Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-03-24

And in the wild March morning heard
them call my soul.
-1sanysoa.
GRACECLAYMORE.
It was the eve before her bridal morn,
end Grace Claymore sat alone In her
room, = look of sorrowful resolution
on her beautiful, calm face. A pitiful
little room it was, Its few comforts and
It's small attempts At adornment speak
ing = refined and cultivated mind, and,
alas! = very slender purse.
Spread out upon the small bed, in
startling contrast to Its simple sur
roundings, lay the wedding dress, a
cold, glittering heap Of snowy satin
and frosty lace. Beside it lay an open
casket, from which flashed diamond
necklace, Col. 1rving's wedding gift
to his bride.
Grace's glance roved thoughtfully
from one familiar object to another
about her. They had all grown dear,
as had the little room which had been
her only home for five years. She
tried to repress the shiver which ran
through her frame as her eye rested at
last upon the bed and its shining bur-
den. Once she rose impahently, as II
to put them from her sight. and then,
with an effort of her great will. she sat
quietly down again.
mo" she said. Il will not be child
ish. What have I to do with girlish
tremors and presentiments-l, a
woman nearly thirtyP Past the age
of romance, of day dreams and foolish
fancies. Too old in years, and far too
old in experience, for vain regrets.
Have I not thought this matter calmly
over, from beginning to end, time
after time, day after day, since the
colonel first told me of his love7
Did l not weigh all the facts calmly
and fairly, and have I not promised
to forget the past and in the future
live for him enlye I will be strong
Gods help and my own will have
never yet failed me. Not even on this
last night will suffer myself to think
of tho past.
Taking a book from the table she re-
solutely compelled herself to become
interested in it's contents.
Hers was but common story. The
idolized daughter of wealthy parents
She had when only eighteen, met and
loved with all the force of her strong
nature her fathers clerk. handsome
Jack Trent, and she knew by woman
sweet intuition that her love was a
fondly returned. So, when he an
nounoed his departure for Colorado
Ito seek his fortune.' Grace let hin
70 calmly and hopefully, sure that he
heart alone read his, and exulting il
the pride which would not let him spoal
his love till in the worlds eyes the!
were equal.
Scarcely a year passed ere deatl
took, one after tho other, father
mother and brother, and then. by ont
of those unaccountable freaks Of for
tune, Grace learned that she was penni
less. Staggered, but not crushed, BY
these repeated blows, she hired ant
furnished the little room from her mod
est means, and secured q position a!
teacher in the public schools of tn,
city. Strong In faith of her lover!
return, she bad endured the wearJinf
treadmill existence of q teachers lif,
In a large city.
Five, six, seven years had passet
with out word from Jack. Still sh'
kept bravely on, her heart, but not hel
reason, whispering that he was tru'
and yet would come for Der. Ther
came the first tidings that had reached
her for eight years-he was married
She never forgot those days, when th'
strong heart which the loss of frieud'
and wealth could not break was bowet
to the dust In agony.
That, too, had passed, and whel
Col. Irving had told his love and offer
ed her release from her cold, hard life
she had listened to him calmly ant
frankly told him all, aud he, with deel
insight into her strong, true nature
begged than she would come to hin
Is she was, only promising to forge
the past and to love him.
So she had come to the last hours o
her old life, Closing her book. sh'
had commenced unfasting the thiol
braids of brown hair, when the littl
maid entered, announcing . strang
gentleman below who was enquirinl
for her.
With q shiver of apprehension Grao
went down. Opening tho door OF th
shabby parlor, she behold IN eager
never forgotten face.
| "Jack!" she cried, springing forward
And then suddenly remembering he
promise, she tried to withdraw th
hands he was holding tightly.
Don't, Gracie-don't take then
awayl They are mine, my very own
at last-are they mott dearesta Yo'
know that love you, Grace-that
have worked, prayed, longed for yo
always. Why don't you speake Hav
I startled your Are you angry tbat
stayed 80 long, my darling7 Let m
tell you Ill about IT,
! iben followed the old story of youth
full enthusiasm. high hopes, riches game
only TO be swept away, repeated fail
ures, and now SUCCESS; and he had n
turned to lay the results At her feet
together with his heart, which had a
ways been hers. He had not heard q
I her losses until near home, but an OK
casional letter from = friend had In
formed him that she remained unmal
4 ried, and his heart told him why. W.
he wrong in thinking she loved him
Had he Been deceived al these year
or Why did she look At him 50 strange
/ ly1
Grace listened with an icy face to th
ringing. eager voice, and then sal
hopelooely. but 6rmlV.-