River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-11-20

the poor child came forth very pale,
but calm and decided.
She would marry the squire! The
news flew quickly enough to the next
farm. Willie laughed at it.
So he went to her, she declaring il
must be the last time they should meet,
and he vowing ne would take her from
the squire if at the very altar.
"You are mine, Katie, and | cannot
give you up. Why will you wreck the
happiness of both? l know that you are
suffering. and L"
Willie" she said, 'stop. Say no
more. This matter IS decided. My
own feelings were not considered when
| agreed to-" Her voice quivered,
she could not speak those words to
Willie.
81 chose between you and my father
which should make-miserable. That
was it. | could not bear to think OF
YOU so. dare not decide against him.
Willie is Young and can bear it better,
and in time another will comfort him,
said. And so it must be. Now go,
Willie, far away for awhile, until we
shall both feel better. Good bye"
He sprang forward to catch her to his
heart, but she fled from him and escap-
ed to the next room, sending her mother
to soOthe him as best she could.
Preparations for the wedding were
fastened. Three days before the one
fixed for the marriage Katie and her
aunt stood watching the vessel that bore
Willie away from his native land. AS
the poor girl turned to go in Aunt Kittie
saw the trembling lip, and, putting her
arm about her, she said: "Oh, my
darling, this is too cruel! They are
brea king your heart, know"
"No, no, aunt. This has hurt me
badly, but tits not forever. If | had
made my father miserable, l should
feel it in years to come. | cannot I'M
derstand how it is that | am not more
troubled except that / am guided, and
comforted too, by higher power"
Katie answered.
The wedding day dawned brightly.
Katie stood at the window watching the
sun rise, and thinking how many, many
times it would go down ere she should
return to her home. A knock at the
door recalled her. She opened it to her
mother, who handed her letter. She
knew the handwriting, and opened it
without comment. 1t was dated the
night before, and read:
MY DARLING: Ever since, in baby
tones, you lIsped my name, have loved
you; yet the idea of ever winning you
for my own has been of very recent
birth. How l ever have conceived it |
have wondered. You, so young and
fair; | world worn, very weary al times,
and so near life's close, would seem no
proper mates. You have made me
very happy. feel that in your heart
there is a germ of love for me, which |
knox will grow greater; feared other.
wise, and was impelled to gain you. if
possible. Tomorrow Is so near. Yet
tonight feeling, not of sadness or
gloom, but rather of warning, has sto-
len over me, and seems to promise no
morrow for me.
"There is q strange feeling about my
heart; perhaps the fullness of Joy is too
great. God bless you, my Kate! In
life or death will prove to you how
dear you are, and how grateful l am
that you have given me good hope for
future happiness. "Yours,
Z. ELLwooD."
Katie raised her eyes from the letter
inquiringiY to her mother, and then
noticed for the first time, how pale she
was.
what is the matter, mother? Are
you ill?' she asked anxiously.
katie, my child; that letter-what
said it? 1 thought perhaps it might
prepare YOU"
all! Is he ill., Oh, yes, it has. We
must go to him"
"He is dead, my child"
Yes, the good man had passed from
earth. They mourned him sincerely,
none more than Katie. Not as the
lost lover she thought of him but the
friend so true, whose every thought and
deed had been for her happiness. With
the exception of few small legacies
and charitable donations, all of Squire
Ellwooo's large fortune was Katie's.
Poor Willie, in far-of distant land,
was grieving over Katie's loss. Nearly
a year had passed before the news
reached him, and almost as long after
ere be returned to find Katie as lovely
as ever. His wooing was not OF a
protracted nature, you may be sure.
Years have passed, and now fair
daughters gather around Katie's table.
Sometimes the wishbone is dried and
put over the door. While the merry
girls are waiting and watching I r the
coming of some one, their nlJtler's
heart goes back to the time when her
young life was clouded by the near
fulfillment of Aunt kitty's prophecy,
and prayer ascends to heaven for the
peace and future happiness of her
children.