Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-11-17

possible romance had filed her mind un-
til she was the dreamer he had found
her, and he thought to himself man
would be worse than demon who would
abuse that child-ike trust. And the next
moment he thought what a pleasant
thing it would be to have the love of so
pure woman, and how sweet to watch
the love dawn in that young heart
through those transparent eyes.
he was the son of rich man in New
York, and he had been sent up in this
direction to look after some landed in
terest of his father, and in that way had
come upon this fresh young girl, who
both amused and charmed his weary
eyes.
BE rode on toward the village, on the
outskirts Of which was then situated
Miss Cherrys cottage, though it's quaint
gabled roof now rises in the midst of q
fourishing town, and there took quarters
for few days stay, and the next after
noon he rode out to the vine-embowered
house where the pretty eyes were look
ing for his coming. Day after day he
staid on. His business was long since
finished, but yet he fingered, and every
afternoon found him on the little porch
talking to the lonely girl who had SO un-
hesitatingly accepted him as her prince.
he read to her and explained to her
many obscure passages; he sent for other
books, and together they cleaned all of
pleasure they contained, but in all their
talks there was not one word from him of
that great city where he lived. He did
not wish to create desire in her for a
larger life than the one she now knew
and was content in, and for reasons of
his own he did not wish to speak of his
own part in that whirl of society where
he belonged.
The people in those little towns all
seem to consider themselves sponsors for
each others conduct, and several times
these continual visits to this orphan girl
were canvassed and commented upon,
and at last deputation of three old
ladies agreed to go and counsel the child,
for fear some harm might befall her, and
so they started, hardly knowing them
selves what to say or how to approach
her with advice; but they agreed that it
was best not to question her until they
knew how matters stood.
The fortunes Of the inquisition could
hardly have been more terrible than
these coarse, probing questions to this
poor child, who hardly knew herself vet
what she felt, and whose thoughts we're
as pure US the sky above her, and whose
long conversations, delicious to her
though they were, had never approached
in the remotest degree to "sparking" or
" keeping company" nor love-making in
any form, on the part Of Stanley YER
denial. All the woman was outraged in
her, and her just indignation made her
say things that, had she known the world
better, she would have left unsaid. The
probe had, however, entered her heart,
and she knew she loved this man as
women love the one sole man of their
lives, and she was frightened at the dis
covery coming at the same time these
weu-meaning old women had told her
that she should not "keep steady COM
pany with strange man, and that she
ought to lay the matter before E der
Park and have him make inquiries, and
that this young man might be wolf in
sleeps clothing, and much more of the
same sort.
They left, angry at her obduracy, and
she threw herself upon the green-cov-
cred lounge in her sitting-room and Sob
bed as if her heart was broken. And 80
Stanley found her when he came, half an
hour later. Her hot, indignant tears
flowed afresh as he sat down beside her
and took the bright head on his shoulder,
and petted her till she became calm
enough to tell him the cause of hertears.
His face was not pleasant to see as he
listened, it did not please him to be forced
into declaration, as he now was. He
had staid on in spite of himself, charmed
by the sweet freshness of this young
girls nature and her tender beauty; but
he meant no harm to her, and had not
meant to speak of love to her, but now
he must; and, indeed, he was not quite
sure he did not love the child, SO he
made the heavy heart bound with a great
and new happiness as he told her how he
loved her, 50 that she hardly took in the
meaning of bis words when he told he1
they could not be married for some time,
that his father would not consent. and
many other specious arguments which
fell upon unheeding ears, for she was
too mildly happy in her main idea.
The time now flew on golden wings fol
her, but Stanley became nervous, dis
trait and impatient to be away; and q
one day he told her he must leave tn,
next morning, and asked her how Ions
che would wait for him if he was obliged
to delay. "All my life," she answered
gravely, with her truthful eyes upturn
ed
"Dear child, /" he answered, sperhap
it may be so, but be faithful and I vii
one day come" -.
The was not even to write to him: bu
hers was that perfect love which castet]
out fear, and she was content; but sh
did not then realize the sorrow of loneG
ness nor the despairing heart-sicknes
for the sound of his voice, until it wa
gone and she alone again, and no,
doubly alone, for the neighbors seeme
to hold aloof from her, and regard be
ooldly, and SO she Withdrew more an
more into herself and lived only in tn
past. 1t was peopled with sweet re
membranes. -. 80 ~
| Years passed, and yet the child wait
ed; years more, and patient woma
took the place of the child, and 30
look Of expectancy made the face wistfu'
even, to pain, and he came not, nor an
word of him. But she had given he
promise, and kept it, he had gwen hi
I and she believed that he kept his wor
as well, and she hoped always that morn
4 ing would bring him, and in the morn
/ ing she took her post where she coul
look down the road from where he woul
come. s,.i',:i 41st:ii ar.h II .1s!.<, .~.3..3i
The: three old ladies were dead, an
the girls that had been her schoo1mate
i had little children around their knee
4 and stalwart husbands BY their sidel
and Miss Cherry had begun to be Gale
J an old maid, but still he came not, an