Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-03-23

>s~ss'N
me to cry in their presence; l kept con.
troll over my emotions, and wept only
when alone.
| cried and sobbed, and longed fol
any fate that would free me from this
thraldom. Finally I must have fallen
into an uneasy slumber The sense tina,
tells us some one is near awOke me.
Standing motionlcss, looking down upon
me in silent pity, was Mr.. Shields.
Ihurriedly startcdup. muttering some
kind of apology, and very much asham-
ed of my tear-stained face and rumpled
hair. requested him TO be seated, and
but beside me ON the sofa. was con-
fused. and knew not what to do or say.
suppose he had perception enough to
notice my agitation. He was all calm
ness and ease. | wondered if it were
possible he could hear my foolish heart
heat, and sec the '-emor of my lips,
when I tried to answer his questions.
"You are in trouble tonight, Mona?"
shall remember to my dying day the
inexpressible sweetness of those sympa-
thizing tones. l thought, as l always
have since, that it was the most musical
voice ! had heard in all my troubled,
dreary life.
"You were sobbing in your sleep
when came in; what was it? Are you
lonely? Aunt and cousins are gone,
aren't they? Well, cheer up; will stay
here until they return. They are not
unkind to you, are they?"
l could not tell an untruth now, with
the tear stains still on my cheeks; so l
answered.
miss Geraldine scolded me because
dropped her fan and broke the mirror,
and Aunt Hustler, too
Here / completely broke down. and
cried as if was never going to stop.
He sat awhile in silence, and let me sob
undisturbed; then he said, laying his
hand upon my head
Don't give way to your grief; come,
cheer up; you are hurt by cross words
and reproaches, but there is sunshine
after rain. Mona, tonight you and
are drawing very near to each other; l,
too, have been stung by ingratitude. /
have sounded the depths of bitter waters.
and by the perfidy of one person was
sunk to the depths of despair. But /
am out of this slough of despond, and
am now far happier than would have
been had affairs gone differently. l am
now ina position which perhaps should
not have attained if l had gained what
coveted above all else at one time l |
outgrew my bitter disappointment. and
in my work l found panacea. Now
am in Il very tranquil state of mind, and
Mona. little friend, have observed YOU
and am aware you are not happy. We
will sympathiZe with each other, and in |
our mutual friendship dispel part of the
gloom"
His kind words, so mildly spoken. the
most gentle that it had been my good |
fortune to hear since was an inmate of
my aunt's house, went to my lonely
heart like soothing balm. | rallied,
and soon we began to talk. The hours
flew by rapidly.
"You and 1 are only beginning to
know each other, Mona said my new
found friend at last. I'VE are going to
be capital friends, and
No more was said, for aunt and cous-
ms came in, and our evening together
was cut short.
They We're profuse in playful re-
proaches, and Mr.. Shields was scolded
in pretty way for not attending the
party He said.-s- ---.--------.--
"Well, you see was detained by inn
portant business until 1 feared it was
too late; then dropped in here. think
ing perhaps some of you were at home.
found Miss Mona, and as she was all
alone, 1 thought 1 should be doing my
duty to stay with her. So l stayed, and
we have had quite Jolly time
Aunt Hester made some rtof reply,
and Geraldine shot a glance in my di-
rection calculated to annihilate me.
They all seemed to want to box my
ears. So l Just "folded my tent like
the Arab, and as silently stole away"
The next morning l had my orders.
/ was given my walking papers.
was soundly reprimanded for my for
wardness, and my aunt and cousins
took turns in haunting me. Then 1 was
spirited away in the night time to my
aunt's farm far out in the country, ex-
lied, abandoned. driven away
One evening ] went to a neighbours to
get the mail, which he often brought for
us. The short winter day was closing
in on my return. A sleigh passed me.
Its occupant, q man. was muffled up in
furs and robes; he looked ut me as he
passed; then the ejaculation, Mona!"
came out in 4 very emphatic manner.
l looked up; it was Kenneth Shields.
The robes We're thrown hurriedly back
and he jumped out.
Mona, where are YOU going? Is
this where you have been all this time?
made bold to inquire your where
abouts, but your aunt gave me very I'M
answers. You did steal
away in a dreadfully mysterious man
ner. From standing at my elbow you
led into the vast unknown"
could hardly speak for JOY; for the
light in Kenneth's eyes was clearly that
If love. Ino longer accused myself of
vanity when confessed that he really
lid love me.
Well, it is the old. old story. The
next day babe adieu to the dreary :
arm, and with my promised husband
started for the city, on reaching which :
We were quietly married. Then we
lrove to my aunt's, and Kenneth intro
luced me as Mrs. Shields to aunt
md cousins. They were astounded and
lshamed, and confess that the sudden
from plain Mona Norton <
o Mrs. Kenneth Shields quite startled
ne. They welcomed us in tolerable
lospitable manner. and for forms sake
We stayed to dinner; still latent spark {
# resentment fingered underneath the
how of good will.
Mona, dear" said my husband, +
When we were alone. "were you resign
d to your fate. and would you have &
made No affnrt IN lot mo know vour