Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-12-30
WHOLE NO. 1868.

with flash that was vastly becom
ing, and with a little culver in he
voice, as she said "good bye" whel
be lifted her hand to his lips fo
thanks.
All the evening she had been un
usually restless, glsncing at The clock
every now ard then, and lifting the
curtains to gee if the snow was still
falling. She came over to my side
after while.
"Janey how Indifferent you are !!
she said, almost pettishly, putting
her head down on the arm of my
chair. "Don't you think it strange
the doctor hasn't come p
"Strange? o mol He's often out
later than this"-the clock had struck
eleven nearly half hour sgo-"I
never worry"
II couldn't help it-not if I-cared
for person as you care for John
Dakin." The culver was ia her
voice again. "You're so queer.
Janey. Sometimes | think you don't
care for him at all, hardly-I mean
as woman cares for the man she il
going to marry" | knew she was
trying bravely to keep back the
tears.
81 don't care for him in that way,
Caryl," | said, speaking cautiously.
II never really cared for him in that
way, although | tried once to think /
did. But that was all over long ago"
"Janey!" She sat up and looked
me full in the face. l returned her
gaze steadily. If there was
moments throb at my heart strings,
no one will ever know. "Are YOU
telling me the truth 2"
certainly, Caryl. l would not
Jest about such matter for the
world"
"And you don't truly-love him ?"
mot we'll enough to marry him."
There was long silence.
"Why didn't you tell me this be-
fore p she asked, at length, almost
sobbing in her excitement.
"Why should haye told you ?" | |
asked, composedly. GAS long as
you didn't like him--a cold. blooded"
'You know | ne7er meant that.
Don't tease me" going to the
window again to peer snxiously out
into the snowy night.
"Why you should be SO uneasy |
about him now | can't imagine" / |
went on relentlessly. "Yon know
you have said yourself be is law, and |
doubtless that old gig of his has gone
to pieces all at once, and left him
seated on stone by the wayside
gazing ruefully at the dilapitated
ruins, and wondering when some one
will come along to pick him up"
fancy y she flashed out, with all
the impulsiveness of the Csryl of old
"Dont; it's wicked, clicked to be say.
ing such things John Dakiu isn't
lazy-l wont listen to you'll"
Then horses feet came trampinp
up the drive, and in another minute
Caryl had forgotten her indignation
and was out in the ball / heard /
Johns hearty tones ringing out, |
"Thats right, girls; hold the door
open, end I'll unhitch Selim here.
and let him go around to his stall
alone"
Then there was girls laughing
reply, and something else said. in
johns voice, in lower tone. Then
all was still / waited one minute
two-three-l bad heard.Selim going
down to the stable-four-not a
sound. The door was still siar as
she had LETT it, and ] peeped through
L hope it was not too iDquisitive, bnt
| had sacrificed all my hopes for
their happiness, and / know the,
never suspected mel. and what do
you think 1 saw?
Caryls curly head and rosy checks
Rugged close to snowy coat, while
her dainty white hands clasped them.
selves in the prettiest true love kno,
around his shaggy sleeve; and
Johns plain manly face was all
sglow with light | had never see
there before.
This is what the New Years
brought to Caryl l have heard of
gifts of gold aud jewels, and many
beautiful things bnt | think no gift
could ever equal in real beauty and
worth such a love as John Dakin's,
which crowned, not the New Year
alone, but all the years ofmy darling's
life.