Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-02-05

something out of my life which
shall never, never own egain, an IN
troubled mind; and, Elsie, forgive me
if | have mistaken gratitude for love
and held you against your viii. Take
the man of yeur choice, Elsie, and
Heaven grant you will not find your
happiness Dead Sea fruit"
"Oh, Nathaniel" Elsie's tears
are falling over the hard brown
hands; 81 did not deserve your love
Il do not deserve your kindness
now"
"Go!" he says, gently, and Elsie
slips past him, leaving him to con-
quer the rush of feeling that threat.
ened to overpower him. At length
he felt strong enough to face his fu.
ture, and went into the house with a
look on his face that told his mother
the hour she dreaded had come, for
with the keen instincts of her sex,
she had seen the result of Lewis
Walton's attentions to Elsie, and
was more grieved than surprised
when Nathaniel told his pitiful story.
Elsie was married. The first snow
had just whitened the earth when
she left the Holt farm, the wife Of
Lewis Walton a strange pallor on
her beautiful face, strange dread
in her heart, for some thoughts had
come to her, even in the eleventh
hour, that were neither pleasant or
ennobling, for they taught her that
her life had been mistake. as far as
stability of feeling and purity of
purpose were concerned, for the
white. weary face of Nathaniel Holt
was desrer to her heart than the
handsome face of the husband by
her side.
The winter days rolled on. News
of Elsie Walton's triumphs came
now and than to the quiet farmhouse
and stirred Nathaniel Hollis heart
with touch of the old pain; for be
could not forgot that oil this grace
and beauty might have been his.
Lewis Walton might value it, as a
child prizes beautiful toy; he would
have idollzed her, as some devotee
worships the beauty of his goddess
and for this feeling alone he felt
the great treasure of Elsie's love had
been denied him.
But 8 rumor was stirring the
fashionable world that never reach
ed the quiet old homestead. Men
looked with pity, on the lovely trust
ing wife, women smiled and sneered
behind their fans, and still Elsie me-
yer dreamed sught of the shame
and Disgrace that was gathering
around her. When the news of her
husbands elopemeDt with dashing
widow reached her, she threw up
her hands with cry of dispair-
Observation-Disclosures my sin has
found me out
Three days later the dead body of
her husband-for railroad accident
had ended his career-was carried
home TO her; and Elsie, broken and
full of bitter remorse, followed it to
its last resting place; then turned
her face TO the quiet old home she
had left bride but few months
before.
Nathaniel asked no questions.
The sad white face was dearer to
him now than it had ever been before.
He made no outward sign of the
love that was Dlrning within his
breast, yet hrs care of her was
wonderful; and he thanked God
that though affection he had been
shown the weakness of his idol, and
that Elsie was bat human, while his
own heart had been purified in the
fire of tribulation. More than a year
after Lewis Walton's death, we find
them standing where we first saw
them, under the willow, and Elsie is
wearing wreath of dogwood Der.
ries and autumn leaves. Her cheeks
are flushed, and a tender light fills
the beautiful eyes.
'Elsie'-Nathaniel imprisons the
tender fngers-syou must let me
speak. Give me back the love
| lost when you became the wife of
another
.Nathaniel'-Elsie's voice is full
of contrition-I did not know my
own heart then
you know it now Elsie; say is it
miner"
Forever and forever, Nathaniel
And who ques ions bis right to
take the golden head to his bosom
whore we hope it may rest for
MANY wears to come.