Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-11-14
A NOBLE HEART.

| sat spinning at my little wheel
ia the sun, for the autumn day was
cold, when | heard some one whistl-
ing; and looking up there was young
Squire Turner with his arms folded
on the gate looking over. When he
caught my eye he laughed and blush
ed
When / courtesied he bowed, max
ing his curls dance over his shoulders,
and said he:
Eve spoiled one pretty picture
that | could have looked at all day,
but I've made another as pretty, so
I'll not grieve. May | come ini'
And welcome, sir" said /, and
set char for him, for he was grand
fathers landlord but for all that [ felt
uncomioI table, for | was not used to
fine company.
He talked away, paying me more
compliments tran | was use1 to, for
grandmother. who brought me up, al
ways SAID "Ilandsome is as hand
some does, and beauty il but skin
deep.
Since am telling the story will
tell the truth. had done wrong about
one thing. Neither of the old folks
knew that | wore Ev an LoCke's ring
in my bosom, or that we had taken Ii
VOW to each other beside the haw-
thorn that grew in the church lane.
| never meant TO deceive. but granny
was old and liltIo hard, and that
love of mine was such u sweet secret.
Granny came III from the dairy
five minutes after the squire was gone,
and she heard he had been there.
That night we had something else
to think of misfortune mad come up
on grandfather, but | didn't forsce
that when the half years rent should
become due not a penny To pay it with
would he found.
All this time Evan Locke and /
had been as fond as ever of each
other, and he came as often as before
to talk with grandpa III the winter
nights, and stall every little while
our young landlord, Squire Turner,
would stop in and sit in his lazy way
Watching me knit or spin.
could not hcl his coming; nor
help seeing him when he came, and
did not deserve that Even should he
angry with nae, but he was.
He made me angry, and ! spoke
up:
For that matter, the Squire would
be glad to have me promise to marry
him. He thinks more of me than you
do Just now"
Maybe you like him better2" sad
Evan.
II don't say that" replied | but
bad temper and jealousy scarcely
ever make me overload of another. |
pray | may never have a husbasd
who Will scold me"
For he has been scolding me. There
was no other name fol it,
Well Evan was wroth with me,
and ! with him-not hear deep,
though, | thought | did not see
hun Tor more than week.
So | did not fret after Evans
absence, nor quite snub Squire Tur.
ner who liked me more than ever.
Bat one night grandfather came III
from long ride and, shutting TIE
door. stood between guantanamo
and me, looking at me, and so very
strangely that we both became fright
ened At last h" spoke:
I've been to the Squares. For
the first time l had to tell him that
could not pay his rent when due"
| opened my lips. Grandmamma's
hand covered them. Grandpa drew
me TO him.
"Thou'rt young, lass" he said,
land they are right who call thee
pretty. Say, couldn't thee like the
Squire we'll enough 10 wed hlmi'
"Eh}' cried grandma. Sure you're
not wandering"
esquire Turner asked me for this
lass of ours to night Of all the wom-
en- in the world there is but one he
loves rs he should HIS wife, and that
is our Agatha"
witt have him and be rich
lady3' said grandpa.
And when he waited for an answer
burst out with No and a sob to
gethcr.
shes frightened" said grandma
Nay, we must all wed once in our
lives, my child
Then grandpa talked to me He
told me now poor they had grown,
and how kind the squire was, and
had but to marry hlm 10 make my
grandparents free FROM debt and pow
erty their lives through. Ii refused
and vexed the squire, heaven only
knew what might happen.
All II was hard To bear-bitter
hard; but now there was no help for
it. | took the ring from my bosom
ana laid 1t on my palm and told him
1t was Even Lockes, and that l had
plighted my troth to him. And grand
mamma called me deceitful wench,
and grandfather looked as if his heart
would break.
One day grandma said to ME: 1T
seems that your sweetheart is not
overload of you, or over anxious to
see YOU"
why notl" said l.
Where has he been this month
back2'
Busy, doubtless
Perhaps you know all about it,
said grandma. You are going along
with him maybe"
"WhereI" said I.
She went 10 the kitchen door and
beckoned in a woman who sat there
Dam. Coombs-who had just come
over with some eggs.
Il heard you rightly" said she.
You told me Evan Locke and his
mother were making ready for voy-
age"
They're going to Canada. My son,
a carpenter-and a good one, though
| say it-made the doctor a box for
his things. The old lady breads the
new country, but she goes for the
doctors sake. There's money to be
made there, they say. That's what
takes them"
Give me whom you will, then,
since my own love does not want
me-"
So days rolled by and was close on