Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-09-20
ELMA'S PRIDE.

Mrs. harrington was to be pitied-
so her intimate friends told her, and 81
she thought herself, as she looked a
the superb face and form of the nephew
OF whose handsome self and fifteen thou
sand year she was guardian. 1t wa.
truly wonderful what change the las
few ycars-which he had spent abroad
had made in him. He had babe hel
good-by beardless boy. Now he stood
before her with self-possessed dig
nifty which positively startled her, ant
moustache whose dropping silkines
gave n manliness to his appearance fal
beyond his years.
For Launt still lacked year of hi
majority.
IF he only comes of age withou
getting entrapped by some designing
woman, my mind will be relieved
Mrs. harrington thought and SAID al
well to the aforementioned friends.
Launt's return did not long remain
unknown, and in a very short time h,
found himself welcomed and installed
prime favorite in not a few homes, mos
of which, strange to say, boosted
daughters, pretty or plain, as the cast
might be. But the months went by
and all in vain were the efforts of ma
n9uvring mammas and the charms SC
lavishly displayed for his benefit.
"A prophet is without honor in his
own land" and though Mrs. Earring.
ton saw that Elma Wyant-the young
gill who had lived in her family for the
last few years-was fair, and of pleas
ing appearance, it never once entered
her mind that in some eyes she might
be pecrlcssly lovely.
But so it was; Launt Harrington,
young and impulsive, had travelled far
and wide, only to return to quiet Elm
wood to fall desperately in love with
his aunt's governess.
He had not remained long in doubt
rs to his own sentiments, and at one
time he had thought that he could read
in the sweet brown eyes that so timid-
ly met his own that his regard was
returned. But of late Elma had avoid
ed him, and, in despair, Launt went
the surest way to thwart his own hopes
by confiding in his aunt.
Il love her, auntle," he said, with
honest trouble in his handsome eyes,
"but / have almost begun to fear that
she never will care for me as do for
her."
A cloud of surprised displeasme came
over Mrs. Farringtons face.
''Have you ever spoken in this way
to Elma?" she inquired.
mo
Then it is well you have not"
Launt looked up quickly as he caught
the accent of anger so unusual in his
auntie's gentle tones.
''Surely, my boy, you know the terms
of your uncle's will? that you were to
remain under my guardianship until
you were twenty-one, after which, on
condition that you had not contracted
n marriage contrary to my wishes, you
were to enter upon your fortune. If,
on the other hand, you had in defiance
of my advice, so married, the money
was to revert from you TO be used
solely for charitable purposes. Launt,
your uncle was one who knew the life.
long trouble rashly-entered- upon
marriage brings, and he wished te
preserve you from like fate. Elma /.
good girl have naught TO say
against her; but certainly q poor govern
ess is no mate for a scion of our proud
family"
As he listened Launt' face had grown
cold and determined.
"Then, aunt, you mean TO refuse
your consent to my asking Elma to be-
come my wife?"
Most assuredly Launt. that is wha
/ mean"
A hot flush rose to his broad brow a:
he drew his tall form up to its fulles
height.
.Aunt, hsten-I am sorry to q
against your wishes-but love Elm:
Wyant, and though lose fortune fol
her sake, it shall count nothing so
gain her sweet self. -
Straight from his aunt's amazed ant
indignant remonstrances. Launt sough
Elma. She was not in the house, anC
he went down to the garden; for som,
moments he wandered through it
flower.sLaded mazes without succeed
ing in gaining glimpse of the objec
of his search, when he happened t,
think of the arbor at the end of tn,
garden; perhaps she was there. A
his tall form darkened the doorway FL
ma started to her feet with little cry
she had been weeping, and her fac,
was very pale, bnt at sight of him tn
startled color bathed all her sweet fac
in flood of deepest crimson
She tried to pass him, but Laun
caught her hand.
why do you avoid me SO, Elma? /
it because seeing my love, and know
ing YOU cannot return it, You do no
wish to give me pain?"
The rose-red waxed deeper, yet still
she did not speak as she endeavored in
effectually to draw her hand from hi
clasp.
A sudden idea came to Launt.
He drew her close to his side an
looked into her distressed face.
.'Were you in the library a shor
while ago when spoke with my aunt
/ remember that / heard q rustic be
hind the drapery of the bay-window
and thought for the moment that SOM
one was there. There must be SOM
cause for this agitation, and my MINI
instantly surmises that that may be il
Elma, were you there?"
Her little hands trembled convul
sively in his OBTAINING clasp, as sh,
answered:
Eyes, was reading there when yol
came in. The boys had finished thei
lessons and had gone out to play. leav
ing me alone. Your voices reused me
and l was just going to come out from