Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-06-27

ing war matters, and what had been, and
what was TO come, etc,
Dick had just joined Boughton's regi-
ment, and the Colonel was as anxious 10
know all about him as though he had been
in several engagements, whereas he had
not haer in any He came Hngling dawn
with Boughton one day, ia all the pride of
his new trappings, flushed and really look
ing quite gallant judith had still the ad-
vantage OF that half inch, but the boy was
sturd:er than at seventeen, and carried
himself very well.
They arrived about shutdown, and the
Colonel, being confined TO his room by q
very sharp attack Of gout, they had some
chocolate in Judith's Tea Caddy.n The
hard times of sweet potato coffee and
blackberry-leaf tea had not yet changed,
and Judith's chocolate was above praise.
Boughton cast rather curious look about
the room as he sat down, and Judith hand
ed him one of the wide, shallow cups that
he remembered. IL was all just the same,
all except the kitten in the Toby collar, who
was now sedate matron with two chill
dren, who had each inherited Toby collar,
as much like their parents as possible.
Boughton took one upon his knee, and
Dick captured the other, while Judith min
soaked in the chocolate,
II say" remarked Dick, suddenly, "by
~ II it isn't only week from Christmas.
DO you remember the way you trotted of
and left us ON Christmas Eve three years
ago, Cousin Phil! You do, don't you,
Judyin
Judith said: ''0h, yes," that she remem-
bered, of course.
Boughton, who was smoking one of the
COlonels old Cabanas, lazily strOked the
paw of the kitten on his knee with the unoc-
cupied fingers of his cigar hand. Judith
thought she detected q smile-the wrath Of
smile behind the smoke haze She drew
herself up, and q very naughty look came
over her fair, firelit features.
"Assuredly remember it, said Bough-
ton, all of a sudden, when Dick, who was
busily engaged in tormenting his kitten by
pulling It's Toby collar half over it's ears,
had forgotten that he had put the question.
81 should think did" he wenton. 'The
thermometer was only fifteen above zero,
and the wagon got stalled in a snow.dri
before we were half way to the station"
Judith again waved perceptibly taller.
She would have added two or three cubts
10 her stature II she could have done so.
She told herself that she hated her cousin
Philip Boughton very much indeed.
"Well Jude certainly made lovely
present out Of you, anyway" laughed Dick.
"And, 1 must say, she appreciated IL. 1
don't believe Tvs been OFF of her arm for the
last three years.
Boughton could not repress quick look
in Juhith's direction She was making fire
screen out of one of her long hands, and he
could not see her expression for the shad-
ows from her fingers. But, by and by,
when Dick went out for something or other,
he pitched his cigar into the fire and went
over beside her.
Have you really worn that trinket all
this timesn he said, with more of curiosity
than any other emotion apparent III his
voice.
Certainly said Judith, stifiy. "You
were very good in sending it TO me, and |
was very rude TO you"
She got suddenly to her feet and stood in
front of him.
"Cousn Phil" she said, in quick, vi
brating tone that he had never before
heard her use, II began three letters to you
about that, but | was ashamed to send
them, l was afraid you would not read
them. / was sOrry-I-L am sorry" she
ended, under her breath
There was a pause, but before he could
speak, she had turned back the sleeve of
her gray gown from her pretty, blue
veined arm, and had unfastened the dull
gold links, with their sapphire settings.
"Here," she said, holding il out to him (;
Ill ought not to have kept it. always
meant--to return it to you.''
ssDid youg' said Bonghton, in a somewhat
curious voice.
He allowed her to ~ the bracelet in his
hands, stood turning it about in the glow
from the fire which made daylight in the
big, blue stones.
"Of course you don't expect me to keep
- he said at last, looking up at her.
"Whyl whyln she said, rather blankly.
20, well, because like to fancy you more
consistent than other women, perhaps. You
know it wouldn't be very consistent to tell
me that you were sorry for a rudeness in
one breath, and then to commit another in
the next Would it, MOVE"
"I-don't understand" said the Lady
Tongue, who seemed all at once TO have
forfeited her claim TO that title.
"Why, you see," Phil went on slowly,
sit isn't very civil to return a gift. May
put it on for youi"
She stood perfectly silent for fully a mo
ment. There was no sou nd save from the
softly cracking fire. Then she held out her
arm. AS he slipped the bracelet back into
its place, he said, quietly:
"That was very pretty custom among
the Jews, was it notl-the custom of having
betrothal bracelets"
did they9" said Judith, indistinctly.
"Why, you must have read of it. The
lover put ON the bracelet and then pushed
back his sweetheart's vail for the first time.
Your hair is like vail, Judith"
us itF' said Judith.
There was hammering at her ears, and
his voice came to her indistinctly She felt
that he was drawing her nearer and nearer
to him by the arm that he still held, then
his hand was on her hair pushing it back
from her temple and eyes. Then his
mouth upon her mouth
She seemed suddenly TO break from a
SPELL She pushed him from her with
might and main, and stood apart, shudder-
ing but erect.
''You-you-th that you have only to
command, Sir Oracle" she said, in a
steady voice. She even smiled little.
Then she took Off the bracelet and laid it on
the table between them.
'Tcan not wear it,' she said, very clearly.
"And dad win be wanting me now. Good
night"
She was gone, and Boughton stood for
several minutes with his chin set iu his
thumb and forefnger, looking down at the
pretty blue and gold kickshaw.
1t was just three days after this that a
rather lively skirmish took place in the
Mill Meadow.
1t was an encounter between Boughton's
men, who were on their way TO join General
- at Gordonsville, and regiment that
had lost its way in following.