The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-07-04

lufb6u you from DhDbt WluOWI
looked at her as she sobbed, and
found strength to say:
Give me to whom you will, then, sine
my own love does not want me-"
And then Crept up stairs and sat dowI
on my bedside, weak as though l haC
tainted. l would have thanked HEAVIER
for forgetfulness just then, but it wouldn'
come.
The next day Squire Turner was in thu
parlOr as my accepted lover. How pleas
ed he was, and how the color came bach
into grandfather old face And grannit
grew proud and kind, and all the house
was aglow, and only sad, But coulC
not forget Evan Evan whom l had 10y
ed so-sailing away from me without
word.
suppose they all saw l looked sad
The Squire talked of my health, anC
would make me ride with him over the
moors for strength.
The old folk said nothing. They knew
what allied me only our little Scotch
maid seemed to think there was aught
wrong. Once she said to me:
"What ails ye missp Your eye is dull
and your cheek is pale, and your Draw
grand lover Gamma make ye smile ye are
ma that ill either"
"No, Pm well enough" said I.
She looked at me wistfully.
"Gin ye'd tell me your all, might tell
you cure;" she said.
But there was no cure for me in this
world, and | couldn't open my heart to
simple Jennie. So the days rolled by,
and l was close on my marriage eve, and
grannie and Dorothy Plume were busy
with my wedding robes. / wished it
was my shroud they were working at,
instead.
And one night the pain in my heart
grew too great, and went out among the
purple heather on the moor, and there
knelt down under the stars and prayed
to be taken from the world; "for how
can live with Evan ?" 1 said.
l spoke the words aloud, and then
started up in alright, for there at my side
was an el6sh little figure, and l heard a
cry that at first l scarce thought earthly.
Yet it was but Scotch Jennie, who bad
followed me.
"Why do ye call for your true love now
ye sent him fra ye for sake O. the young
Squire" she said.
''How dare you follow and watch
me ?"
But she caught my sleeve.
"Dinna be vexed. Just bide wee,
and answer what speer. It's for love of
you, for I've seen ye waste like the snaw
wreath in the sun sin the Squire wooed
ye. Was it your will the lad that loved
the ground ye trod on should have his
ring again ?" she said.
"What do you meanP" said /.
"I'll speak gin lose my place." said
Jennie. 81 rode with the mistress to
young Doctor Locke's place past the moor
and there she lighted and gave him a
ring, and what she said know not, but it
turned him the tint O death and said he
There's ma drop o true bluid in a wo.
man gin she is false And he turned to
the wall and covered his eyes, an your
grannia rode home. There, 'tis all ken
-wull it dor"
"Ay, Jennie" saidI; "heaven bless
you"
And had I wings on my feet could
not have come to the cottage door
sooner.
l stood before my grandmother, tremb.
ling and white, and l said: "Oh, don't
tell me- grannie, you have cheated me
and robbed me of my true love by a lie.
Did you steal the troth ring from nv
neck and give it back to Evan, as if from
me2 You I've loved and honored my
life long-pd rather die than think it."
She turned scarlet.
"True lovep You've but one love now
Squire Turner" she said.
"You have done it It's written on
your face,"I cried.
And she looked down at that and fell
to weeping.
my own true love was breaking his
heart" she said. "My husband and
had loved for fifty years, Ibid it to saye
him. Could let girls fancy, worth
nothing, stand in my way and see him
beggar ia my old age2 Oh, girl, grip
And then l fell down at her feet like
stone. l knew nothing for an hour or
more; but then, when was better, and
they left me with Jennie, / bade her fetch
my hood and cloak and her own, and
away went across the moor in the star.
light to where the hall windows were
ablaze with light, and asked the house
keeper to let me see the Squire.
She stared at me for my boldness-no
wonder-but called him. So in mo-
ment he stood before me in his evening
dress, with his cheeks flushed and his
eyes bright, and led me into a little room
and seated me.
agatha, my love, hope no mischanCe
brings you here" be began.
But / stopped him.
"Not your love, Squire Turner" / said.
II thank you for thinking 80 well of me,
but even after all that had passed, l."
l could say no more. He took my
hand.
Have I offended you, Agatha ?" he
said.
mot you. The offense-the guilt-oh,
I have been sorely cheated p and all l
could do was to sob and think he thought
me mad.
At last strength came to me. went
back to the first and told him all-how
we had been plighted to each other, wait
ing only for better prospects to be we'd,
and how, when he honored me by the
offer Of his hand, angered my grand.
parents by owning to the truth, and of
the ring grannie had stolen from my
breast, and the false message that had
sent my promised husband from me.
And though l never see Evan Locke
again." said /, "still l can never be an
other mans true love, for am his until
| die"
Then, as I looked all the rich color fad
ed out of the squire's face, and l saw tho
sight we seldom see more than once in 4
life time-a strong young man In tears.