Middletown transcript., 1892-04-28

! choked Good-by to the sweet girl
whose smile was 50 much to him. and
to the happy Moons and nights her
1eyss had made for him. He waved
bis hat at her as he stood in the open
gate, and the sun lighted bis band
some head into q sort Of glory il her
eyes. Then he turned and walked
rapidly off down the road, not looking
back.
The girl, when she could no longer
fsee him, dashed away, and, sobbing
Violently, entered the house.
There was just a suspicion Of light
| in the east. q mere hint Of q glsw,
when Lyman walked cautiously
around the corner Of the house and
Etappsd at Marietta's window. She
was sleeping soundly and did not
hear, for she had been restless dnring
the first part of the night. he tap
ped again, and the girl woke without
knowing what woke her.
Lyman put the blade Of his pcckss
knife under the window and raised il
a little, and then placed bis lips to
the crack, and spoke IN q sepuIchrsl
| tone, half groan, half whisper.
"Merry Merry Etty r
The dazed girl sat up in bed and
listened. while her heart almost stood
atiIl.
"Merry, it's me--Lyms. Come to
the winder." The girl hesitated, and
Lyman spoke again.
"Come. I hain't got much time.
This is yer last chance t see me. It's
now r never"
The girl slipped out Of bed and.
wrapping herself in shawl, creps to
the window.
Boost ON that winder," command
ed Lyman. She raised it enough to
admit bis head, which came just above
the sill then she knelt ON the floor
by the window.
Lyme, what in the world do you
/ mean
| mean business" /" he replied. e 4
amt no last years chicken ! know
when the old man sleeps the soundest.
He chuckled pleasantly.
How d'-y' fool ole Rove p
Never mind about that now,
they : somethin' more important on
on hand. You've got t,go with me-
80 Lyme, can't r
He thrust a great arm in and
caught her by the wrist.
Yes, ye can. This Is y'r last
chance. If go off without ys t'-s
night. never come back. Why do
ye pull back : Air ye 'fraid O. me ~
N-no but-but-,'
But what, Merry Etty i,'
It amt right T. go an leave dad
all alone. Where ye. goin' t take
me, any howf'
Milt Jennings let me have bis
horse an buggy; they're down the
road apiece, an we'll go right down
to Rock River and. be married BY sun.
up"
The girl still hesitated. her firm.
boyish will unwontedly befogged.
Resolute as she was, she could not at
once aocede to his demand.
Come, make up your mind soon
The old man III fll me with buck.shot
ifhe catches sight o. me-" He drew
her arm out of the window and laid
his bearded cheek to is. Come,
little one, we was made fer each other;
God knows it. Come! It's him II
me-"
The girls head dropped, consented.
That's right Now q kiss to bind
the bargain. Therel What, cryin,? !?
No more o. that, little one. Now I'll
give you jest five minutes t. git on
your sundsy-go.t'-meetin' clo'es.
Quick, there goes a rooster. It's git.
tin white in the east.o
: The man turned his back to The
window and gaEed at the western sky
with awealth of unnttered and un-
ntterable exultation in his heart. Far
off a rooster gave long, clear blast
would it be answered in the barn I
Yes; some wakefnl ear had caught it,
and now came the answer, bnt faint.
mufled, and drowsy. The dog at his
feet whined uneasily rs if thinking all
not well. The wind from the south
was full of the wonderful odor Of
springing grass, warm, brown earth,
and oozing sap. Overhead, to the
west, the stars were shining in the
cloudless sky. dimmed little in
brightness by the faint silvery veil of
moisture in the air. The mans soul
grew very tender as he stood waiting
for his bride. He was rough, litter
ate man. yet there was something fine
about him after all, . kind of ample
city and gigantic leonine tenderness.
He heard his sweetheart moving
about inside, and thought. Tie old
man won't hold out when he ends
we're married. He can't get along
+ zsfs = 81 4.~.-