The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-08-27


"Worse still, she said.
"'What il it asked Joel with {
white face, catching hold of the old wo
mans arm in in his suspense.
g. Emily declares she cannot marry
YOU"
"WhyT asked Joel, in u voice 10 I'M,
naturally calm that l stared in alarm.
"She will give no reason
"Then God pity me-
Mr.. Andrews, for Gods sake, &C
and persuade Emily to net sensibly
Think Of the scandal said the poor wo
man III her distress.
"'Do not go, said Joel, sternly, lay.
ing OBTAINING hand ON me. Mrs.
Hemper, go into the parlor when l an
gone and say the bridegroom il a scuun.
drel, and has fled. Tell anything t.
shield your neice Let her name be
g. cred, whatever befall me. Come, he
said to me, and we left the house together.
1--WE walked to the train, and reached
my aunts the next day. l told her the
marriage was postponed, and asked hei
not to allude to it to Joel, and also to
warn Christie to he silent, as they both
knew his sensitive disposition. She ask,
ell great many questions, which par.
ried as we'll as could, but finally had
Ia tell her all about il.
"Miss Remington had the good taste
! to return to her former residence, and
she soon married n captain in the army
She became very fast woman, and 10y
report her record was not always pure
She soon separated from her husband
| MI nft 10 Il ,ba~
% tried to persuade Joel to sell out
and move to another place, but after two
weeks sojourn at my aunt's, he resolute
ly returned to his duties. Whatever al
gossip existed never reached him. There
was a something about him which pre-
vented an intrusion of sympathy or com
ment on his affairs. Outwardly he re-
tanned the same kind demeanor, but lii
faith in manhood was dead, his life was {
wreck, and he only endured it from {
sense Of duty.
"Some months after these events
Christie North had severe illness. The
ordeal Joel had undergone and the re.
straint he imposed upon his conduct Sc.
riously impaired his health, and insist
eel on his coming home on visit. When
he arrived Christie wac still feeble but
able to 60 about.
"She WIS small and fair, with oh art.
less, childish face and soft, affectionate
manner--one Of these dependent women
made to he humored and petted. She was
generally amiable and had many noble
impulses, but she could be very willful
ut times and give mach pain to her many
friends. Contrary to her usual deport.
ment, she treated Joel with much cold.
ness and avoided him constantly--spme,
times was even rude to him. This an,
noyed him, for he had a genuine affec.
ton for his little cousin and gave up tc
her caprices, as We all did.
Gone morning after breakfast had
gone into the garden and was budding
some roses in the cultivation of which ]
experienced much pleasure. The foliage
was thick, and being near the sitting
room window could not avoid hearing
conversation between Joel and my
aunt, who could be on occasion very un.
| just and violent. Joel in some matters
WAS the most unobtrusive and modest OF
men, and sometimes stumbled ON very
disagreeable scenes. He asked my aunt
what was the cause OF Christie's conduct
Had he done anything to wound hei
feelings?
"Done anything to wound = cried
my aunt, repeating his words indignant
ly. 'Can you ask me that, knowing you
have stolen my child's heart and then
trnmpledon it by engaging yourself to {
worthless jilt There is more just ret
ribution in this world than We think, anG
God in his mercy is making You suffer
just what agony You have caused my
child. Don't you see that it is YOU
fault that her health is lost, her temper
ruined, and her peace destroyed? Oh
that should have fOstered base migrate
in my house, treated him like a son, and
now he stabs me by running my only
child's happiness She went on will
tears streaming from her face, and lash
ing her wrath to greater compass at eacl
word.
81 was standing hidden from view
just where / could See Joel. Every
drop of color fed from his face and h'
WINGED under this pitiless storm OF in
vective. He was not vain man, bu
my aunt's words tore the veil from hi
eyes and he could survey the past ani
possible results arising fran long chail
OF association in which he had been in
nocently culpable. He did not excus,
himself, but after q pause Of II few min
utes, his face twitching with suppressed
pain, he said, slowly:
"Aunt, you shall never reproach IN
with ingratitude again. l will do what
can to repair my error. :" '
!" He took his hat and went out, doubt
less to calm his spirit and acquire nerv
to face the new situation. He strollet
away into the woods, approaching tn
words Of the poet:
go II thou art worn and hard beset
With SORROWS that thou wouldst forget
II thou wouldst read lesson that will keep
Thy heart from fainting and thy soul from sleep,
Go TO the woods and hills No tears
Dim the sweet look that Nature wears
cit was one of those balmy days il
early May. The trees We're in full foil
age, the flowers in their richest bloom
by birds twittered and sent forth trills o
sweet song in this leafy paradise.
"Joel sauntered long way, striving
TO look bravely at the difficulty whicl
} had confronted him sounexpectedly, no
noticing the sweet essences that fiOate,
on the breeZes, oblivious to the melod,
Of the feathered songsters, and unhced
ing the loveliness which nature sprea,
80 wantonly around him. He had no
, recovered from the loss of Miss Remiug
ton. While reason congratulated hin
on his escape, the fascination Of he
beauty and the enchantment of he
charms yet lowered about him, and thei
loss filled his soul with pain.
, "With these associations still enthrall
ing him, was it right TO enter into ne,
relations would it be Just to Christie t
! offer her his hand? He could come +
no clear decision. A something beyon,
our power oftentimes shapes our caree
, for tho fierce mental struggle wagin
within, and fatigued by his long wall
, Joel turned homeward, taking no though
what course he pursued. Chance 10
him to gentle knoll from which gigar
tic oaks rose and lifted their spreadin
vine-clad arms heavenward. A THO
, bed of leaves overspread the earth, an
bushy plants around made it shady an
seauestered spot. He paused It momer
to gaze at the quiet beauty of the plac
and to drink in the soft, fresh air. Lift
ing his hat, he wiped the moisture froi
his brow. He was lost in contemplate
7 of the scene, when his eye fell on boo
thrown carelessly upon the grount
. Near it reposed Christie North, half n
| clining her head against the trunk of Q
, oak, and she was fast asleep, A to-
3 rested upon her oheeck, and her attitud
: was that of tired child who had wei
herself to sleep, Joel's heart smO'
! him; q great compassion filed his SOU
This was his work. It was right to sa
rifice himself for the good of others,