Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-03-14

resuected me TOO much to intrude himself
too suddenly on my life. He had let me
go reluctantly, hoping TO see me soop
again. but his cousins illness and his owr
accident had kept rs long apart.
II had plenty Of leisure time for think
ing of YOU. Merle. he said, smiling, when
| was lying up with my broken leg. Ed.
gar did his best for me, but with all his
good nursing, poor fellow. thought
woman's hand would have been softer
about me- Do you remember my telling
Won. dear. that | wished Agnes could have
known yOu? l meant to try and win you
for my wife then"
| seemed TO grow calmer and quieter
while he talked to me in this way. He
was so very gentle that | soon grew less
shy with him: but still it seemed to me
wonderful, almost Ii miracle, that any
one so good and kind should care for me.
We had forgotten Aunt Agatha until
Mr.. HAwtry-but he told me that should
have to call him Roger-spoke of her. 1t
seems he was telling her all about his
hones when | rang at the bell. He was
enibarri ssed himself at the sight OF me.
Your aunt and ! agreed upon one
point'' he said, her mischieyOusly, for
| had asked him not TO praise me so; but
he was not able to finish his speech, Tor
Aunt Agatha herself interrupted US.
Mr.. Hawtry met her at the door and
said something to her in low voice. ]
saw her Gear face light up and the tears
come into her eyes. and then she held out
her arms to me.
as it really so. Merle. dear child' l
wish YOU every happiness. | know YOUR
friend very little, it is true; but all the
same ! feel sure we NAV trust YOU to him"
And then she and Mr.. HawtTy shook
hands; and liked the way they looked at
each other.
Uncle Keith was fidgeting for his tea,
and no wonder, for it was nearly an hour
after the usual time. Kind. thoughtful
Aunt Agatha! He was walking up and
down the room looking at his watch, but
he thumped Il in his pocket when he en-
tered, and said "Hir-rumphr' and if ever
a man looked pleased when Aunt Agatha
put her hands on his shoulders and whiS-
pered in his ear, Uncle Keith did at that
moment.
He wished US JOY very nicely. though he
cleared his throat great deal over it, as
though he were rather embarrassed. but
his eyes twinkled every time he looked at
us, and ] knew by the way he talked to
Mr.. Hawtry that he liked him; indeed,
they got on very well together,
When tea was over, we all sat at the
open bay-widdow in the drawing-roOm.
talking very happily. Aunt Agatha and
/ sat hand in hand on the couch, but Mr..
Hawtry was very near us.
1t was twilight presently, and there was
only a glimmer of light in the road out
side The moon had not yet risen but
there was star or two III the dark-blue
sky. The room was sweet with scented
geranium and roses; a moth few in at the
open window and brushed against us.
Some children were singing in the dis
lance. How still and peaceful it was!
Aunt Agatha and | grew silent presently
while the others talked. 1t was nice to
listen to them; their voices seemed to
blend with a dream-a happy dream that
IN and Was if only tho
evening of the day when Hannah had
talked to me about the brindled COW? |
had crossed the bridge So caTeleSSly that
afternoon in the sunshine, never dreaming
that it would lead me to Il new life.
The moon had risen when we crossed il
an hour later; the whole world seemed
bathed in its pure white radiance. Every
thing was TRANSPORTED, even the silent
cranes and pulleys and blocks of stone
were touched with radiance or emitted
strange shadows. The gray towers of All
Saints stood out clearly against the blue
sky. Ripples of iridescent light played on
the riyer-silvery CLEANS of brightness
with margin of Indebtedness. | re
membered that we talked little, but that
our silence held a world of meaning in it.
When Mr.. Hawtry spoke, it was of his
mother and Agnes. He had dearly loved
them, ana MS was a aIUnrul nature; II
did not bury its dead out of sight and
cease to lament them. There were house.
hold inches left vacant, where the tender
est memories were enshrined.
1t promised well for my future that this
was the case. The loving son and brother
would surely be a faithful husband. ]
know that | listened to him with fall
heart, and all sorts of tender vows and
silent prayers and inaudIDle thankSgiv-
ings seemed to frame themselves. AS !
walked beside him | thought of Gays
artless speech, ''DO we any of us deserve
our happinessg" Oh, no; she was right:
it is Il free gift received from the ALI
Father.
Mr. Hawtry bade me goodbye at the
door, but our parting was nOu IUI Iung
| knew | should see him in the morning.
Hannah seemed Il little startled when
she saw me. How late you are. Miss
FentOnl ] WIS just wondering what
had become of YOU" and then her eyes
opened rather widely. HAS anything
happened, for you look different some
hOw?"
had not meant to tell anyone that
night: but Hannah was trustworthy and
faithful and was very fond OF her.
Nothing has happened," / returned,
with assumed carelcssness, except that
Mr.. Hawtry was at Aunt Agatha's."
Mr.. Hawtry. miSsl' with a Shrill CreS
cendO of astOnishment.
Yes; | was very much surprised to see
him, as you may imagine; and Hannah, !
expect | shall surprise you, too, because
am going to marry Mr. HaWtry."
l shall never forget the girls look: her
rosy face turned quite pale; her eyes were
distended with wonder
You Ure going to marry Squire Haw-
try, Miss Feutour And then in her eX.
element she kissed me heartily aud a
moment afteTward begged my pardon for
taking such II liberty. You must forgive
me, miss, for | was almost beside myself
with the news"
-, =
forgive" / returned, blushingly.
"Oh, but you will be Madame Hawtry
some day." replied Hannah, humbly,
land Lulle's only farm servant and
Lyddy also. | must not forget the differ
euce between us. / wish you JOY, Miss
Fenton, indeed | do. Squire Hawtry is
the finest gentleman l know, aud Molly
says the same. She will be proud and glad
when she hears the news that you are
coming to the Red Farm"
Hauuah's words almost took my breath
away. | was glad when she babe me
goodnight and left me alone with the
sleeping children.
I creDt softly to the window. and sat for
some time looking over the mOoalit gar
dens. | felt, with n sudden thrill at the
remembrance of lIauuah'S words. that |
had not realized il yet / had only thought
of Mr.. Hawtry-of his wonderful good
ness and Kindness. It had not entered my
mind that ! should spend my life at the
Red Farm. .
1t seemed almost too good to he true
closed my ewes aud tried to imagine it all.
Should ever spend long happy days in
that drawing room, looking out on the
bowling-Creen9 Should | sit in the porch
and see the privet hedge and the walnut
tree with the circular seat, and smell the
Jasmine ana CIemauS?
Squire Hawtrv'S wife at the Red Farmi
No, | could not believe it yet | remem-
bered how l had sat in the old nursery at
MarShlauds, dreaming of all sorts of
things in the moonlight, until had fallen
asleep. Such thought as this had never
occurred to me. ! had imagined myself
an old woman, sitting by a solitary fire
side; but there had been no Squire Hawtry
riding up on brown Peter then.
1t was long before [ could sleep that
night. MANY girl in my position has
felt as | did loath to close MY ewes on
that happy day. One sleeps heavily for
sorrow, as the disciples did in the naoonlit
garden: but joy seems only to keep our
young hearts restless. | wondered the next
morning when | should he summoned
downstairs ! knew Mr. Hawtry would
come early and bring GAYS flowers with
him, but he would not ask for me at once.
Presently a message came up to the
nursery that Hannah was to take the
children into the public garden | knew
what this meaut-Mr. Hawtry had told
NV mistress | dressed The children as
quickly rs possible. thinking that / should
be sent for every minute; but it was some
time before | heard anything; then ny
mistress came up to me herself. with
saw she was much moved. Her lovely
Of ga