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

told on him, and he was too weak Tor fur.
Their conversation. Delirium set IN. and
for time his life was despaired of. And
Catherine Wood kept her word. An
that friendship could suggest and
money execute was done for his comfort.
When the danger was past and .
slow convalescence began, he remon-
strated with her.. r. 20
Il am your friend" she pleaded:
lido not deny me the privilege of giv-
ing you new start in the world. II
costs me no sacrifice; you will not re-
fuse?''
your trust in me shall not be misplace
ed he answered humblY, and he
could but accept the proffered aid in
the spirit gwen, while the acceptance
was his salvation.
The hardships he had endured, re-
morse for his degradation. has trans
formed him, but with the return
of health he was still a fine look
ing man; many times Catherine caught
now look, now a gesture, that recall
ed the light-hearted boy of yore. -
Never word of love was spoken; he
felt his position too keenly; but there
was an undeclared bond between them
that each felt, and that rendered their
hours together very sweet.
At length the time of his complete
recovery came, and as they had plann-
ed, he babe her good-by and started
for California to fill a position offered
by friend of hers.
And Catherine went back to her
country home; commonplace her life
was, yet many a poor, heartsick crea-
ture learned to bless her name.
The years sped on, and her hair was
sprinkled with gray; IAN old maid"
the young girls of the village called
her. Of Harry Latimer she heard but
little; he was prospecting, and she told
herself that was enough. :
Yet his silence for the past year did
hurt in spite of that.
''He is comparatively young man;
it is only natural that he should for
get the past and form other ties,' she
unused.
One morning she was in the
grape arb0r at the foot of the
garden, superintending the work of
simple, inefficient old Joe.
Il clare for it, Miss Katie, it can t be
done; that vine won't 60 up their no.
howl calculated the old darkey, after
Miss Wood had explained for the twen-
tieth time.
''Do give me the ladder, Joe,' she
exclaimed, out of patience with his
stupidity, "and I'll do it myself!''
You'll fall,'' grimmed Joe, as she
mounted it nimbly and began fasten-
ing the vines.
''Get me more cord,' she command
ed, and Joe shuffled off.
He was gone such long time that
she was growing inpatient, when a
voice addressed her.
my good woman will you tell me
where 1 shall find Miss WoodP The
housemaid told me she was in the
garden
A huge sunbonnet concealed her
face, but it was turned toward the
speaker with surprising alacrity. A
aforementioned form met her gaze.
my friend, Mr.. Latimer, you have
comet she replied almost incoherent-
ly, the garden shears falling at his feet.
''Catherine! did not dream of that
being you in the dephs of that bonnet, y
as she descended and removed that
useful article.
How much younger and more like
himself he looked, she thought, as he
held her hand, and they exchanged
words of greeting.
1T is woman's province to grow
old while you are young,' she said
with little half sigh as his eyes rested
on her whitening hair.
She read in his face how much she
had changed since they parted. He
looked at her gravely.
''You are the one woman who will
never be old to me- he said. Il have
earned the right to speak at last. There
has never been day for the past ten
years but l have looked forward to the
time when could honorablY ask you
to share the life you have saved. 1t is
yours; do not send me away now,
Catherine
He needed no answer but hor eyes
raised to his.
II thought maybe you would GOMEZ
she confessed later; ''but / am glad the
waiting is over"
lit might have been forever if you
had not saved me.'
"Hush! Thank God it was not so''
she added reverently.
A quiet wedding took place in the
village church, though few recognized
in the dignitied bridegroom the dashing
young cavalry leader who had invaded
the quiet village years before. And
to him the mature bride was far dear
er than when she shone in all her
youthful beauty AT last the two
hearts that had loved so faithfully were
united.