The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-10-19

home. But she was more self-reliant,
less timid and shy, eager to learn all
household mysteries, and learned to
sew upon her own dresses and bon
nets.
81 may be a poor mans wife," she
said, once. when teased about her
new fancies, ''And if so, / must he
my own millIner and dressmaKer.
For three months after Craige Hill
man left his home his father spent
all his time in gathering together all
his wealth in gold. II began to be
the subject of much comment, and
many shook their heads wisely.
''He'll be murdered in his bed
some night" they said, and were
elated with their spirit of prophecy
znhen axe anaruiPg the entire house,
hold force of Sunny Slope rushed in.
TO Hilmanton to tell of an awful
midnight tragedy.
josiah HiIman had been murdered
in his bed, 1t was a hideOus. brutal
murder, every mark of robbery and
cruelty being left in the room.
Craige was summoned from the
Theological acadamy, and found him,
self heir to Sunny Slope only. Every
vestige of gold was gone. In vain
the house was searched no will WAS
there, and not one of the thousands
of gold coins the Old man had gath
cred.
jerks & Barton knew Of three hun
dred thousand dollars in bonds that
had not yet been sold, but they were
as good as money in the hands of the
thief; and they, too. were gone,
Craige shut the house up after the
funeral, put the matter in the hands
of the police, and returned to the
academy. He studied hard and con.
scientiously, but with pure heart, a
noble intellect, and firm resolution
to keep his self-impOsed VOWS he
was but human, and he grieved for
his lost love- and for the wealth that
would have given him the power to
do so much good.
The two years had passed which
finished Craige HiIman's course of
study. and he entered the ministry.
He saw Mr.. Barton. and once more
received a stern refusal to his suit.
"Your private fortune will barely
feed and clothe you" said the old
banker, "and you may not have u
salary for years"
II shall sell Sunny Slope, and it
ought to bring good price,"
at may and it may not! But
will not have Hattie disturbed. She
has forgotten all the past foly!"
But when Craige returned home in
the garden of Sunry Slope little
: figure waited for him,
"You love me still, Craige ." she
said, in answer to his raptuous greet.
ing.
II haYe never ceased to love you
for one hour"
"Then will he your wife when
ever you will. l am of age now, and
/ have right to decide my own life
Craige," she said earnestly, 81 would
not say this if father had any real
reason to forbid me to love you"
He told her his plans TO sell the
old home and try to get parish in
some western city, and they parted
with loving vows of constancy.
Perhaps Mr.. Barton may have felt
before in his life the sensation of ut
ter amazement but certainly it was
never stronger than when Hattie
two months later told him that
Cralge lad sold Sunny Slope to Mr.
jerks. and accepted parish in Wis
consin, adding simply:
II shall marry Craige tomorrow
father. and we start for his new home
the next day."
The old bankers rage was past de
scriptiOn, but his little blue-eyed
daughter, fearless and resolute, only
repeated her rebellious words.
"Craige has done nothing to forfeit
the consent you once gave him tC
marry me-" she said quietly. "He
is the same man, nobler, truer, more
worthy of respect and love. 1 know
my life will have its priYations, but
l do not fear them"
"Will you brave your father:
curse ?' sputtered the Old man.
II do not think you will curse me
she said, gently. II have obeyec
you always, but I am of an age now
to decide for myself"
And he did not curse her. Finding
her resolute, he gave grndging con
sent and. "to save appearances. the
family appeared at the church wher
the quiet wedding took place. OIG
Mr.. jerks pressed a check into the
BRIDES hand at parting.
I'm miserable old bachelor" hi
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