The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-05-03

for that night, for my mind was in 6
state of caotic bewilderment which
precluded anything like tranquility; ]
revolved in my mind the events of the
day the strangeness of the situation,
and conjured up all kinds of probable
and improbable theories without arriv-
Ing at any definite or satisfactory con
cIuslOn, until tired nature asserted
ltseIf and I dozed off gently, that
divine face being ever present in my
dreams,
1T was long after nine o'clock the
next morning before I opened my eyes
and realized in all their vividness the
reality of the preceding nights events,
when, upon a calm review of my con-
duct l could scarce credit it's truth and
consequences; but that beautiful and
oewltching face again arose before my
minds vision, and I fully determined,
that be the consequences what they
might, 1 should be loyal to the one
o of my life, though I hadno reason
to think my affection r~eciprocated
but l realized the dread and abhorance
on the other hand, and fondly hoped
In time, by sheer force Of my vast love,
to win her affections.
Ion entering the Office before going
to the breakfast-room, I saw the clerk
talkingina somewhat confidential tone
of voice to- stranger, and I~immagined
they cast suspicious glances at me as 1
entered, and while I had done nothing
l regretted, or for which 1 was amen
able to the law, I realized the truth
that "a guilty conscience needs no &C.
cuser,'
The clerk beckoned to me, and 1
drew near.
"'Allow me to introduce you to Mr..
Pointer, Mr.. Bolton"
Happy to meet you, sir"
Mr.. Pointer then asked if he could
see me privately for a few minutes,
and being assured that he could we
Withdraw to the further end of the
room.
Ibid you come up on the train
from Raleigh last night, Mr.. Bottoms"
81 did"
WAS there a lady on the train
young, timidlooking, with brown hair
and blue eyes9"
"'There was. Her name was Miss
Moss, but 1 am happy to say she
is noaU Mrs. Bolton"
WHAT Married7"
"'Yes, sir"
"'Then, sir, all I can say is, I am
sorry for you"
What do youmean, sir? Explaini
or you may regret your impertinence."
81 simply mea what I say, that I
am sorry for you, for the lady is as
cr0zy 70 q March hare. I am an officer,
and have in my possession a telegram
from her sep father, Mr.. Colbut, to
retain her until he can return from
Charlotte this evening and reclaim
her. 1t seems she gave him the slip
here last night, as the train passed
through. Himself and a frieni were
her back home, somewhere in
from some medical institu-
ton in Baltimore.
"'My God! Let me think, or 1
shall go mad" I cried. "Say nothing
about this. The lady is safe, and l
shall remain here until the arrival of
Mr.. Colbut, and we will then do what
is best to be done under the circum-
stances"
With this Mr.. Pointer retired, ex-
pressing his sympathy for me, and 1
was left with my sad and distracting
thoughts, a prey to the most dismal
foTebodings. l knew not what to do;
I did not know whether to call on my
bride or not; I could not realize that
what I had heard was true; 1 could
not doubt my love, and the whole cir
~cumstances, to my o~vertaxed brain,
seemed to point to the truthfulness of
her assertions. I walked the town
over in nervous perturbation, waiting
for the Charlotte train. I finally con-
Guided to call on Lydia, but to say
nothing of the events of the morning,
but to let circumstances shape my
course in this matter-this matter so
vital to me.
81 found her as lovely as a May
morning, with a bunch of forget-me-
nots in the bosom of a white Swiss
dress, with love lit eyes, long flowing
brown hair, and a tauntilizing little
pout, and as 1 looked into the liquid
depths Of those melancholy blue eyes,
l knew-I felt-that she loved, all
reason to the contrary, in fact, I was
in no frame of mind to listen to reason
uos AGAIN under their MYSTIC smell.