Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-10-22

sSilllut nav g1t0r. l said, "1ut hero
is the boat anl Tue sat. aaI there Is
the wini and hat evcr-trcac serous
water. On. haw ! wish could ses
the bottom. and | pcered over the
side.
IF | could only see land down there
AMI know that could wade ashore
without wetting my skirts -
Leonard laugned ironically. You
are as timid as a hen. Mary. and | am
losing all hope of you"
Then let US tGrn about and 60
home" responder.
"Ol. no. not yet he said, II ca me
out for a long sail tonight "
1T is almost dark. and | am grow
ing very nourvous." pleaded.
But am not afraid; there is moth
ing to BE- afraid of; aud i on trust me-. !"
still begged him to turn The boat,
and finally began to cry.
Why Mary, what goose you
are.
mo. not goose, Leonard" re-
piled, trying to smile. ..yo know a
goose Is at home on the WATER
The day closed with all the glory OF
harvest sunset. A beautiful AMI pro-
longed twilight ushered in the night.
One by one the stars peeped out from
the grand old dome above us and the
turbulent lake. now softcned to gan
tie swell. reflected the silyery rays in
shivering streams of light We were
miles from the shore. The sail of the
Mystic Mapped languidly against the
mast as the boat rose and fell with the
heaving surface of the water, but not
breath crossed our path 10 propel us
onward or homeward. We were be-
Gained.
Leonard was in ecstasy. I was in
tears.
As the night advanced and darkness
deepened | earnestly and tcarfully
prayed Leonard TO turn shorcward.
out IN vain. In this hour a startling
change had como over him. lie was
no longer the ardent admirer, tho ten
der lover, but like a tiger crouclliny
within sure and certain reach of his nj,
ready wounded prey. and watching
with grim satisfaction its fruitless ei-
forts to escape, he retained his place
IN the stern of the boat needless OF
prayers and tears, laughing unnatur-
ally at my fears, and wringing my heart
with ridicule.
could not comprehend the mean
ing OF his behavior toward me. He
had always been so very kind. In the
early part OF the night he was tender
ness itself. Now his conduct was pos
itively cruel. felt convinced most of
the time that nc had some great sur
prise IN store for me, ana that his ap-
parent hcartlessness was n ces,ary TO
the surprise OF his joke. lie was very
fond OF surprises. But hero we were
away out in the lake in darkness and
log, with no wind. no possibility OF es-
cape, Tor there was not the semblance
OF an oar or paddle on board. Then
what surprise had he in store for me?
MARY" he said, after prolonged
silence, during which he seemed wrap
ped in Thought, his voice now chang
ed to its natural tone, III am sorry YOU
are cold. would take You home
quickly If | could, but am poweri..ss.
Here, take my coat. and wrap YOUR
se.f In lt--..nd p srdon my cru ,lIY, |
am not feeling well Tonight. Let us
hope that breeze VIII spring up
soon.
Here was the explanation had so
long waited Tor.
You are not well, LEONARD. |
know" | said. * rep the C rat Won
wIIl need il. BE sure | am grateful"
/ added, fearing that he mi lit misap-
prehend my meaning. II should be
sorry to force you to risk serious ILL
ness by deprivlng you of the protec-
Ton now more tnan ever repaired"
lie urge me strongly 10 take ii, as
SERUM tnat he was not in tho least
cold, aud extended my hand for it,
for | was suffering keenly; but /
failed to get il. For some reason he
had changed his mind, and mutterino
something unnte.ligble to me, he laid
the coat beside !Iim on the seat
II nave something that | must say
now, he rrmirAe,i, after a brief ST.
lence. Tho narsancss Of his voice had
returned.
''Mary. hav' brou- ut YOU out here
for a purpose. have something to
say to you. and don't want others to
hear us. 1t is of no interest to any
but ourselves.
He paused n moment. during which
he fumbled mis- coat, and heard him
place some hard. metallic article upon
the seat near him.
Then he went on: -Four years ago
| registered y solemn VOW That would
some day ask you for your hand and
heart, and woald not brook refusal.
swore that if you rejected me you
should never be the vie of another,
for would kill YOU"
He spoke the words with great de-
liberation and emphasis. bu, quickly
changing his manner he continued in
an earnest. suppllaut tone;
MARY, | have already twice asked
you to be my wife. have offered you
all that have to givc-my fortune,
which is ample for US both; my home.
OF which in times past you have often
expressed admiration. and the dcvo-
ton OF a heart that has never wayercd
in its love for you. You won't refuse
me this time, Mary, will you?"
This is quite unexpected, Leon
ard. / answered. You must give
me time to consider"
81 have already waited months, |
cannot wait IN hour longer"
Nv ait till we get home. pleaded.
Ho matc no Immediate reply. The
metaiic noise. before referred to, again
c..nic from the seat beside him. Re-
n noering that he had sworn to take
my life il | refused INN, was intense
~ alarmed.
Il must have your answer now,
Mary, right now. without any equiyo-
cation. Say you will be my wife"
"Ol, Leonard" cried. show I'M
like yourself you are tonight. You
are i'll. Have patience and all will be
we'll. Let me think over the matter.
1t is not kind--it is most ungcnerous
to treat me thus. 1t you loved me you
wouldn't be SO crucl.
''Herc are two pistols. Mary, one for
you, and one for me.
| shrickcd with terror.
''Saalt thGv DC dischar rad harmless
ly into the lake, or shall they Dispatch
our soa,s simultaneously into eterni-
ty? 1t is for you TO say"
The truth was now before me.
was alone and powericss with mad
man. He. a strong man. nerved by
tho Insane conviction that he was
right AMI possess ii OF the riynt to kill,
an armed with deadly weapons. |.
woman, with woman's nerves, be-
yond the reach Of humin assistance
aud bcnamDed with cold. What would
do? What could do? What would
any other woman similarly situated
do? l Shrl;kcd again and agaiu, and