The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-03-21

"Wilt have him and be rich lady?"
said grand0H.
And when he had waited for an an
swer burst out with "No" and sob
together
"Sbes frightened" said grandmam-
ma. NAY, we must all wed once in
| our lives, my child"
Then grandpapa talked to me. He
told me how poor they had grown, and
now kind the squire was, and had but
to marry him to make my grandparents
free from debt and poverty their lives
| through. If l refused and veXed the
squire, Heaven only knew what might
| happen.
"She'l never ruin us" sobbed grand
| mamma.
Ahl it was hard to bear-bitter, hard;
but now there was no help for it. l
| took the ring from my bosom and laid
! it on my palm, and told them it was
Evan Locke's, and that l had plighted
my troth to him. And grandmamma
called me deceiful wench, and grand
father looked as though his heart would
| break.
Oh, would have done any thing for
them-any thing but give up my true
| love.
That night l 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 began to fear the loss of
that dear ring was a sign that l 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 a hasty word
he had provoked, when spoke it that
he must know l loved him So"
And grandma would scarcely look at
me Il 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: "It
seems that your sweetheart is not over
fond of you, nor over-anXious to see
you"
"Why not?" said 1.
"Wherc has he been this month
back?''
Busy, doubtless" said 1, with a
smile, though thought my heart would
burst
You're going with him, may be?"
"Where?" said l.
She went to the kitchen door and
beckoned in woman who sat there
Dame Coombs, who had come over with
eggs.
Il heard you rightly" she said.
''You told me Evan Locke and his
mother were making ready for a voy-
age"
They're going to Canada. Ny son,
a carpenter-and good one, though
say it made the doctor 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.
81 don't believe it," said l.
They've sold the house, and gone to
Liverpool to take ship; and you may
find the truth for yourself, if you
choose to make trouble" said Dame
Coombs. I'm no chatterbox, to tell
falsehoods about my neighbors."
And still would not believe it until l
had walked across the moor, and had
seen the shutters fast closed and the
door barred, and not sign of life about
the place. Then l gave up hope. /
went home all pale and trembling, and
sat down at grandmamma's knee.
IT'S true" said l.
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,
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 l crept upstairs and sat
down on my bedside, weak as though
had tainted. | would have thanked
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 face! And
graunie grew so proud and kind, and
all the house was aglow, and only |
sad But couldn't forget Evan-Evan,
whom | had loved so-sailing away
from me without a word
l 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 miss? Your eye is dull
and your cheek is pale, and your Draw
| grand lover Gamma make We smile; ye're
ma that i'll, either"
''No, am well enough" said l.
She looked at me wistfully.
"Gin yed tell me your all, l might
tell ye cure" she said
But there was no cure for me in this
world, and | 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, l wished
it were my shroud they were working
at instead.
And one night the pain in my heart
grew too great, and went out among
the purple heather on the moor and
there linelt down under the stars and
prayed to be taken from the world.
For how can live without Evan?" !
said.
/ spoke the words aloud, and then
started up in alright, for there at my
| l.