The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-12-27

and rather rOlishing the thought OF q
picnic supper, though no thought TO-
gretfully OF Grace, walked out to the
carriage with her helped her ~gallantly
10 her scat, spfang In beside her, ana
they were soon OF,
The direction they would ordinarily
have taken was not past the country
home on the village %out6kirta, where
Walter had recently parted with Grace
but this time Mary directed the driver
TO 90 around that way,
"rhe roads ara 80 much better she
said, 1--WE shall make up for tho differ
ence IN the long Kun"
Had she any motive besides this In
choosing this cOuraeY Who can tellY
Certainly there was nothing 10 Indicate
as she merrlly laughed and ohatted IN
tho most uuoonoerned aud happy'go
lucky manner
Walter did his best to fall into her
merry mood, but all of no avail, Grace
only was ever before him, Why, oh,
why, had he ever yloldedY But II was
700 late now, no thought, 80 he SGT him
self with no good a grace as possible to
make the best OF H.
AS the old homestead Of tho Gordons
hove In sight, Walter found himself
getting more and more ldgety Much
az he always wanted TO see Grace, he
hoped from his heart she would not DO
Ia the yard or no the window lie was
innocent enough, he know, and yet he
felt like q culprit and was quite sure
no could never hope 10 explain 10 her
how IL al was,
They were nearly opposite the house,
No one was In sight lie would got
safely past, no thought, whom, horror
Of horror what should Mary Bancroft
do but call 10 her drivers
"GeOrge, stop the horses here and lot
them drink ~ the pump, They are
thirsty, poor things, and wo have a long
way 10 80 yet"
Walter know ho was lost. The car.
rlago was open ~ the sides, and Grace
| would be sure 10 500 him. So no grew
| reckless, animated from sheer desper'
alton, and soon was Joining Mary Ban
croft In merrlest peals Of laughter,
while George watered the horses from
the running trough.
"This IL a pretty old place, isn't II
Walter ?" she said AZ last, "Who lives
hereY'
"This Is whore Mrs, Gordon lives"
said Walter, sheeplshly.
"Mrs. Gordon2 o, yes, tho mother Of
Grace Gordon, who won't 10 AlsOp'S
school at q alesburg, Whore Ia she
nowY'
20, Grace Is nj homo, l believe"
Walter mookly replied, for never was
there such a coward 40 q young man
In love, especially when talking to the
other girl.
Tho carriage rolled on, but not until
Walter had caught sight OF u blue dress
Auttoring behind the lattice, aud knew
that Grace Gordon had seen the man
she loved and had promised to marry
going OIL with another girl, when
scarcely an hour before he had told her
that no could not enter tho house with
her, owing TO the pressure Of business,
Grace had indeed seen Walter, had
stood looking after him AZ n turned
10 stone, and then entering the house
had thrown herself on an old kitchen
setteo, where her mother found her IN
u deep swoOn upon arriving q little
while after from u visit 10 aslck neigh
Dor,
30, mother, motherl' was all the
poor gill found words TO say, and then
came u long period of brain fever, dur.
Ing which fho fancied herself q tele
phone box through which messages
were mompntarily transmitted " Wal
tor who was chained In a prison dun.
geol,
FART II,
II was the week before Christmas,
1857, In Nebraska The morning had
been somewhat moist and mild, grow
ing colder at noontdo, with an almost
impalpable frozen mist In tho air, but
all was still, and occasionally the sun
shono out bright and warm behind u
mass Of dim drifting clouds.
From u little side window OF u low
wooden school house, set out on the
wIndridden plains, Grace Gordon
looked anXiously westward where u
dark, |portontious looking cloud was
lifting its hydra like head, A dozen
or more children, of all ages from baby
hood 10 seventeen, were at her back,
peerlng over her shoulders aud talking
ia ominous whispers, Few among
them but knew the signs Of IN ap.
preaching blizzard, aud almost with
one vo,,o they had been urging tho
young teacher 10 dismiss school md
lot them hasten 10 their homer
But All unfamiliar with Che swift In
slduous monsters Of tho plnius, DO they
cyclones or blizzards, the teacher had
hesitated too long, Gatl ering itself
up pr the terrible onslaught the dread
ful storm was full upDn them, reuding
and tearing the frail school house ~ u
fierce lion would u tender lamb, crush
ing its sides with fierce jaws,And break.
ing In the roof with one fun blow just
as the terror stricken children emerged
into the frozen sloet, that cut their
checks like knives aud dashed around
them like rUds OF scorpions
Grace Gordon Wa a hero now Tho
tender heart that had almost snapped
when seemingly betrayed by the one
man trusted, was nov goady for mm.