Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-03-29
REDOLETTE'S ESCAPE.


"It is farther than it looks, said Re
dolette.
Not too far for us to climb, answer
ed the sunny-faccd boy who held Redo
lette's hand while he gazcd resolutely
up at the mountains greenwood height.
" We can be there by sundown, and run
back before it is dark.
"Well, then, I'll ask leave
Ask leave? Are you not your own
mistress, Redolette?'
No; | must obey my husband, :
gravely the little maid replied.
g Your husband !" cried Willie locke.
Yes, he is here in the house. al
ways ask his leave when he is at home.
do it in the beginning, because it will
be 50 all the rest Of my life. ! am
learning, he says, to be his wife.
What do you mean, Redolctte"
asked the boy, dropping her hand and
turning to her with great earncstness,
his eyes ablazc, his checks flushed.
You do not-you surely do not mean
Judge Hunt when you say my hus.
bandg OH, you are not IL earnest; you
are teasing, you are Joking; you are
not in earnest, Redolette?"
:" In earnest, Willie, 'the girl replied.
!" Do not look SO fierce. Are you Il
WOLFF Are you going to eat me up~
mo, he is the wolf" said Willie in
dignantly. :,
II have always boon his little wife" ;"
said Redolette, +" was born SO. Ever
since Redoletto was baby, he says
she has been mine. He is my guardian.
My dying father left me in his
hands, and he takes care of me,
and takes care of the money |
am to have when am Of age;
but before that, at least SO Aunt Rhoda
declares, although | don't say SO quite
before that we shall probably be mar
ried There! Now, Willie, Ill so and
ask leave
Without another word she ran up the
path at whose outer terminus, the gar
den gate, they had been standing while
they talked, and disappeared III the
house.
She returned I'LL smiles. Judge
Hunt has gone down to the village for
the evening letters, and auntie says we
may % to Block Height if we will
hurry home" She offered to take his
hand again as they went through the
gate but Willie drew proudly back.
She started nquiringly, but still smiling.
Nov, Willie" she said, don't spoil
our dear little time. Please don't be
cross.
II am not cross, said Willie; !" was
never less SO in my lite. But ! certainly
shall not take the hand of another
Nnt, 4 nj
me, Redoette," said this man of cigh-
teen to the baby woman ut his side, III
voice thrilling with emotion and stinging
with reproach.
"Oh, do" said Redolette, deeply
shocked at his vehemcncc. Indeed |
do, Willie. | understand you with all
my heart They had gone some PAGES
down the maple-arched road before she
spoke again, and during that time
Willie had taken the hand he had re-
ieetod, and not only that, but he had
transferred it from his right hand to his
left so that he might encircle with his
firm arm her little waist. She turned
to him fully her innocent, sweet face
was there ever Il face moro sweet and
more innoeent?-and said, You are
the only thing, Willie. in all the world
that | do understand
Oh, Redolette Y sighed Willie, and
he kissed her cheek
She broke away from him then, and
they had race. They raced down the
road To the lane; raced up the lame to
the pasture fence eapcd over the
fence. ana this without any appeal for
assistance from Redolette. for she was
mountain maid, and free and agile as
Il bird raced across the upland meadow,
and then Willie caught up. The ascent
oegan: il became sleeper and more
steep; they went slowly and more slow
Rugged the way vas that looked 50
smooth, viewed from below They
climbed YEARLY the steep stones, stop
ping occasionally to take breath, and
to look back with delicious little linger-
ings 1t tile pictured field and wood
stretched 1T their feet, and tie zigzag
village clinging to the rivers brink as
for dear life.