The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-08-27

mo, she sald, looking Tor q moment
in his face.
"Then do you love meP'
"The blood surged in crimson tide
over the girls face, brow and throat, and
she covered her eyes with her hands,
Leave me alone, cousin, please
"Joel did not answer for o few min
utes. He was striving TO put aside
doubts aud to act right. Don't sendme
away, Christie. / want you TO let me
stay with you for always-to promise to
be mine, he said quietly.
"Christie dropped her hands from her
face and looked with eyes full Of ques-
tioning, she asked: lis ii pity MAKE s
you ~ thi'T
80 Do You love me, cousin
"Joel smothered down throb of pain
ut this straightforward questioning, but
he answered with sincerity. my dear
little Christie, you know that / have o
strong affection for You. Now, perfect
love embodies trust, and / beg you to
trust me. You must never pain me by
asking such questions Give yourself
to me and I promise that you shall never
regret it.
"I never shall ask you any more
she said simply. 49,
"'Then, Christie, If you are going to
be mine, you mnst not treat me coldly
and cruelty, as you have done ever since
j came home. You have no idea how you
hurt me when / am not well, and been i'll
low spirits, too, he added in an injured
tone.
"'That was because ! thought you
cared nothing for me, and I was very I'M
happy my self, but l will be just as kind
M can, you dear old thing
"'Then wemust kiss and make friends
and begin anew he said.
oh! dear, what u long time have
been away from home. Come, Cousin
Joel. Let us 60
"SoOn after this engagement Christie
asked me about Miss Remington and
why Joel did not marry her. told her
there was some misunderstanding, that
Joel had been very unhappy, and, al
though knew he felt he had had q for
tunate escape, still it was very disa-
greeable subject to him. l begged her
never to speak of it and urged that if she
would be kind and affectionate she would
do great deal towards restoring his
health and cheerfulness, and she knew
he had q noble, generous nature and
would fully appreciate her effort.
"'Thank you for mentioning this,
cousin John. Joel liz the dearest, best
man on the earth and I'm the very hap
piest little girl in the world, she said as
she went skipping out of the room. -s..
1T was quite natural for Joel to re-
sumo petting and spelling Christie, now
she was kind, and her care and affection
did much to wean him from his recent
sad episode.
"Not long before the marriage Joel
said: Christie, you remember that !
begged you to trust me and ask me no
questions You have been very good
girl and I owe it to You to tell you very
painful event in my life, which l had not
the courage to relate before
"I don't wish to hear it, she said
quickly.
"But you must. 1t is your right to
"'I said l would trust you, you dear
old cousin, and shall not listen to a.
word t
"You know he began.
"You shall not tell me anything that
pains you,' putting her hands over his
mouth; / take you as you are. care
nothing about the past. The present.
and the future are ours, so why dig up
old things? Don't, that's q dear So
Joel was forced to let the matter rest in
oblivion, and he fully appreciated
Christie's magnanimity. #.
"The wedding was very private. Joel
kept his interest in his former business,
going occasionally to look into it, but he
lived with my aunt and assisted me in
the farming. Few men can resist the
influence of tenderness and devotion,
and, perhaps, the truest happiness
found in married life arises from basis
of esteem and staid affection, where par-
ties possess right principles, rather than
the wild, rioting, mad sentiment known
as first love, which is indeed glamour
binding effectually it's votaries and
strangling their judgment. 3
"My aunt died few months after
her daughters marriage. This was 0
grief, of course, to Christie, but she was
30 infatuated, so wrapped up in her hus-
band, that all things paled as long as he
was near. j presume Joel was happy; at
any rate he was cheerful and contented,
and looked more vigorous and sprightly
than / ever expected to see him. He
had been married more than year, and
Christie was expecting an event which
generally enhances the happiness of
married people. She was often gloomy
and depressed and titful, aud her health
was quite frail. This filed me with
anxiety, for there was secret in her
family that my aunt carefully guarded.
She also exacted an oath from me that
would never reveal it. If it was known
to others, they did not disclose it,
though this is doubtful, as she was an
entire stranger when Mr.. Oakland mar
ried and brought her to this region. 4.
zone day Joel received a summons
which necessitatad visit to his partner.
Christie had been unusually depressed,
and he left reluctantly, expecting to re-
turn in few days at most. XXX
at was the night after Joel left. I
babe Christie goodnight, begging her TO
calm herself, for she appeared restless
and detected. l was much fatigued and
slept very soundly. The weather was
warm, and the moon flung over the earth
glorious flood of light which was 80
lovely, dappled Us it was by shadows
from houses and trees, that to sleep
seemed almost sin. The night jasmine
exhaled strong odor, which was borne
Oh the air with delicious fragrance to
those ut distance. Sometimes we sleep
heaviest when a horror is very near to
uR. 1t must have been about 2 o'clock.
L was awakened suddenly by hearing
, some one cry out in the yard. My bed
room was up stairs. ! sprang up and
, looked out of the window. The servant
woman was near the well, and her hus-
band was lowering candle in the
bucket. ,." -.... ..H ~. ..
"What are You doing, Jim?' I cried
out, n great tremor Selling hold of me.
"Dinah say dere's a ghOs' in dis well,
master. Ise bout to see what tits. I
, hearh a groan.' - .... ....
al rushed down without putting on
my clothing. 1t seemed as if words
froze in my mouth. After several efforts
I managed to gasp out, 'Dinah, 'grasping
, her arm, where's your mistress?'
"She's in bed, ! rekin. amt heard
, no 'sturbance.' .'.t.
! "Are you sureT asked, clutching
{ at hope which seemed dead before.
-: cell go see.'
: "My God, it's her it's her /! she
, cried, running back,
r "Get me the grappling.hooks, Jim.
3 I did not know my own voice. seized
/ the windlass to prevent it's downward
3 sweep. I peered down into the deep
well. BY the faint light could discern
: something white. Perhaps ] heard q
faint groan, All this happened in far