Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-01-25
a Chicago Romance,

=.
once golden, the silvered footprints of
time We're beginning to show, marking
with an unerrin~ certainty that was
almost painful the last miIestones on
the rugged pathway of hfe-looked up
:, her husband with an expression that
strove hard to be cheerful. but in spite
of all her strength of purpose there
was y nervous quivering of the lips
and into the brown eyes there came n
look of mingled wistfulneSs and SCR
row that was pitiful.
Thirty years ago, when Mehitahle
NoneSuch had married Phoenix w.
Brown, there was no handSomer bride in
all the country round, and as Phoenix
kuelt beside her at the altar of the little
chapel that stood in the dell beyond
the meadow, he felt that with this
woman, beautiful in form and feature
As the rose and pure in heart as the
lily, to guide and assist him. his life
should be forever peaceful and happy.
They had moved 10 the little farm that
his father had given them, and through
three decades of years. that seemed
when looked back upon from the sum
init Of prosperity and love rs but So
many beautiful summer DAYS. had lived
together in almost perfect happiness.
Two children, = boy and 4 girl. had
been born to them and were still alive.
Harold, strong. sturdy, md in the full
glow of manly health and vigor. had
come back from college three wears
AFRO and WAS now the trusted cashier of
the BaldwinSvillc Bank. Gwendolen.
who had grown into fair, stately
girl of twenty, was the light
of the household Suitors BY the
score had wooed her. but, while all were
received kindly, the pleadings of all
save one failed 10 move the girls heart
Rorwyck Hetheriugton had known
Gwendolcn from childhood, and be.
tween them there had long existed
pure. paSSiou}cSS Iowa flame that
burned with y clear, steady radiance, as
beams the Soft light Of the evening star
"A love thai east around their lives y
golden halo in whose rays both seemed
TRANSPORTED and beautiiicd. Berwick
had told GSendolen of his love rs the.
walked home one beautiful October
evening from the weekly meeting Of
the Womon's League for the Suppress
sion of Polygamy in South Africa.
and as bc whispered in her ears the
NoluS lHdl StCitlNu SNStkti lIiiH ever.
man had uttered and been answered
with one little word. bashfully spoken
in low, sweet tones, he had drawn her
to him In the full, mellow light of the
glorious moon that hung in the sky like
pail of motion gold aud pressed ON her
dcwv lips the betrothal kiss.
Our lives shall ALWAYS be happy.
swectheart,' Bcrwyck had said that
night as he parted from Gwcndoleu nj
the gate. and she, as he held her for one
hliSsful moment to his breast, had
Twined her arms around his neck ami
answered him With kiss.
Two weeks later Farmer Browns
fayoritc Specklcd COW got into the po-
tato-bin, and when the morning sun
leaped from behind the havstack its rays
fell on pallid corpse.
The potatoes had triumphcd
Like nearly every man who has tried
to lead >iN-monthS' calf To water with
the rope tied around his waist, Farmer
Brown WAS supcrStitiauS. and the tragic
death of his fayorite COW made Geep
impression on his mind. "Misfortuncs
never come in single harness. he had
said to his wife the day after Bossy'S
death, aS he came into the wood-shed
and let the dcccascd's hide fall with
dull. sickening thud in the corner. I'VE
shall have more bad luck before wo
have better he continued and his
words had proven true. 4 succession
of reycrscS had come thick and fast
upon him. Ncighbor Simpsons hay
steer had got into the huckleberry
patch one night, and i'll the morning
there was violct-colored steer, but no
huCkleberricS. Then the popcorn crop
had failed and the mortgage placed
on the farm in the hope of retrieving
those losses had come due. with no
money to pay it, Jasper knuckleaown-
tight, who had loaned Farmer Brown
the money, was a relentless creditor.
and unless payment was made on the
morrow would foreclosc. 1t was this
knowledge that had caused Farmer
Brown 10 utter the words with which
this chapter opens. lie had told his
wife and children the previous evening
how matters stood, and all had gone 10
bed with weary hearts.
ayes. wife, we are ruined, repeated
the old man mo, not ruined, he con-
tinued, .'while we have these Jewels,
pointing As he spoke to Harold and
Gwendolen, who were entering the
house together. I'VE are rich in their
love the greatest treasure life pos
SrSScS.
Father said Harold, speaking
slowly, "will nothing but the payment
Of Q thousand dollars save our home'a
Nothing, replied the old man,
sadly
Then here Is the money! continued
Harold, handing his father roll of
bills. '.Fhat package contains thou
sand dollars
where did you get this money?'
asked the father.
Il have robbed the bank :
Fer an instant no word was spoken
Farmer Brown was the first to break
the silence. is thi, all you took?' he
askel
yes
Good Heavens. boy. We are
ruinci. We must have at least another
thousand.
Nv hy?''
TO pay a lawyer for acquittins
You"
Ian ald's face became ashen. Great
Haa%tn, he sad, slowly, why was / 50
forreiful?'
wat. exclaimed Gwendolcn, who
Ial remained silent. until | return,
aud I assing from the house she was
soon ,ost in the twilight. Up the road
she sped until the house Of Cicero
Short. who had been one Of her most
ardcI lovers, was reached. She en-
tered the mansion. and did not reap
pear FOR an hour Then she walked
quicI " home and came into the room
wher, her parents and brother were
sitting. They looked up expectantly.
"You are saved. she said, kissing
her trother a she spoke.
sRow?'' he asked. What have you
done. grip
Il have" she answered in clear,
ringing tones, agreed TO marry the
State Attorney when my brother i
acqui- ted. = Chtcugo Tribune.