Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-12-03

tame and monotouous life these people
led from year to year. Even now his
soul WAS yearning for il, and when it
MAS full of rebellion and riot, and bent
upon tearing down every barrier that
lay between the big tumultuous waves
within him and those Of the unknown
world beyond
Mr.. Morton knew now that nothing
could save them. 4 few minutes
four at the turthCSt-and all would be
over, The gully just below the Com
stock farm was bleak and irrarv
place, well fitted for the tragedy. He
remembered \ chestnut tree that hung
deSolatc ami bare over lis brink. and
broken rocks and black pools of stag
nant water lay below. In these few
seconds, that seemed y parcntheSis be-
tween time and eternity, whole hfe-
time passed IN regret and rctroSpcotion.
To get rid of the rcproachful eyes OF
Madeline, Mr. Morton shut his own.
but klttys whole heart went cut in Il
PRAYER to Joe-which was answered
right on the brink of the gully hy the
melancholy shadow of Joe himself,
that clutched ut the head of the horse,
was dragged onward y step or two, then
pulled aside, and finally was left victor,
the heast, quite suhducd now and
trems)ing, in lathcr Of foam. Mr..
Morton WAS trembling rs we'll rs his
beast, and IT was difficult for him To
quite understand the tenor of the scene
before him, Kitty lay white and limp
i'll Joe Comstoek' arms; her hands
We're claSpcd about his neck; her hat
was gone long ago and her curly hair
Was all tumbled about her face, winch
was still rs white aS the accurSed bowl
der before her mothers door. and once
i'll II while She sohhcd out Joe, dear
joe" and joe soothod her, and held
her closer, and murmurcd kitty,
dear Kitty" and the yellow light Vt the
waning November day catching the
diamond again. ii cleaned upon
klttyS finger that lay caressingly
upon the sturdy neck Of Joe
Comstock, and presently the little hand
shifted about and Kitty saw the gem
too, and slipping down from the arms
of joe, and slipping too, the ring from
her finger, She held il ont Ia Mr.. Nor
ton with that same shy, sad, subducd
and altogether irrcproachahle express
sion that he had admired n few mis-
cradle moments since.
"kcepit Kitty" said Mr. Morton;
keep il in any ease. Iou'll allow her
70 accept this little present won't YOU
Joe?"
III it's all the same, I'D ms lieve she
didn't said Joe, with honest simplicity.
And | am glad Kitty couldn't get the
ring; she could well do without II, aud
there was = slim apcrlng finger far
away that had grown simmer and
more tapering for lack of tins gem.
The night of the accident it lay listless-
ly in the lap OF Miss Van Nlcet. and il
did not seem from the apathy of her
face and manner that anything could
induce her to lift that fair, frail finger.
The bell rang but hope had cheated
her SO often not hair Of her beautiful
head or muscle moved in response.
She had ceased 10 expect the visitors
she coveted, and all athers were indif-
fercnt To her.
II am SO glad, said vWcc, to find
you alone, Madeline.
The voice was so tender it made her
heart beat although she knew how
deceptive that tenderness might he.
How sweet il was nevertheless!
Another organ began to thump in
the room above, and the mild mahog-
any Of Mrs. Van Nlce's complexion
dcrpcned with anxiety and suspense as
the important moments Wore away.
At last the light step Of her daughter
was ut the door and Machines face
told the story. II was radient with
joy
''IIc has spoken said her mother,
in \ husky whisper. Great heaven
has he indeed spokcn?"
Eyes, mamma said Madeline, toy
ing tendcrly with II brilliant gem up
on her finger.
"Thank Godte said Mrs Van Vlect,
dcvoutly Then ! will Immediately
accept the coloncls invitation for
Thanksgiving
And By the hoky' said old Joe
Comttock, well have Thanksgivln'
yet. I'm blcst If that there boy % mine
didn't say last night, Pappy, zen he,
well begin n fence down by that there
gully, and drain the hull marsh by this
time next year. and just nodded, for
couldn't speak when found that
there western scheme D. hiS had gone To
thunder; and gentlemen, am open &c
n treat all round; but ask it, in all
honesty, what is Thanksgiven if there
amt nothin' to be thankful for?"
i .
i The FupI or the Futurp