Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-04-08

doorway one cold morning. He can
INTO the cold room, laughed triumph
antly at the evidences Of want abo,
him, took o cool survey Of the face ov
which settled q shadow Of fear, and ca
In sneering tone:
i so, my deer Aileen, you haven
slipped out of my hands as easy as yc
thought for"
Then he tainted the family with the
poverty-goaded her father almost |
l frenzy by threatening to turn his star,
ing family out in the snow to die. i
last he said, tantalizingly:
"Keep your temper. MI. Clarv,
merely called to tell you Of way h
which your family could be lifted abos
want.
-, "How9" eagerly, imploringly aake
Clary.
II will provide way if Miss Alice
will consent to become my wife," an
his eyes rested gloatingly on the shuG
dering girl
He said it in a loud tone and at th
conclusion of the sentence every mem
Der of the family turned an eager, fam
ishing look upon Aileen. She could no
bear their intolerable gaze, and with
slight cry she threw up her hands an
covered her face. But she said, firmly
Ono no; I cannot be so false"
Not another word was said until tn
agent, laughing scornfully, left the cot
tage. He knew that the faces and form
about Aileen would be more eloquent i,
his behalf than any plea or threat tina
he could make.
"Aileen," groaned her father, eli
your heart turning to stone? Have 70,
no compassion on those who are dyinp?'
"Aileen, moaned her mother, show
could you say no, when you see the chill
dren starving before your eyes?" ano
a feeble cry arose from the children that
went to the very heart-core of the suffer.
ing true-hearted sAileen- She arose.
crossed the floor unsteadily and opened
the door. "A woman staggered up bear.
| ing babe in her arms.
"Bread !" she gasped, "my child and
are dying, dying for food.
The despairing look in Aileens face
told the woman that her prayer could
not be answered. The woman gave a
cry of anguish.
"Oh, girl you cannot let my baby die
See how pale and thin he is.
Aileen started back in horror as a it,
tie dead face was placed close to hers.
and then for the first time she noticed
that the fires of insanity blazed in the
woman's hollow eyes. The poor crea-
ture turned and staggered off, leaving
Aleen to make a resolve that she imme-
diately carried out.
She left he cottage and started n the
direction of the house in which the
agent lived. She walked slowly, for
aside from hunger-weakness sicken-
ing agony sped through every pulse, and
her very limbs seemed chilled with an
g11ish. She reached the house at last
and raped feebly. A servant admitted
her and led the way into the agents sit
ting-room. An evil leer disfgured the
face of Morris Leinster, as he said:
All! how do you do, my dear? Will
you please be seated?''
Aileen dropped into q chair without a
word. Her torture was too intense for
words at the first moment.
= At last, through lips that quivered
painfully, came the family uttered
words:
"Mr. Lenister I have called to inform
you that-that I have changed my de-
cision. I consent to become your wife
if you will keep my family from starv-
ing"
How utterly dreary and despairing
was the pathos Of her voice! but Morris
Lejnster did not mind her, but smiling
said:
"Very well, Aileen! I will bring a
priest over to your house this afternoon
to perform the ceremony. Goodbye
for very little time, my dear little wife
to be-"
He put his arm around the shrinking
girl and drew her toward him. Aileen
saw the horrible light in his Eyes as he
bent his head toward her, and with a
scream she dashed his arm away and
left the house. Lenister stood before
the window and watched Aileen till her
tagging steps told him that her mo-
mentary strength had departed, and
then he turned away, rubbing his hands
and chuckGng to himself.
&c It is of as much use to beat against
the bars of fate as it is to thwart one of
my plans. All! my dainty Aileen, your
discipline has just begun"
Aileen went on, unheeding whittier
she went. She only longed to get away
from even the sight Of the house in |
which she had spent fifteen wretched
moments. On, on, until her strength |
utterly failed, and it seemed as if she
never could reach her home. But at last |
she reached it and told her family what
she had done. Their fervent thanks fell |
upon ears that heard nothing.
"Oh, Neil! Neil!" was Aliens smoth-
oro6 nm SeWhok mn, r I1C 1,oko
Morris Leinster, I loathe even the very
sight of him, and how can endure to
become his wife? But knowledge
that an eternal break down would be
agonizing to the whole family prevented
her from giving expression to the inward
anguish that was tortruing her with in
quisitorial pain.
Quickly, oh, so quickly, the hours
sped away. She counted every moment
as miser counts his gold. But she
knew that Morris Leinster would keep
his word, and she was not unprepared
when the agent and strange priest en-
tered the cottage. Her father greeted
them, and then turned toward Aileen.
Mechanically she arose and placed an ice
cold hand on the agents.
Slowly the ceremony began. Why
did Ahocn uoSloot 10 eu,--~e.- +l,o-<a.oa--
tions of the priest? She bent toward
the door in listening attitude, then
snatching away her hand, she disappear
ed through the door, for astonishment
sealed her lips. They were not less
amazed tosee bronzed and bearded man
enter the still open door, carrying in his
arms senseless burden. Neil O'Neale's
quick wit gave solution to the scene
that met his eyes. He pointed to the
door, and his eyes cleaned like blue
stilettoe, as he said in stern imperative
tone, SEQ, and bear in mind that if you
cross the pathway of Aileen Clary again
you take your life in your hands," Foil
ed, the covering agent skunk away. The
priest, at motion of Neale's, remained.
Soon Aileen had so far recovered as to
be able to place the no longer reluctant
hand in Meals, and say the words that
bound her to him forever.
If blessings could make man happy,
surely Neal O'Neale must have been the