Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-08-16
HE WON HIS BRIDE.

/ had foregone conclusion that / should
be refused when / sued for Marion Stuart's
hand, and yet fancied that she showed
me more favors than she did others.
My avowal seemed to crmsh her, and
for some moments she could not find
words to answer me. At last heard the
truth from her lips She was already
plighted to another and could not break
faith without disregarding dead fathers
wishes.
In vain implored her that 1t was q sin
to cause the living unhappiness because
of the promise to the dead, and for a
moment her lips trembled and tears
| glistsned in her eyes, but she controlled
herself with an effort.
This subject must never be renewed
between us. If we meet again, it must be
as passing acquaintance"
81 beseech YOU" / cried, clinging, as
one will in despair, to the shadow of hope
after the substance has fed, IL beseech
| you recall this harsh decision"
II must keep my word" she answered,
In tone so intlexible that could but bow
submisslvely to my fate, and depart,
| crushed and broken from her presence.
Not long after Dudley Grantham. Mari.
on's affianced returned from his foreign
travels. With the curiosity one always
has to know what manner of man his
rival Is, l sought an early opportunity to
scrutinize mine. To my chagrin | found
no ground for criticism, and little room for
The poor consolation | might have drawn
from comparisons favorable to myself.
Like most victims of melancholy, | be-
took myself to solitude My favorite
haunt was a secluded nook bv the river
bank, where | spent may an hour brood
ing over my misery, or in the still less
agreeable occupation of contemplating my
rivals approaching happiness.
One day, as | sat musing in my hiding |
place, heard voices near. One of them | |
recognized as Marion Stuarts. A glance |
through the bushes revealed the owner of |
the other, from whom turned aside 10 |
escape the annoyance of second look, |
for was beginning to hate Dudley Grant |
ham, and all the more because could find |
no good excuse for doing so.
had no desire to play the eavesdropper.
but could not leave my place of conceal
ment without confronting those whom /
wished to shun.
There are some beautiful flowers on
the opposite bank. said Marion; Il wish
we were over there to get them"
Nothing can be easier, her companion
answered See, here is Il boat"
"A very little and crazy-looking one,"
MariOn's voice replied.
1t will safely carry one Of us, at least"
returned the other. Remain here and I
will go after the flowers"
Then there was a sound of splashinc
oars, and soon cry of alarm from Mari IN
caused me to hasten 10 her side
A UIapca Al. =. |
boat, unweildly,at best through some mis-
infringement had been overturned, and
Dudley Grantham, evidently an unskill-
full swimmer. was struggling for Ne 81
the water with apparently little chance for
success, for the depth was considerable
and the current rapid
Save him save himp shrieked Marion.
extending her hands toward me in an
agony of supplication E
10 comply would be an easy task for |.
was an expert swimmer, but the man ,
browning there before me was he whom |
most hated-whose life stood between
me and the dearest object of mine. Should
| save him or leave him to his fate. thus
at once sating my vengeance and removing
Inc only obstacle TO my happiness? For
moment there was murder in my heart
black as that which darkened that of =
Gam s!-murder, with all the ghastly com
ltants of malice and hatred, but with .
out the boldness to face the hangman's
1oose. | must have looked like a verv
lemon then, as | stood there. motionlcss.
With folded arms and compressed lips.
Almost fiercely Marion clutched nv
lrm. AS my eyes fell on her blanched. II
error-strickcn face, q thought flashed !
lpon me. Could it be that after all She
owed him and that her happiness was u
pound up in his life?
That thought determined me. In an in
tant | sprang into the water and n few =
:rokes brought me within reach of NV -
rowning rival. whom l dragged ashore
nd lad, not too gently, half dead at the
eet OF her to whom. rather than 10 my 1
elf, he owed his life Then. without I
peaking q word, hurried from the =
Gene.
That evening Dudley Grantham sought
ne out and would not be denied an inter y
lew III
II have come to reward as well as thank
on" he began.
Il desire neither reward nor thanks" l
nswered, roughly.
The thanks may be valueless, but the
,ward-"
ITO offer it is an insultr
Even if it be Marion's hand?"
looked at him inquiringly.
.'She has told me all. he continued, ''and
have released her from her vow. She
free to become yours. Tonight re
me my travels. May you prize the i
easure resign as highly as would have !,
me" +
| seized his hand and pressed it. After
!, had not Marion given up nobler man -
me? have often tince told her so,
It she will never quite believe that | 4
ally meant to let poor Dudley drown.