The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-08-09
THE BACHELORS WILL.

THE BACHELORS WILL.
The sun of an August day was send
ing golden shafts through the interlacing
foliage overshadowing a 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 handsome young face turned
in such evident eagerness toward the
faintly-defned foot-path leading through
the woods to the sylvan spot. The fea-
lures were almost too regular for mascu-
line ideas of beauty; but the firm way
the red lips were set together, and the
massive chin redeemed the weakness.
He started to his feet as the crackIiug
of dried leaves and twigs betrayed an ad-
vancing footstep. Another moment and
breathless young creature was beside
him, painting from her rapid approach.
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 out
of his sight. But he was called off on
unexpected business, and I've run every
step. But, Phil, | can't promise to
come again. I feel SO guilty all the
time-I can't do it, unless things
change"
Dot" began Philip, reproachfully.
81 know it is hard" continued the
girl, but am as much the sufferer by
it as you. Tho, Phil" with a sudden
intensity in her voice, zone thing | can
do. | solemnly promise never to marry
anyone but him | love, and that is-you
know who"
"That is poor comfort, Dot. To know
that the girl you would shed your heart
blood for can not even give you 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
| 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 L must go. | just came to
tell yOu-nO matter what happens-that
force could not drag me into a marriage
with Dram DinsmOre, and to say good
bye until we can meet as we used to,
with the full consent of father"
"That'll never bel" was the gloomy
answer. cts goodbye forever, Pm
sure. | wish that Old cousin of yours
had 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 pros
pect of adding to his possessions. l
know him of old, and he's as tight as the
bark of a tree"
Really, Philip, you are compliment
tary. So money is the sum of my at
traction, is it?"
but there was no VeXatlOn IN the eyes
she turned upon his troubled face. Hers
was a true, truthful nature, and she
understood her lovers meaning, though
she tried to speak lightly and playfully,
to prevent a painful parting scene.
Tears were near her eyes, but she forced
them back. She must 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:
Won { you give me one parting kiss,
9 Yes, Philip, kiss me here" touching
slender finger to one of her soft cheeks,
and from this time that place snail be
sacred from the touch of other lips until
we meet again"
Philip kissed the cheek, 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 play
ing game of forfelts in some of the
merry gatherings which are sometimes
given in country neighborhoods for the
double purpose of drawing the young
people together and of helping the
farmers to husk their corn, or get the
rosy produce of the orchards into fes-
toons of neatly pared and quartered
apples % 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 perhaps
arrangement; and it was with heavy
heart he gathered up his fishing tackle
and started for home. A distant rela-
tive Of the Ingraham's had lately died,
and hal wilied his property to his cou-
sin, J rothy Ingraham. During his
lifetime he had never showed that he
was aware of the existence of our little