The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-07-23

VI IL III. oOinctNlnS Oh Inst year
cordiality flashed out again between Mr..
Crichton and Alberta in the ungnarded
gayety of the moment. 1t was much too
delightful to be left, but the night was
drawing on, and after repeated reprieves,
the children, hot and excited, were col
lected together, aud the homewarI jour-
new began.
In returning, the gentleman running
races and playing with the still excited
children, Emily and Alberta fell behind,
and reached the hall door alone, when
they found their basket had been left be-
hind. Nothing would do for Alberta
but to fetch it herself; she said she had
wanted all along to see that field again,
and forbidding Emily to say where she
had gone, she was off round the corner
of the house. 1t was not far to go; only
Il short cut across the fields, and the
gate was reached. Alberta had come so
fast she was fain to stop and rest half
way up the ascent, looking once again at
the fascinating scene around, and sur
prised to see how the moonlight, which
had been SO shadowy while ago, steep
ed the country now III perfect bath OF
light. Presently she became aware that
one of the gentlemen had followed her.
She stood ill the dark end of the field
under the trees, from behind which the
moon sent tongues and shafts and trem-
bling mysteries of light across the shad-
ow. Her white dress, however, betray-
cd her, and, muchto her annoyance, lest
she should have been supposed to fore
see this consequence of her coming, MIR.
Crichton i'll few steps was at her side.
81 am so sorry You should have taken
the trouble 10 come" she said, 81 beg
ged Emily not to say l had come to
fetch it."
"IIas something been forgotten? !
have not spoken to Mrs. Hinxman since,
but seeing you return to the field in II
hurry, / thought you had lost some
thing, and that L might be of use."
"Thank you; 1t is the basket; hut
know exactly where to find it, They
went few steps farther on, and found it
duly awaiting them in all innocence in
the hedge. Mr.. Crichton took it up,
and they turned their steps homeward,
almost in silence, Alberta walking very
fast. Once she gave little slip, but re-
covered herself.
1.-The ground is very slippery with the
dew. Won't you take my ARM" said
Mr.. Crichton.
"No, thank you; l shall do very
well, said Alberta, slipping again i'll
proof of it.
"Is there eny occa sion to 60 quite so
fast?" he asked; 1.-THE night alone de-
serves some notice. One could rarely
see finer"
"No," admitted Alberta, as they stop
ped still under the trees, Gin moOnlit
shine and shade" to look ut it. The
fairies were busy at their revels, no
doubt, if one could but have seen them
The peat fires smoldered little. All
the open country was spiritualized by
moonlight; dew and enchantment was
everywhere Alberta and MIR. Crichton
resumed their walk after a few vague
commonplaces of admiration; now III
silence. now with Il constrained word or
two that showed that silence noticed.
Then Mr.. Crichton said, rather abruptly:
"You are going away tomorrow, and
if were wise man i should be glad of
it, That L suppose l am not, for am
too sorry to bear it quite i'll silence, or
admire this moonlight, or EN- ) the pres
ent as might, for thinking how soon it
is To end"
- do not see why my going should
make any difference" said Alberta.
Possibly not" he answered. "POs-
sibly you do not understand, either how
Il man can get TO care for n woman so
that he cares for little else besides. For
give me, however, for saying this.
have no right to trouble you. l have
not forgotten the commands you laid on
me to leave this subject alone. Ii it had
not been for them l should have much
to say tonight; butno doubt you wished
! them obeyed?"
"Of course ] did," answered Alberta.
"And you wish it still ?"
/ 81 do"
"Then that is enough for me, said
Mr.. Crichton, with a depth Of sadness in
| his voice, as he held the gate of the peat
field open for her to pass, that the pain
full contrast to his merriment with the
children 80 short while ago was more
than warm but willful heart beside
! him could stand.
But" began Alberta, and then
stopped short, with her face in the
moonlight grown suddenly as hot us the
peat brands.
"But what" said Mr.. Crichton,
gravely, for there had been few min
lltcs silence, and his thought had been
full of gloom.
"But," replied Alberta, with n ripple
of laughter somewhat III her voice, "sup-
! posing there had been no commands,
, what was it you would have said?"
"Is that n fair question ?" he asked,
halting and looking at her in Il mixture
of surprise and doubt.
"Quite fair" said Alberta, looking
anywhere but at him.
"Then j should have asked you once
more to be my wife, and to give Inc love
for love, if i'll ever SO small n degree.
Your answer il you please, Miss Gra-
ham," continued Mr.. Crichton, n smile
upon his own lips now.
GAS you like it, then," said Alberta,
steadily, for she knew her own mind and
his well at last. And with fervent
"God bless you for that" Mr.. Crichton
drew her closer to his side.
Perhaps the moon had never smiled
upon happier pair of lovers since the
days when Lorenzo and Jcssica paced
the avenue at Belmont and banded
smiles.
81 never was so glad Of anything in
all my life, sad Mrs. Hinxman, when Mr..
Crichton presented his promised bride to
erabOut half an hour later. "AlthOugh,
why Alberta could not have married
you, as l wanted her to, a year ago, is
Just like her contrary way of doing
things. And now" laughing, thinking
it was all over between you, l asked
little Jessie Bulfeel here, and had quite
made up my mind you would fallin love
with one another and my fun is all
spoiled"
"Pray let her come" said Mr.. Critch-
ton. CLEARING of it, 1 too have asked
my young nephew to visit me, for l
thought they fancied each other ut that
militia ball. She seemed nice pliaut
little thing; but for myself, you see,
like the preverse, provoking, willful
woman best.