The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-10-05


frightened. At last he spoke:
"I've been to the Squire said he.
"For the first time had to tell him
that | could not pay him his rent when
due"
l opened my lips. Grandma's hand
covered them. Grandpa drew me to him.
Thou young, lass" he said, land
they are right when they call you pretty.
Say, could'st like the Squire well
enough to wed himP'
"EhP" cried grandma. Sure you're
not wandering?"
esquire Turner asked me for this
lass of ours tonight. OF all women in
the world there is but one he loves as
he should his wife, and that is our
Agatha"
Il dreamt of golden rings and a
bunch of white roses on Christmas
Eve" cried grannie. 81 knew the lass
would be lucky"
But l put my head on grandfather S
shoulder and hid my face. The truth
must out, knew.
"Wilt have him, and be rich ladyP"
said grandpa.
And when he had waited for an an
swer, | burst out with "No" and sob
| together.
.'She's frightened" said grandma.
may, we must all wed once in our
lives, my child"
Then grandpa talked to me. He
told me how poor they had grown, and
how kind the Squire was, and l had
but to marry him to make my grand
parents free from debt and poverty
their lives through. If l refused and
veXed the Squire, heaven only knew
what might happen.
She'll never ruin her poor grand
pa" sobbed grandma.
All! it was hard to bear-bitter hard;
but now there was no help for it. l
took the ring from my bosom and laid
it on my palm, and told them it was
Evan Locke's, and that | had plighted
my troth to him. And grandma
called me deceitful wretch, and grand
father looked as though his heart would
break.
Oh, would have done anything for
them-anything but give up my true
love.
That night l kissed his ring and
prayed heaven that he might love me
always. In the morning it was gone,
ribbon and all, from my neck. looked
for it high and low, but found no sign
of it. And | began to fear the loss of
that dear ring was sign that l would
never marry Evan Locke. The days
passed on, and he never came near me.
"Oh, it was cruelin him." thought,
"to hold such anger for hasty word
he had provoked, when l spoke it that
he must know loved him so.'
And grandma would scarcely look at
me q know why now, and grandpa
sighed and moaned, and talked of the
work-house. And l thought should
die of grief among them.
One day grandma said to me, 1T
seems that your sweetheart is not over
fond of you or over anxious to see you"
''Why not?" said |.
"Where has he been this month
back?"
BUSY, doubtless" said I, with a
smile, though thought my heart would
burst.
perhaps you know all about it, -
said grandma. You're going with
him, maybe"
"Where?" said |.
She went to the kitchen door and
beckoned in woman who sat there
Dame Coombs, who had come over
with eggs.
II heard you rightly" she said
"You told me Evan Locke and his
mother were making ready for voy-
age"
They're going to Canada. My son,
carpenter-and a good one, though |
say it-made the doctor box for his
things. The old lady breads the new
country, but she goes for the doctor S
sake There's money to be made there,
they say. That's what takes him."
g told you so,' said grandmother
g don't believe it, said l.
They've sold the house, and gone
to Liverpool to take ship; and you may
find the truth for yourself if you choose
to take the trouble said Dame
Coombs? I'm no chatterbox, to tell
falsehOods about my neighbors.
And she went away in wrath.
And still | would not believe it until
had walked across the moor and had
seen the shutters fast closed and the
door barred, and not a sign of life
about the place. Then 1 went home
all pale and trembling, and sat down
at grandma's knee.
:" It's true" said /.
"And for the sake of so false a lad
you'll see your grandfather ruined and
break his heart, and leave me that have
nursed you from babe, a widow"
l looked at her as she sobbed, and |
found strength to say:
"Give me to whom you will, then,
since my own love does not want me. :"
And then 1 crept up stairs and sat
down on my bedside, weak as though
l had tainted. l would have thanked
heaven for forgetfulness just then, but
it wouldn't come.
The next day Squire Turner was in
the parlor as my accepted lover. How
pleased he was, and how the color
came back into grandfather's old face!
And granny grew so proud and kind
and all the house was aglow, and only
| sad. But could not forget Evan
Evan. whom had loved so-sailing
away from me without word.
suppose they all saw l looked sad