The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-03-06

said grandpa.
And when he had waited for an an
swer l burst out with "No" and sob
together.
"She's frightened" !" said grandmamma
"Nay, we must all wed once in our lives.
my child"
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 If refused and vexed the
squire heaven only knew what might
happen.
Shell never ruin u.s." sobbed grand
mamma
Ahi it was heard to bear-bitter hard;
but now there was no help for it. took
the ring from my bosom and laid it on
my palm, and told them it was Evan
Locke's and that had plighted my troth
to him. And grandmamma called me a
as though his heart would break.
Oh, would have done anything for
them-anything but give up my true
love.
That night I kissed his ring and prayed
heaven that he might love me always. In
the morning it was gone, ribbon and all,
from my neck. looked for it high and
low. but found no sign of it. And 1 be-
gan 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.
'-Oh, it was cruel in him." thought,
''to hold such anger for hasty word he
had provoked, when l spoke it that he
must know loved him so.''
And grandma would scarcely look at
me q know why now, and grandpa
sighed and moaned and talked of the
work house. And l thought l should
die of grief among them.
One day grandma said to me, 1T
seems that your sweetheart is not over
fond of you. nor over anxious to see
you"
why notr' said L
Where has he been this month back?'
asked grandma.
BUSY, doubtless" said L, with a
smile, though thought my heart would
burst
you're going with him, maybe
"WhereT' said !.
She went to the kitchen door and
beckoned in woman who sat there
Dame Coombs. who had come over with
eggs
"I heard you rightly" she said. You
told me Evan Locke and his mother were
making ready for voyage"
They're going to Canada. My son, a
carpenter-and good one, though say
it-made the doctor a box for his things
The old lady breads the new country.
but she goes for the doctors sake
There's money to be made there"
81 told you so" said grandmother.
II don't believe it," said ].
They've sold the house and gone to
Liverpool to take ship; and you may
find the truth for yourself, if you choose
to take the trouble" said Dame Coombs
'fm no chatterbox, to tell falsehoods
about my neighbors."
And still would not believe it until
I had walked across the moor and had
seen the shutters fast closed and the
door barred, and not a sign of life about
the place. Then ] gave up hope.
went home all pale and trembling, and
sat down at grandmamma's knee.
Its true" said 1.
''And for the sake of so false lad
you'll see your grandfather ruined and
break his heart, and leave me, that have
nursed you from babe, q widow"
looked at her as she sobbed, and ]
found strength to say:
'@Give me to whom you will then,
since my own love does not want me-"
And then ! crept up stairs and sat
down on my bedside, weak as though !
ho6 foiD tod I
heaven for forgetfulness just then, but
it wouldn't come.
The next day Squire Turner was in
the parlor as my accepted lover. How
pleased he was, and how the color came
back into grandfather's old facet And
grannie grew SO proud and kind, and all
the house was aglow, and only sad.
But couldn't forget Evan-Evan whom
1 had loved so-sailing away from me
without word.
/ suppose they all saw / looked sad.
The squire talked of my health, and
would make me ride with him over the
moors for strength.
The old folks said nothing. They
knew what allied me; only our little
Scotch maid seemed to think there was
aught wrong. Once she said to me:
"What ails ye, missP Your eye is dull
and your cheek is pale, and your Draw
grand lover Gamma make ye smile; ye are
ma that i'll, either.' -
mo, i am well enough" said L
She looked at me wistfully. = ~
'eGin ye'd tell me your all, I might tell
ye a cure" she said.
But there was no cure for me in this
world, and I couldn't open my heart to
simple Jennie. So the days rolled by,
and was close on my marriage eve, and
grannie and Dorothy Plume were busy
with my wedding robes. wished il
were my shroud they were working al
instead.