Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-08-08
THE BACHELORS WILL.

ing golden shafts through the interlac-
ing foliage overshadowing limpid
trout stream.
A young man was kneeling beside it,
pole in hand, ostensibly fishing, but the
speckled denizens of the brook had but
little cause for alarm. The cool brain
and steady hand, so dangerous to their
peace under ordinary circumstances,
were not really putting forth any efforts
against them.
1t was a handsome young face turned
in such evident eagerness toward the
faintly-detined foot-path leading through
the woods to the sylvan spot. The
features were almost too regular for
masculine ideas of beauty; but the firm
way the red lips were set together, and
the massive chin redeemed them from
weakness.
He started to his feet rs the cracking
Of dried leaves and twigs betrayed an
advancing footstep. Another moment
and II breatheSs young creature was be-
side him, painting from her rapid APP
proach.
I" / began to think that you were not
coming, Dot, and that my holiday was
to prove failure"
:" 1t was by the merest accident that
got away. Father hardly trusts me
ont of his sight. But he was called of
on unexpected business, and I've run
every step. feel SO guilty all the time
i can't do it unless things change
DOT" began Philip reproachfully.
" | know it is hard" continued the
girl, "hut am as much the sufferer by
it as you. Tho, Phil" with II sudden
intensity in her voice, zone thing can
do. | solemnly promise never to marry
any one but him | love, and that is
you know who"
THAT is poor comfort, Dot To know
that the girl you would shed your hearts
blood for cannot even give you II kind
word now and then to keep up your
spirits! | shall half the time think you
are forgetting me, and making up your
mind to marry the man your father is
so taken with"
"You are very different from the idea
l have of YOU if you give way to
any such feeling Why Phil, all
the people in the world couldn't make
me believe you false, if you had
promised to be true. But | must
90. just came to tell yan--no matter
what happens that force could not
drag Inc into marriage with Dram
Dinsmore, and to say goodbye until
we can meet as we used TO, with the
full consent of father"
"That'll never bel" was the gloomy
answer. Its goodbye forever, I'm
sure. | wish that old cousin Of yours
Lad left his money to some one else. 1t
has destroyed our happiness. Your
father seemed to like me until that will
made you an heiress and Dram Dins-
more began coming to the house Much
as he might have been taken with your
looks, he'd never have bothered his
head about you unless there had been a
prospect of adding TO his possessions.
| know him of old and he's as tight as
the bark of a tree"
Really, Philip, YOU are compliment
airy. So money is the sum Of my at
traction, is it?"
But there was no veXation in the eyes
she turned upon his troubled face
Hers was true, truthful nature and
she understood her levers meaning,
though she tried to speak lightly and
playfully, to prevent painful parting
scene. Tears were near her ewes, bnt
she forced them back. She mist be
strong for both. She held out her hand.
Goodbye, Philip. Don't be discour-
aged; all will come right yet"
Philip took the little hand in his
brown palm and gazed longingly into
the sweet young face. Then he said:
"Wont you give ME one parting kiss.
Dot?"
Eyes, Philip, kiss me here" touching
a slender finger to one Of her soft
cheeks, "and from this time that place
shall be sacred from the touch of other
lins until we meet again.
Philip kissed the checks which
flushed redly at the touch Of his lips.
Dot was chary of permitting caresses,
and though they had been fond OF one
another from their boy and girl days,
Philip had never presumed to kiss her,
unless when playing game of forfelts
IN some Of the merry gatherings which
are sometimes given in country neigh
borhoods for the double purpose OF
drawing the young neople together and
Of helping the farmers 10 husk their
corn, or get the rosy produce OF the
orchards into festoons of neatly pared
and quartered apples to dry, on the
principle that many hands and nimble
fingers make light and pleasant work.
The next moment he was following
the 1.-the figure with sad eyes until it
had disappeared under the overhanging
branches. He lacked Dots faith in the
kindness Of the future. He could only
anticipate long separation, and per
haps arrangement; and it was With
heavy heart that he gathered up his
fishing tackle and started for home. A
distant relative of the Ingraham's had
lately died, and had willed his property
to his cousin, Dorothy lngraham.
During his lifetime he had never
showed that he was aware of the exist
ence Of our little Dot, and il was
great surprise to her when the old gen.
tieman's solicitor came from New York
with the intelligence that he had made
her his heiress. AT irst il was great