The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-03-23
The Old Squire's Mistake.
g True hearts are more than coro nets,
And simple faith than Nor nan blood

Squire Atherton owned fine place
and had a plethpri rent roll, SO that
money need not Nave been an object in
The selection of wife for his only SON.
Cyril
Not being of romantic temperament,
he had given but little thought to the
matter, merely looking upon it as essen
tial, that at some distant time Cyril
should form some suitable alliance, SC
that the name need not die out; but there
need be no haste, and fortune must be
among the lady's advantages.
What. then, was his surprise and dis
may, when Cyril came to him one morn
ing and asked his consent to a marriage
with a poor young girl, the orphan niece
of small farmer, who lived some three
miles from Atherton manor.
A stormy scene ensued. They parted
in anger. Cyril mounted his favorite
Madcap," and rode at once to Deepdale
farm Hilda saw him coming, and met
him at the door.
The rash young lover had not waited
for his fathers consent to WOO her, and
they had been betrothed for several weeks.
He had led Hilda to believe that she
would be welcomed to his home, and
given a daughter portion of love.
1t was hard to tell her the bitter truth,
and in his anger and disappointment he
did not soften one harsh word his father
had said, even to calling Hilda a milk
faced doll, whose pearly teeth and bright
eyes aad captivated him in spite of his
better judgment.
But we'll be married in spite Of him.
won't we darling? He'll come to his
senses then, I'll warrant. He'll think ii
all right when he can't help himself"
Hilda's roses paled as she listened to
the eager boy, and the happy light which
had made her dark eyes so brilliant, had
died away in somber shadows, but she
answered with gentle resolution:
No, Cyril, two wrongs never made a
right. 1t doesn't sound like you to say
such thing. We are young and we can
wait until your father changes his mind
That's what he'll never do" said
Cyril, gloomily; " if he takes notion,
an earthquake wouldn't move him. If
we'llj lwait for such a thing, we'll
wait forever"
''Then it will be with a clear con-
science. Your father is an old man, and
it might shorten his life, if you his only
son-should prove disobedient and I'M
grateful. | cannot come between you
and your father
Cyril listened to her with flashing eyes.
Then you will throw me over? | who
worship the very ground your feet have
touched. Oh, Hilda, [ did not think ii
of YOU My father was right" he con-
tinued, gloomily. " He said all women
are alike-selfish and mercenary."
Don't Cyril; | know you cannot be-
heye it of me! Hear me. if you were to
be crippled in mind and body, and mis-
erably poor, and no one else had a prior
claim to you, l would work myself to a
shadow for you, and consider myself
happy in doing so. 1t is because | love
YOU better than myself that | will not let
you do wrong. But | will promise to 90
solitary and alone, so far as human love
IS concerned. to my grave, if 50 be that
we cannot marry. Dear, dearest Cyril.
go home to your father and do as he
wishes, fully and entirely. Gods blessing
will surely rest upon the dutiful son.
Her voice broke. With wild impulse
she threw her arms around his neck and
kissed him again and again, between her
sobs. j. was her farewell. The next
moment Cyril was standing alone in the
porch, and the heavy door was shut and
bolted between them.
After a few moments of bewilderipo
hesitation he mounted and rode away
He could not but think forgivinolv Of
Hiloa, As he recalled her anguished
sobs, and felt her kisses BURNING mon
his forehead-she who had ever been 80
chary of her caresses.
Strive as he might, he did not again
see Hilda. 1t seemed as though some
unseen messenger was ever on the alert
to warn her OF his approach, At last he
grew desperate, and determined to leave
home His father procured him COM
mission in the army. He wished for ac-
tive service, and, as it was the time of
the Crimean war, he had no difficulty in
carrying out his purpose. His regiment
was one of the first sent out.
Hllda heard of his departure with tear
full eyes. Still she did not regret the
course she had taken. Following the
noble example of Florence Nightingale.
she went to one of the hospital training
schools to fit herself to follow her soldier.
if necessary, and nurse some poor victim
Of the war back of life, or to soothe his
dying moments if he was beyond help.
But other work was in store for her.
A letter from home brought news of an
epidemic OF the most fatal type of ty-
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