ly beauty. Then, too, Marian's vow rang
through his ears, and he turned his eye;
on her face, which was like al April morn
ing-first smiles and then tears.
At last he reached ont trembling band
and placed it upon Marian's bright head
Take her, he said, hoarsely. t'It j;
Gods will and the lass lores yOU. I'm moi
sure, If could give hor up, but the poor
bairn might soon be without a shelterine
roof tree The worlds not gone well with
me of late, young man."
"That is because you sighted Lore, and
the little tyrant is angry" said Louis play
fully, as he turned and looked questioning.
ly into Marian's blusbing face.
Little one, is it true? Do yOu toCe me
Look up and tell me-"
She tried To raise her blue eyes to meet
his, but their radiance was too powerful
Her sweet lips trembled, but before the
word came they were drowned in a shower
! of kisses.
Thus they were betrothed.
ADHESIVE postage stamps were first