Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-05-12

never loved her; he was only too glad
to yield up the estates that he might
be freed from her. So reasoned Bar
bara as she read. Not strange, per-
haps, since she lacked the hint that
Hugh Greatorex should have given
her; ignored her hasty words; suspect
ed not the flowers that lay in wait that
night.
Amid her pain the realization of her
late caprice flashed upon her. Odd
that it should be a comfort; but so it
proved to Barbara, and she chung to it
persistently; over and over she re-
peated:
al will never take the estates. Hub
ert Bonnifeld shall take them or the
will will be forever void"
In vain Hugh Greatorex pleaded;
Barbara was firm. The homestead
was vacated, and, with an old, faithful
servant, she went to reside few miles
from thence.
A year passed, and still the late COM
Portable homestead stood empty and
ghost like and so did its broad lands.
Barbara persistent; Hugh Greatorex
appeared in her cottage, with a letter
in his hand.
Read" he said excitedly, pointing
to its concluding clause
She read as follows:
81 expect soon to be in W with
my wife. And, in conclusion, if Miss
Barbara has not then assumed her in
heritance, if she still declines it, surely
1 may not be censured if 1 lay claim
to i. myself"
A moments silence, then she handed
the letter to him.
81 understand, Mr.. Greatorex" she
said quietly. Surely he should not be
blamed"
my dear Miss Barbar," he pleaded,
'you will not pursue this within? You
will not reject your inheritance now
that the crisis has GOMEZ"
/ In vain Life had gone hard with
Barbara; she had but recently recov-
| cred from an illness nearly fatal in eff
| feet. But the old will was active. De
terminedly she replied:
/ "My decision remains unaltered.
decline the estates"
Surely he should not be blamed
And yet there was something in that
/ final sentence worse than the belief
| that he did not love her, than the fact
that he was forever lost to her Better
that love-lack, than ones ideal fallen
so low.
So unused Barbara, sitting, a few
| evenings later, in her little parlor-
unused so absorbedly that she heard not
| her servants announcement, realized
naught till, turning, she saw Hubert
Bonnefeld at her side
Surprise, the charm Of the old pres.
ence, despite her efforts, did theil
work. Barbara knew her heart was
bare.
81 have been very i'll, and my nerves
are still weak" she stammered, con,
fusedly.
He did not spare her; he gazed
steadily down into her tell-tale face
She would have Withdrawn the hand
she had extended, but ne clasped il
tightly, ~ if he would never let it 60
Barbara" he said, twill you forgive
me when say that rejoiccd that you
have been very i'll. For do rejoice
otherwise ! might have remained for
ever ignorant of what makes my Joy
tonight, Of this, that | was not mis-
taken when thought you loved me
that when you discarded my poor
flowers it was not as | so bitterly fan
cied, but because you mistook my mo
tive, and were offended ut my course
/ acted on my first impulse, Barbara
Ii seemed To me indicate To act 9th
erwise, and ] hoped that you would
understand. But you did not; YOU in
dignantly declared that you would no
marry me- Still | was incredulous
and | was Fastening to you, determined
to read your heart, when suddenly
found my flowers. heard some chill
dren telling their story; my pride was
now touched into belief, and, you
know the rest, Barbara, | WAS foolish
and went away"
He had spoken tenderly, with i
wealth Of quiet love; but his next word,
were passionate, spoken with his face
bent close to hers:
Barbara, darling, fate has beer
very kind You were delirious, re
vealed all; all was heard by that faith
FIJI servant whose letter has brought
me home. Will you deny it, Barbara
Will you deny that you love me still 2
She could not answer. His kisses
sealed her lips. But though so sud
den, SO barely comprehended, there
seemed no greater happiness on eartl
than hers, till there came the remem
berance, and she exclaimed:
"Your letter to Mr.. Greatorex-
your wife, Hubert? | do not under
stand"
81 have not my wife yet, Barbara,
he replied, rogueishly; "but she will b,
with me very soon."
And SO it proved. Two weeks later
Hugh Greatorex sat staring over i
wedding card, which read: "Mr. anc
Mrs Hubert Bonniield Barbara Hol
den Z