Daily Republican., 1880-01-16
Others declared that he had been

and he had no faith in any woml
!. since. The next day Squire Rllwot
= came early, and was closeted loI
time with Captain Foster.
After he had gone there was anoth,
long conference between the captai
rs and his wife.
The girls knew nothing Of this, {
they were of 10 picnic.
7 But Aunt Kitty's mind was sorel
exercised. At length, however, sh
y concluded that her brother law wa
Financially uneasy again.
Captain Foster was q very extravs
CANT man, living far beyond his means
n fond Of all the good things Of life, aud
few Of his neighbors limited, some 0
the bad things, too, At any rate, h
truly lived for the day only, taking N
i, thought for the future, and consequent
ly, he often needed the 'squire's help
There was q look Of pain on Mrs
Fosters face that no one understood. A
length 1t all came out. Squire Ellwooc
wanted to marry Katie. Aunt Kitti'
scolded and threatened, cosxed and
cried, but NIL to no effect. Katie's "a
ther favored his friends suit.
Poor Katel 1t was a dreadful shock
TO her at first. She delared 1t would
break her heart, and she knew she
would die II she had to marry any other
than Willie. Kate dearly loved hei
handsome father, and ever before his
word had been her law, but then she
felt as II she must rebel.
'lf only should suffer-" she said,
81 would not mind 1t 30 much. But
how can hurt Willie 80 dreadtully I"
Then Captain Foster took her with
him into his sanctum, where they re-
mained all the forenoon; after which
the poor child came forth very pale, but
calm and decided.
She would marry the 'Squir- The
news flew quickly enough to the next
farm Willie laughed at it.
But when the announcement came
again and again, he declared, unless
from Katie's lips he would not believe
| it.
So he went to her, abe declaring it
must be the last timethev should meet,
and he vowed he woaId take her from
the Squire, II at the very altar.
"iou are mine, Katie, and cannot
give you up. Why will you wreck the
happiness Of both : know that you are
suffering, and L"
"Willie," she said; "stop. Say no
more. This matter is de,ided. 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 faith
or, which | should make-~miserable
That was 1t. dare not decide against
him. Willie is young and can bear it
better, and in time another will COM
fort him, I said. And so 1t must be,
Now go, Willie, far away for awhile, un-
til we shall both feel better. Good
bye"
He spraLg forward to catch her to his
heart, but she fed from him and escap-
ed to the next room, sending her moth
sr to soothe him as best she could.
Preparations for the wedding were
hastened. 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 80 in Aunt
Kitty saw the trembling lip, and, put
ting her arm about her, she said: "Oh
my darling, this is too cruel They
are breaking your heart, know"
"No, no, aunt. This has hurt me
badly, but tits not forever. If should
have made my father miserable, |
should feel it in years to come. | can
not understand how it is that am not
more troubled except that am guided,
and comforted, too, by higher power"
Katie said.
The wedding day dawned BRIGHTLY
Katie stood at the window Watching the
sun Tise, and thinking how many,
many times it would 20 down before
she should return to her home, when
a knock at the door recalled her. She
opened it to her mother, who handed
her letter. She knew the hand-writ-
ing, and opened it without comment
1t was dated the night before, and
read:
"My Darling Ever since, in baby
tones, yon lisped my name, have low
ID you; yet the idea of ever winning
you for my own has been of very recent
birth. How | ever have conceived it
have wondered. You, so young and
fair; | world worn, very weary at times,
and 30 near life's close, would seem no
proper mates. You have made me very
happy. l feel that in your heart there
Is a germ Of love for me-, which know
will grow greater; feared otherwise,
and was impelled to gain you, If possi-
Die. Tomorrow is SO near. Yet to
light a feeling, not Of sadness or gloom,
Dut rather Of warning, has stolen over
ne, and seems to promise no morrow
or me.
"There is a strange feeling about my
leart perhaps the fulness of joy is too l
,reat. God bless you, my Katie | In
ife or death l will prove to you how
lear you are, and how grateful am 8
hat you have given me good hope for
uture happiness. Yours,
4. ELLwooD.
Katie raised her eyes from the letter +
0 her mother, and then noticed for the
rst time, how pale she was.
"What is the matter, motheri Are Z
ou illf" she asked, anxiously.
"Katie, my child that letter-what
aid III though perhaps it might 8,
rspare you" "
'Ill! is he illf" Oh, yes, it has. We o
lust go to him" "
she is dead my child"
Yes the good man had passed from
arth. They mourned him sincerely, 7