Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-07-22

cumstances were not at all ordinary,
and Edwin really felt obliged to put his
arms about that little shrinking form,
to protect it all he could (or at any rate
it pleased him to think SOY from the
stormy night wind, for the rain had not
ceased for a moment, and it seemed
quite natural to clasp the cold hands
Which she trusted in his with such child
like confidence; and when a few tears
rolled slowly down the pale face, there
is not much wonder that he kissed them
away under that protecting umbrella,
nor that he strove to comfort her in his
own fashion.
II said you were not to be conven-
tional, little Maud" he whispered
softly; "rest your head upon nv Shout
der, that will be pillow for you.''
''But ought I? Do you think ought?
What would Beatrice say?''
He was nearly as possible saying,
''Brother Beatrice!'' but, instead, he
replied:
Il am sure you ought and must.
Little one, cannot you trust yourself to
me?''-
And she crept quite close, like a
tired child, glad to be at rest; and so he
had held her tenderly, his heart going
out to her with great love.
Then he leaned over her and spoke
again:
''Only fancy! we met to-day for the
first time, and yet it seems as though I
had known you all my life. Perhaps I
have seen you in my dreams; but,
sweet Maud, l cannot part from you
again. You asked me just now what
Mrs. Roley would say; that I do not
know, but whatever it may be, your will
give me the right to stand by you.
Maud, will you be my wife?''
And he stopped and kissed her rosy
lips unchidden, once, twice, thrice; and
again there was silence, delicious
silence which, like a man, he broke.
"You do not answer me, my little
love: Are you happy-are you con-
tent?'
''More than happy-more than con-
tent. My heart is too full for words.
my little queen" he whispered,
show fortunate it was I brought my
umbrella! otherwise might never have
gained you for my wife. wonder if
another man ever won so charming a
bride thus strangely?''
And the oars went on with their mo-
notonous turn in the rowlocks, and
darkness set in, while those two shell
tered under the umbrella needed moth
ing but their own joy. When they
reached Ripplebank, there was great
commotion.
Mrs. Roley had waited for the lost
couple for half an hour at the place ap-
| pointed; then she had inquired of some
people coming up stream, and had
learned that they had seen gentleman
and lady enter small boat and pull
down the river; and upon further
inquiries, had gathered that the gen.
tleman had an umbrella, which
he gave the lady before taking the oars
himself; and the umbrella was conclu-
sive evidence that the couple could be
no other than Miss De Lara and Mr..
Dunstan. The other four couples, who
had been deeply engrossed in their own
affairs, and knew as little about the
manner they had missed them as Dun
stan and Maud, asserted that they
were sure they had walked on ahead of
them, and that no doubt they had hired
this boat just for piece of fun, and
that most likely they should pick them
up mile or two down the river.
But no boat did they overtake at all
answering to the description given
them, for the very simple reason that
the gentleman and. lady whose
possession of an umbrella had led
them astray, had gone home to their
cottage by the river side, and the
umbrella was peacefully draining in
the stand in the hall, while the two
were partaking of their evening meal
behind closed blinds.
To say that Mrs. Roley was not
angry with her little sister would be
doing that lady more than justice; but
there was glad light in the GIRL
eyes, and a smile about her mouth that
no anger could quench; and when
Edwin Dunstan pressed the little hand
IN saying, Good night" he whispered
the one word, ''To-morrow,' and fol-
lowed Mrs. Roley out of the room.
What passed between these two was
not repeated by either; but the inter-
isfactory one, for when Edwin Dunstan
went away in October to his father s
fine old place in the shires, to have his
share of pheasant shooting, he took a
fair young bride with him who
answered to the name of ''Maud," but
was equally known as ''Spritc, .
"Elie,' Little Midge,'' and dozen
other diminutive appellations, and the
wedding had taken place from Ripple
| hank.