Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-07-22

Ing, down under the maple tree IN
the lane, so that she did not see Joe,
till he had fastened the colt to the
next tree, and was kleeling down be-
side her, asking in the kindest of
voices what bad gone wrong.
Esther gave a little scream and
sprang to her feet when she saw him
there, and SO very near.
ooh, go away, please, aud never
let me see you again = she sobbed.
mamma says that have been so
very wrong and immodest, too-oh,
dear, oh dear because l have
talked so much to you. Oh, won't
you 60 and live somewhere else,
please, where | never shall see you?
I'm sure | never can marry your
father, Joe, if you stay here"
What 2" shouted Joe so loadly
that the bay colt gave a tremendous
jump, and nearly broke his hal,er.
In five minutes he had coaxed the
whole story from the weeping,
trembling girl.
"W ell, of all the However,
won. swear about my own father !"
he exclaimed. "Now, Esther, this
mustn't 60 on another hour, you
know. 1t is abominable nonsense !"
"ISntit, Joe," she sighed. "Only
think of my being your mother in
law"
"You can be something better
than that, darling, if you'll be guId-
ed by me-" said Joe, as Ais arm stole
around her waist, and his bearded
cheek rested against her smooth
one.
They talked long and earnestly 10
that shaded lane, while the young
moon rose, end the bay coltlistenod,
with his head over Jse's shou der,
ana iookea remSrkanly wlso.
Finally. the colt and the buck
board were turned toward Elling owe
once moro, and the eight.day clock
in tho deacon's hall was on the
stroke of nine when they returned
In the lane they me- the deacon,
driving tbs widow 10 his one horse
chaise, drawn by the sorrel mare.
They had missed Est g. and J 90 a.
last, and were just setting out to
search for them.
Esther, leave thai di4graoed car.
riage 81 once, and come home with
us" cried the widow, as she caught
sight of the buekboari ami its dou.
BILE freight. "How dare you? AZ
for you Mr.. jos
"As for me, Mrs. Ls Rose, Esther
is my wife and you must net speak
to her unless you speak kindly"
said joe ave were married by
parson Willia, ct his homo, at $50
this evening"
Joe drove on toward home with.
ont another word
The widow g2sped for breath: me
deacon turned pale, then grew red
with anger
cob, hush" cried tha widow, as
"unparitmentsry words poured by
the dozen from his lips. Perhaps
he was only joking. You might g
TO Parson Willis and sec"
'Joe never jokes. He has taken
the girl from mo, and | shall be the
laughing stock of the country"
suffered the deacon, who was quite
wili with rer"-fun leaa-''
He paused, and looked kecply al
bis companion.
She was . handsome woman still.
She looked up, then down, and col
ored benosth his gaze.
The days of ola seemed suddenly
TO come back to the old deacon. He
was farm lad Of Is, on the cid
homestead once more, and Julia was
all the world to him.
"I'Ve been an old fool, Julis!' he
exclaimed "Wbsl did | want Of Your
daughter? Let Joe take heJl am
glad of il; aud there's room enough
for them beth in tho old house. But
y9u, julia do want you. What do
you say? Shall we go and see Par.
son Willis on our own account, be-
ing ae we are already on the way?"
There wes r tito pause, Then.
the sorrcl rolro trJt4ed on and Par
SOD Willie r0cketed another mar
riage tee bat night.
The goOi IAN wond sred as Did
his wife, and in due tme the neigh
bors, why the happy couples chose
to come snd be married separately.
When they resd this true story they
will knoY wby.