Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-08-25
BOUGHT OFF.
BY G.. MANvILLE FEM

I'm afraid I was very foolish, but if
woman is not trusting toward the man
she loves, where is her love? In those
cary days, before time and trouble have
made me the faded ldyoung woman
that you see, people said L was pretty,
and 1 was very, very glad. Not from
any weak, coquettish reasons, OF from
fondness of admiration, but simply on
account of Harry, who liked me the bet
ter, know, because 1 had handsome
face.
People tell me L was foolish to care for
him, and that I had better look else
where; but my choice was made, and,
though my own father and mother shook
their heads at me and said it was a mis-
take, I pleaded so hard ON his behalf
that they ceased to find fault, and so
matters went on.
/ was in service in those days in q
place that my mistress made quite a
home for me, and J. should have been
very happy indeed but for my love-ahalr
with Harry. His troubles were, Of
course, my troubles, and when he used
to run across from the town twice week
to see me, and tell me about how harsh
and bitter his father was to him, used
to have many o good cry on his ac-
count.
"l'm about the unluckiest fellow un-
der the sun, Kitty" he used to say.
Father says I'm no good, and the
sooner go across the seas the better. +"
"But, Harry" L said, "why not be
patient? Your father is old, and has had
endless troubles; it makes him p0evish
and fretful. You should bear with him.
Do, pray, for my sake try"
"Try! I've tried till I am sick of it.
Everything make in the workshop is
wrong, no ma ter how it's done, and the
more pains L take, the more he grum-
bles."
Whispered such comfort as I could,
and, full of pity for the man loved,
sympathized with him most thoroughly.
thinking that he was hardly dealt with,
but still urging patience aud forbear-
ance with those who, perhaps, were
unduly tried.
One summer evening I had permits
sion to go out, for Harry was to fetch
me, and take me tv his home to tea and
to spend the evening. 1 was very much
flushed and excited, for dreaded meet
ing the old people, his father in partic.
ular, who was always so stern and harsh
with Harry.
1t was delicious evening, and all
seemed so bright and beautiful as I
walked across the fields with Harry that
mine seemed to be quite anew existence,
and 1 laughed merrily when he turned
to me and began to say that my cheeks
were quite flushed, and that he was
very glad, because he wanted me to look
my best and make pleasant impression
upon the old folks.
Harry's father was O carpenter and
builder in small way of business. and
tradesman seemed so high above me
as servant that, as Preached the house.
the color faded from my cheeks, and t
grew quite pale as 1 felt sure that
Harry's people would think was not
good enough for their son.
And 80 itNseemed, when I entered the
snug parlor where tea was set out. and
the evening sunshine was making the
china and silver spoons glisten on the
-jetty-black tray. Everything, from the
flowers to the furniture, looked 80
bright that for the moment / could do
nothing but admire the place. There
was, gazing in a half-shrinking fashion
at the stern-looking gray old man with
such keen blue eyes, and at the gentle
sweetfaced old lady who came to meet
me at the door.
They were both very kind and polite
to me, but it seemed as if they hardly
liked my coming, and were distant and
cold. Of course this made me nervous.