Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-03-23
CHAPTER NNu.

seemed TO him the delay was interminable
His eager desire shot along the track like cleo
tricity; and when at last he reached the
place where he was to leave the train. he had
gone through year OF ordinary hopes and
fears. He mounted the Stage-box and took
his seat beside the butfalo-clad CoarSe-
bearded and grim driver. The road Law
through billy country, with many roman
tic views on either hand. 1t was late in the
season TO see the full glories of autumn. but
the trees were not yet bare and in MANY
places the contrasts of color were exquisite.
For once the driver found his match; he had
a passenger rs taClturn as himself For the
first few miles not a word was spoken, saving
few brief threats to the horses; but at last
Jehu could hold out no longer; his reputation
was in danger, if he allowed any one to be
more silent than himself, and he cautiously
commenced SkirmiSh.
"From New York."
a nod was the only reply
Belong about herel'
No" with a shake of the head
Ben up here afore though, l gueSsF
Yes"
Thought / remembered Year or SC
ago."
Yes
Il II a
like shoe-kit, and suthin' like pair o
clo'es- frames"
Oakhurst could but smile at the description
of his easel and artists outfit; still he con.
tented himself with brief assent.
Keeps tight as the bark to white OAK, VI
muttered Jehu to himself. Guess III try
him ON t'other side, SEEM he's so otlish"
Then aloud
NEnOvn1 Souare Eia1J I },Din1-ag1
YES Numbered Oakhurst, looking furi
ously at the queStioner.
The glance frightened Jehu'S soul from the
| red-curtained windows, where it had beer
peeping out, back to its hiding place, wher
ever that might be.
well, yer needn't bite feller's head of. >
muttered he, in the same undertone as be
fore. And if we want to keep to yerself.
shet up yer darned oyster-shell, and see how
much you make by it. Not more'n four and
sixpence, guess. Maybe you'll come back
bouts wise as We come
Thenceforward Buffalo Coat was grim,
his admonitions to the horses were a trihe
more emphatic; once he whistled fragment
| of minor stave, but spoke not a word til
the coach reached the tavern door.
"You can drive to Mr.. Fields house, said
! Oakhurst.
want to go where he isf' replied Jehu
with sardonic grin. oval, I'm goin' past
the meetin'us, and I'll set We down at the
graveyard"
"What do you meanF asked Oakhurst.
between anger and terror, at this brutal Jest.
"Why, he's dead, you know, and ben layin'
there on the side hill fortnight
"Take me to the house, nevertheless"
"Field's housed 'Siah Stebbins, the lame
shoemaker, he's jest moved into't Miss
Stebbins, she can't 'commodate we, mos,
likely; got too many children; ant over an
above neat, nuther."
| "Where is Miss Field-Agnes-hi daugh
| tern
sWal, can't say-gone off, I b'lieve"
| "She has relatives here, has she not!"
| "Guess not; never heerd of any,"
| With heavy heart Oakhurst alighted a
| the tavern. Mr.. Field dead! Agnes lef
alone without friends, and now gone! TIL,
| thought stunned, overpowered him. Will,
| he had been treadng the paths of dalliance
| forgetful of his obligations, the poor girl had
passed through the great trial of her life, the
loss of her only parent and protector-hat
met the awful hour alone. Hardly consciou,
of what he did, he went to the churchyard
and sought for a new-inade grave. The
with startling vividness. He saw the fond
| father on his death-bed, leaving the orphan
| to the kindness of strangers to his blood-the
daughter weeping, disconsolate, the solitary
mourner at the funeral-the desolate house
the well-meant but painful sympathy of tn,
| villagers. He, meanwhile, who should hav,
| cheered and sustained her, was afar of neg
| lectful, recreant to his VOWS Could he evel
| forgive himself? What would he not civ,
| for one word from the dumb lips, for on
| look from the eyes now closed forever?
| But regrets were useless; his first duty wa
| to the living ne must hasten to find Agnes
But how, wheres 1t occurred to him that
| the village lawyer was probably adminstra-
tor of the estate and could tell him where
Agnes was. He went, therefore to the law
yers office. 1t was shut, and placard in
formed him that Mr.. Blank was attending
court at the county seat. The LAWYER
housekeeper said that agnes was to New
York, with some relation or other-a Mr.
Jameson, she believed his name was, but
couldn't say, for certain. The Squire could
tell; but he wouldn't be back for three OF
four DAYS"
Leaving his card, with the request that Mr.
Blank would communicate to him Agnes
| address, Oakhurst hired conveyance to tn,
railway. He could not remain In Ralston al
hour; it was tomb, and the air stified him
| On his way, he bad ample opportunity Il
consider what a slender clue he had TO fine
the girl; for he thought of the long column
of Jamiesons in the Directory" and, besides
he did not feel sure that the housekeeper had
correctly remembered the name, even.
We leave the repentant lover to follow or
the track of Agnes, assured that he will re-
ceive sufficient punishment for his folly in the
remorse and anxiety he must feel
1t is quite time that our neglected heroine
should appear upon the stage Gentle Agnes,
orphaned, deserted, lonely; it is not from any
distrust as to her talents, her manners, OF
her figure, that she has been made to wait SC
long for the caIl-boy. The curtain rises. A
fair-haired girl Of medium height, light Of
frame, with face in whose sad beauty Is
blended the least perceptible trace of woman.
ly resolution. She has borne the heaviest
sorrow; for when she followed her father to
the grave she buried the last object of her
love. The long, inexcusable silence OF Oak.
hurst had been explained to her; she now be
leved him faithless, and had mot without a
pang) striven to uproot his memory from he.
heart. Courageous, but with more than the
delicacy Of her sex, strong only in innocence
and great-heartedness, mature in character
and feeling, but with fresh and tender sensi.
biity, she appeals TO all manly and wonanly
sympathy.
When the last ties that bound her to her
native village were broken, she accepted the
hearty invitation of her cousin. Robert
Jameson, and went with him TO New York.
The house at once became home to her.
Mrs. Jameson received her as though shs
had been daughter. Such pretty mother.
less child-so loving so sincerei How could
the kind woman repress the impulse TO fold
her to her bosom2 Not even her anxiety &c
retain undivided possession of her sons heart
restrained her. So Agnes lived, quiet, affec-
nonate, but Misunderstanding as was natural
after the trials she had passed. Insensibly
she became @the angel in the house," mother
and son felt drawn TO her By an irresistibh
attraction By every delicate kindness, by
attention to every wish and within, by glances
full of admiration and tenderness, both
showed the power which her eauty and
goodness exerted And truly, she was worthy
of the homage. The younger men who saw
her were set afame at once, or sighed afar
In despair; while the elderly felt an unac-
eountAbIe desire to pat her golden head,