Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-03-04

alas. IL was 700 Jdte. ne Hdu Hidht lltf rove
him so passiOnately, that sooner than lose
him altogether, she felt she would make any
sacrifice on earth.
Therefore She chung helplessy to him sob.
bling bitterly.
No, do not 20 from me- cannot bear to
lose you!'
He sary he had gained his point, and grew
soft again. He laid her head on his shoulder
strOked her tear-staIned cheek, and kissed
her.
"Oh, Annie, Annie he said, you are 4
silly little t-iing. When you talk as you did
iust no", you make me THINK that you don't
care Tor me al all, ana That your only reason
In Wishing 10 marry me Is tie temptation to
nj the position "ii"f you a. ny VIE My
dear II fih not lose sou 50 deYofediy L
should doubt Your love They say to love Is
To haY" implicit ta,;n; sou have 40 faith III
me!
VII. tr-, bat".
.'Ihs.p wuy not show it? Come, tell me
thati Why hesitate and cry as if am about
% bring YOU to some dire distress Yet att
er all what have / asked you TO do? Only
what hdndreds Of girls have done before you
to be married secretly instead Of openly, to
conceal the fact OF our marriage for few
weeks ONLY. and then 10 come back with me,
nv honored wife, to share my home"
Yes; the story was 5pecious enough; lit
tie wonder indeed that Annie was BET OOled,
seeing that She loved him So Once more she
promised implicit obedience to all his wishes,
and left him.
1t was the last night she was to spend in
the cottage, and during that right she never
closed her eyes; but she lay awake, watch
Ing the mOonDeams a. they crcpt in at the
window, thinking Of all that was past and
what might possibly lie before hex. II
George Rcdruth had spoken fairly-and
why, she asked herself should she doubt
him,-shc had really very little to dread If
her father and mother suffered pain at her
sudden flight it would be for such a very
little while; and afterward the great joy
which her return would bring them would
make amends for all. Still. Annie was not
satisfied; her training had been rigid, and
now her conscience troubled her sorely; but
1t was too late to repent: since that int ,rView
Of the night before She felt she dare rot dis
obey her lover
She rose early and came out of her bed
room while my uncle and | were preparing
to pay our early visit to the mine We were
both astOniShed TO see her Up but she said,
as an excuse for her excessive paleness, that
she had bad headache and could not rest
In bed.
Ny uncle took her face between his hands
and kissed it fondly, mlrrmuring:
This won't do, we maun ma roses in these
cheeks o yOurn. What would do wi out
my little lasSr
Annie stfled a sob and turned away with
her eyes full of tears She put on her hat
and walked with Us half the way to the mine
"a thing She had never done before She
held my ucle's hand all the way, | remcm-
Der, and asked him to kiss her wien she de-
cided 10 go back. and make things ready for
the day ut home.
We got home rather earlier than usual that
evening and when we reached the cottage
we found Annie busy setting out the things
for tea. 1t had been baking-day, aid it seem
ed as if she had been assisting at the work,
for her checks were flushed now, and all her
lstIess fearful manner Of the morning had
entirely disappeared. | could not help no.
ticng that her hands trembled, that she
seemed excessively nervous, and was strange
" eager to anticipate my uncIc's every wish.
My aunt rcbuked her once or twice for what
she termed her Iight-headcdnc5s, but Annie
only put her arms round her neck and kissed
her
Don't ScOld, mother, don't SCOld, she
said, You wouldn't like il if wasn't here!'
We sat up pretty late that night, and An
ME was among the last to retire When my
uncle rose to go to bed, Annie kissed him
several times, and my aunt rebuked her
again for her tOoiShneSS. Then Annie kiss
ed her again and again.
You don't mean half what you say, moth
er, she murmured You know you love
mel!
When we had all retired, ana Anne io1'nd
herself III hrr room alone, she SAT down ana
cried very hlltefly. lief last adIeuS llau Deeh
said the time Tor her departure was near at
hand, and all her spirit seemed going. Again
she hesltated; and had she been lett to her
self that night, that fatal step would never
have been taken.
Suddenly she started, FAINT whistle
reached her from without HurHedIy drying
her eyes, she opened tie window. There
was George Redruth standing just outside.
Are YOU ready, dearest? he whispered.
Yes. she replied.
SIS there any one abOut?'
"No. they are all in bed | think they must
be asleep 1t IS getting late, isn't it?'
1T Is close on midnight. Give me out
what things you are going to take; | hope it
isn't much, and then come round and join
me at the door"
Annie had collected a few necessaries, and
they were made up into a small parcel. She
lifted it. and rs she did so her tears began to
flow afrcsh. With the parcel in her hands,
she returned to the window
George
Eyes, darling?"
Are YOU sure am doing rfght9 Are YOU
sure YOU will bring me back very soon. so
taat do not cause Them much Doiup"