Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1878-05-08

SSSs6 y MI isSksf. he Va watchinl
- With intense anxiety. No need Il
qnsu9ion whet his wishes were. Az fol
a. neanlng Of this strange scene, ]
wanted 10 details; enough that some
nomentary crisis had come that threat
ened disgrnce and ruin could aver
II and kOwf BY marrying who's
a1ection might have gratifed the mos
ambitious heart; one of the noblest oI
men; one I loved, though perhaps not u
10 loved me. In that hour OF excite
ment, and In my undisciplined mind
little Was / prepared to weigh remot.
ponibilities and contingencies. Besides
I was ardent excitable, apt to mistake
|inpulse Tor sentiment. Mildred, wha'
you might b to mel" wrought upon my
nsnaibility; his expression Of subduee
emotion still further moved me. It new
ee occurred to me to demand time for ex'
PLANTATION and reflection. I felt con
GfS1ned - answer him then and there.
III / were les ! child" said, blush.
I'm and trembling, "if | were more your
caual." Il was enough, he drew neal
neand clasped me in his arms. "Child!'
Is aid, p1Miouately, tiny love-my
wifep Thea releasing me and gazing Al
me- seriously: You give yourself tome
willingly, Mildred, but l will not bind
you. Six months hence / will give you
hack your freedom il you are not hap
p, and you will find it hard to deceive
! love like mine"
Ny father Fose and grasped hishand in
dlence. "God blee your he said at
bn9th; II would have borne much to
eeoare such . protector for my child.
Leave IA Mildred, to arrange some mat
fe1s that cannot be delayed even till the
morning" was eager to obey and be
alone TO think, and / left the room with
cut . backward glance.
That half hour had revolutionized my
whole being. / was child no longer. /
fastened my bedroom door to give way
10 III the tumultuoas emotions of .
wonan. Sued for awife! engaged! I
looked at myself in the glass, and won
dessd that : man ike Mr.. Lacy could
love such q young, uniformed creature a.
/ appeared. There wa an incongruity
In & that affected me painfully. Still
there wa . distinction in his regard that
Asttered me. / had . very high esteem
for him. l was warding off a calamity
from my father. l loved no n else;
. doubt I should be very happy. l sat
down on the edge Of the bed and leaned
my head upon my hand. Uunaccus-
toned to dream, at that moment an in
dream rose before my imagi-
nation. Instead Of this strange compact,
the wooing of q youthful lover; instead
OF mere consent on my part, the delicious
hopes, the rich fruition of 9 conscious,
active passion. Might l not have been
thus? If beauty won love, l vas fair
enough; il freshness and strength Of
heart were needed, how mine throbbed
under the ideal bliss! The sound of Mr..
Lacy,s voice recalled me to a sense of
my duty to him !; it was wrong to dream
Of such girlish possibilities now.
He was going away and my father had
accompanied him to'.the head of the
stairway. supposed he had asked him
if he would not wish to bid me good
night, for l heard him answer: "No;
abe would NOT wish to be disturbed; 1
fear to weary her. God forgive me If /
am acting a selfish part" l rose up res
olutely; no more such weakness as that
Of the last hour; he was worthy of a
w0man's love and honor, and l will give
it. The next two months passed in a
state of tranquil happiness. If manly
devotion, il the most delicate and minnie
attentions could win a heart, mine would
have been won, and l thought il was,
and reposed on the idea.
Mr.. Lacy made no attempt to prevent
my plunge into tie gay world, postponed
for q while by the late strange accidents.
Now and then he would 60 with me to a
ball or opera, but it was in the character
of protector or inspector, o as partici-
pant, and ! felt his presence a restraint.
l was by no meal \ coquette; l strove
tsbear always in mind that ! was his af'
fanced wife; but / was only eighteen,
ardent in temperament, with high ami
NAL spirits, very much courted and ad.
mired, and | did not enter with much
zest into the pleasures of life. Hi,
grave smile, in the height of my enjoy
ment, used to fall like a weight on m,
heart.
He himself, holding an important anG
influential position in the world, wa,
full of earnest schemes of practical be
nevolence, of professional reform. HI
seemed to think, labor, and write mainly
with m eye to other mems interests, ano
those in their highest and widest bear
ings He liked TO talk to me of II es.
things and excite my moral enthusiasm
and while / listened he carried hear
and conviction with him, and / felt 4
call to such cooperation an honor il
which sacrifice could have no part
Then his look of intense affection ant
happiness, a. he kissed the cheek t.
which his words had brought SO deep
glow, stirred my soul and lett no doub
On my mind that / loved him.
At the end of two months Mr.. Lac,
left me to attend q summons TO his ia
theirs death-bed. He felt no fears as t,
the result Of this separation, though
perceived . deep secret anxiety.
shared it. / had 8 morbid dread Of tn,
eject Of this absence.
"Don't leave mel" / cried, clingin,
weeping to HIS arm. II am afraid O.
myself-afraid Of becoming unworthy o.
you"
"How, Mildred?" was his answer
~ you mc1u you VIII IOE&et me, o.
discover you are mistaken in thinking
you love me, it will ave us both a life
long misery-me, at least, a life long re
mOrae."
s. For q week or two after he left me
hardly went into society; but my fatheI
and friends laughed at my playing th,
widow, ~ they called it, md l soon re
sumed my former gayeties, with, how
ever, a certain restraint and moderation
which ! felt due to Mr.. Lacy.
At length TIE temptation beset me o.
which / seemed to have . vague pre-
sentiment from the first evening of Mr.
Lacy's offer, and it beset me under it
most insidious form. My fathers sistel
and nephew came to pay US a long
talked-0f visit; and even before they ar
rived / had begun 70 torture myself with
doubts as to the issue of this intercourse
Al children, Frank Ingram and l hac
spent half y time together; and Al
children had pledged ourselves to eacl
other. Five years had passed since v,
had met, for he had been STUDYING medi