Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-01-29

stesvdy er voice. 81 am the same to
day that 1 have been every day for years
You know I'm twenty, and / must try
and be wonanly."
"Has Lewis Walton anything to do
with the change?'
Elsie's face blushed crimson, yet she
laughed merrily.
"No. You surely are not jealous,
| Nathaniel"
1t was Nathaniel's turn to blush now,
he drew the dogwood berries out of the
little hands, and held the slender fingers
in his own.
81 am not jealous, Elsie; you do not
seem contonted of late-you are always
tired, You never run up the mountain
path to meet me, or take long rambles in
! the woodland, so as to be near me, as you
once did. You see, / have grown SO
used to your tender, watchful love, Elsie,
it would be hard to give it up. And /
have thought that you had grown tired
of me, and had given your love to Lewis
Walton, who seems more fitting
mate"
ga divorced man, Nathaniel" Elsie
cried, lifting her eyebrows slightly,
although her checks were dyed with
burning bushes and her lips trembled
nervously.
ga divorced man" repeated Nathan
iel, looking her full in the face; eyes,
Elsie, there is danger of you forgetting
me through him, for he is a more polish
ed, more fascinating man; yet, Elsie,
dear, as unstable as the wind, and not
calculated to make any woman happy"
"You must think me very impressi-
BILE" broke out Elsie, whose conscience
was not as easy rs it might have been,
"When | gave my promise to be your
wife, / meant to keep it..
Nathaniel Holt drew the golden head
down to his breast and breathed silent
prayer over it. For Elsie was woman,
with beautiful woman's love of the
worlds follies and adulation, and he knew
enough OF Lewis Walton's character to
know the arguments he would use, and
that he would not be sparing of flattering
speeches.
Remember this, Elsie" he says sol
emily, "What God hath joined together
let no man put asunder; aud although the
law has separated Lewis Walton and his
wife, III the sight of God she IS his wife
still. "
"There," Elsie lifted her face sudden
ly. and held up her lips for kiss, & that
will do. | must go in to Aunt Eunice'"
Nathaniel Holt kissed the lovely face
not once, but many times; and years
afterward those passionate kisses were re-
membered with keenest pain. Elsie
slipped away from him and ran into the
house, and Nathaniel, silenced, but not
convinced, sat perfectly still and tried to
reason away his fears, withbnitted brows.
! After that, life went on much as usual
at the Holt farm. Elsie WAS to become
! its mistress ut Christmas, and her Aunt
Eunice was very busy over the expected
wedding. She loved Elsie with n moth
er's love already, and Nathaniel as the
autumnal months drifted by grew
trihe thoughtful, for Lewis Walton,
who had been a summer guest in the
neighborhood, still fingered and still
called on Elsie, who tried to hide her
growing fondness for his company. He
was wealthy, indolent and gifted with n
persuasive tongue. Elsie loved ease,
lacked tirmness of principle and will; and
| though she imagined herself faithful to
Nathaniel, her heart was slowly but
surely being heguiled away from the true
and steadfast love of an upright man.
Nathaniel watched her with brooding
/ tenderness. He was SO loyal himself
/ that he would instinctively noice any way
ering on Elsie's part, he thought; yet the
eyes of love are often blinded by self
confidence and when Elsie came to him
and laid her golden head upon his arm,
rs she often did in the autumn cleaning,
/ Nathaniels happiness was too deep to be
delusive, and he would hold her to his
breast as if nothing could ever wrest her
from his faithful arms. Poor Elsie!
little did she know of the passionate
depth and power of this strong mans
love His homage was hers by right,
and she accepted it az some princess
might the service of her vassals She
never thought how desolnte that life
would toe if bereft of her love-how bar
rem of hope or happiness would be his
darkened future; for if he erred in any
sense il was in the strength and purity of
! the love he laid ut her feet.
The purple haze of Indian summer
was lying on the hills The sun sailed
/ through the mist like II great ball of
/ fame, anl pillows of dead brown leaves
/ swept up the ravines, as Nathaniel Holt
trudged down the mountain path, his
/ brown cheek flushed with exercise and
+ his eyes kindling with love. as the old
4 farmhouse with its many windows staiu-
ed with amber, and tall gables draped
+ with scarlet runners, came in view His
mother sat on the porch, bathed in rift
of ruby sunshine, but he looked in vain