The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-07-11
A LOVE STORY.

sat spinning at my little wheel In
the sun. for the autumn day was cold.
when heard some one whistling, and
on looking up, there was young Squire
Turner. with his arms folded on the
gate, looking over. When he caught
my eye he laughed. blushed. and
arose and made him courtesy.
When ! courtesied he bowed, max
ing his curls dance over his shoulders,
and said he: "May / come imp"
"And welcome, SIR" said /. and
set a chair, for he was grandfather's
landlord; but for all that felt uncom-
Portable, for was not used to fine com
pany.
He talked away. paying me more
compliments than was used to.
Since I'm telling the story I'll tell
the truth. ! had done wrong about
one thing. Neither of the old folks
knew that l wore Evan Locke's ring in
my bosom, or that we'd taken a vow to
each other. Evan was a poor, strug-
Cling young surgeon. l thought l
would wait awhile until could sweeten
the news with the fact that he'd begun
to make his fortune.
That night we had something else to
think of. Misfortunes had come upon
grandfather; but didn't foresee that
when the half-year's rent should come
due not penny to pay it with could be
found.
At this time Evan Locke and I had
been as fond as ever OF each other, and
he came as often as before to talk with
grandpa on the wintry nights; and still
every little while our young landlord.
Squire Turner, would drop in and sit
in his lazy way and watch me knit or
spin.
/ could not help his coming, nor help
seeing him when he came, and did
not deserve that Evan should be angry
with me. But he was. Eli, SO high
and mighty, and spoke as though one
like the squire could mean no good by
coming to so poor a place as the school
masters. He made me angry and l
spoke up.
Well, Evan was wroth with me and
with him-not heart deep. though, |
thought--and / did not see him for
more than week. / was troubled
much, though. But one night grand
father came in, and shutting the door
stood between grandmamma and me,
looking at me, and SO strangely that
we both grew frightened. At last he
spoke:
1--we been to the squire's, said he.
"For the first time l had to tell him
that could not pay the rent when due. :"
hand covered them. Grandpa drew
me to him. "Thou'rt young, lass, {"
said he, land they are right who call
thee pretty. Child-could'st like the
squire well enough to wed himp"
',Ehp' cried grandma. Sure you're
not wanderingp"
Squire Turner asked me for this
lass of ours tonight OF all women in
the world there is but one he loves as
he should his wife, and that is our
Agatha"
And when he had waited for an
answer / burst out with mo" and a
sob together. Then grandpa talked to
me. He told me how poor they had
grown and how kind the squire was,
and had but to marry him to make
my grandparents free from debt and
poverty their lives through. II refused
and vexed the squire heaven only knew
what might happen.
All! it was hard to bear-bitter hard:
but now there was no help for it. l
took the ring from my bosom and laid
il on my palm, and told them it was
Evan Locke's and that had piighted
(. my troth to him. And grandmamma
called me a deceitful wench, and grand
father looked as though his heart
would break. Oh, / would have done
anything for them-anything but give
up my true love.
That night / kissed his ring and
prayed heaven that he might love me
always. In the morning 1t was gone,
ribbon and all, from my neck. looked
for it high and low, but found no sign
of it. And began to fear the loss of
that dear ring was sign that would
never marry Evan Locke.
The days passed on, and he never
came near me. And grandma would
scarcely look at me q know why now,
and grandpa sighed and moaned and
talked of the workhouse. And /
thought / should die Of grief among
them.
One day grandma said to me: ut
seems that your sweetheart is not over
fond of you nor over-anxious to see
you."
why notp" said l.
Where has he been this month
backP" asked grandma.
Busy, doubtless" said 1 with a
smile. though thought my heart
would burst
You're going with him, maybe"
..Wherep" said |.
She went to the kitchen door and
beckoned in q woman who sat there -
Dame Coombs, who had come over
with eggs.
II heard you rightly she said.
you told me Evan Locke end his
mother were making ready for voy-
age"
They're going to Canada My son.
q carpentcr-and good one, though 1
say it--made the doctor box for his