Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-02-05
LANCASTER. WISCONSIN, THURSDAY. FEBRUARY5 1880.

aduiation, and he knew enough Q
Lewis Walton's character to knoy
the arguments he would use an,
that lie would not be sparing of fla,
tering speeches.
Remember this, Elsie he say
solelmlny,sWhat God hath Joined TO
gether lot no man put asunder IAN,
although the law has separated
Lewis Walton and biz wife. in th,
sight Of God she is his wife stilI.n
"There," Elsie lifted her face sud
DENLY, and held up her lips for
kiss, shat will do. / must go in t.
Aunt Unice."
Nathaniel Holt kissed the lovely
face not once, but many times, ant
and years afterward those passionate
kisses were remembered with th,
kecnest pain. Elsie slipped away
from him. to the house, and Nathan,
ial, silenced but not convinced, saI
perfectly still and fried % reason
away his fears, with knitted brows
After that life won't on much as
usual at the Holt farm. Elsie was
TO be its mistress and her aunt Eu
nice was very busy over the expect.
ed wedding She loved Elsie with
a mothers love already and Nathan
lei as the autumnal months dritted
by grew trifle thoughtful for Lew,
is Alton, who had been q summer
guest 10 the ne;ghborhood, still lin.
gered and still called on Elsie VINO
tried to hide her growing fondness
for his company. He was wealthy.
indolent, and gifted with a persua-
slve tongue. Elsie loved ease and
lacked firmness of principle and
will; and although she imagined
herself faithful to Nathaniel her
heart was slowly but surely being
begulled away from the true and
steadfast love of 80 upright man.
Nathaniel watched her with q
brooding tenderness He was so
loyal himself that he would instinct
lively notice any wavering on Elsie's
part, he thaught, yet the eyes OF
love are often blinded by self.conh-
dence and when Elsie came to him
and laid her golden head upon his
arm, as she often did in the autumn
cleaning, Nathaniel's sppiness was
TOO deep to be deluslve, and he
would hold her TO his breast as If
nothing could ever wrest her from
his faithful arms. Poor Elsie lit
Tie did she know of the depth end
power of this strong mans love.
His homage was hers by right and
she accepted it as some princess
might The services of her vassals.
She never thought how desolate
that life would be if berefS of her
love-how barren of hope or hap.
piness would be his darkensd future
for if he erred in any respect it
was in the strength AID purity of
the love he laid at her feet
The purple hszs of Indian sum
mer was lying on the hills The
sun sailed through the mist lik, a
great ball of fame and bill)ws OF
dead brown leaves swept up the
ravines, as Nathaniel HJlt trudsed
down the mountain path, his brown
cheek flushed with exercise and his
eyes kindling with love, as the old
farmhouse with lis many windows
stained with amber and tall gables
draped with scarlet runners came in
view. His mother sat on the porch
bathed in rift CT ruby sunshine,
but he looked in vain for Elsie
Elsie who had promised to come up
the mountain path to meet him.
Something like the murmur of voic
es attracted his attention and turn.
ing into side path he came upon
Elsie and Lewis Walton seated on a
messy log with their faces turned
from him. Walton's hunting Jacket
and gun lay on the ground and Ell
sizes hat had fallen ct her feet while
the fair glowing face was upturned
to the hazy November sun as if she
dared not yet longed to meet the
fire of the black eyes that seemed
to read tho innermost thoughts OF
her soul.
'Elsie-Elsie,' the soft, persuasive
voice. was saying, be wise and lis.
ten to me. You do not love Ma.
thaniel Holt as woman ought to
love the man she marries.'
Nathaniel is so good and has been
ike brother to me since mammals
DEATH murmured Elsie, by way OF
protest, while Nathaniel stood as il
rooted to the spot, his breath com
ing in thick, hot gasps.
THAT is just it, Elsie, you have
mistaken your feelings. Instead OF
the love you should give him you
will reward his great love-for be
does love you deeply-with a sis.
terly affection. All Elsie, think in
tims-l love you as l have never
loved before, and, Elsie, you love
me- raid Lewis Walton, as he put
his arm around her slender wais,
and drew her happy face to him and
covered the warm, red lips with
kisses.
Nathaniel Holt fed from the spot
like hunted deer. The veins OF
his temples stood out like whipcords
and dry, voiceless sobs broke from
him, as he sank down on the moss,
turf, and buried his face in the cedar
spears that lay inch deep on th,
moist ground. Never again could
he take Elsie Marian's fair, false fac,
in his hands aud kiss it with lover'l
kisses. For she had wilfully giver
up the pure honest love of his guile
less heart for the love Of man, VIII
in Gods sight, if not in the sight 0
men, was legally bound to another
Perhaps he had been mistaken il
himself, but this he knew, he haC
made an idol OF her, and given hel
such love as no human being should
lavish on fellow creature, be the,
ever so perfect, and God had seeI
the foolishness of his idolatrous love
and punished him sorely for it.
After this passion of grief haC
spent itself, he rose and turned int,
the path that led homeward, feeling
very much as if he had stood besid'
Elsie Marian's grave, and saw he
laid in it. His face had grown whit,
GA hal orl starr - tL,t -. L