Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-01-22
AN OLD wOMAN's STORY

That Is because you re old, grandma,
sobbed Linda.
'No; it is because was once youag,"
said the old lady.
"But he is the only one | shall ever
love" said Linda. Papa is cruel. Why
does he think Ill of Lewis. He knows
nothing about him. shall die if We a~e
separated. 4
II was going to d., too, said me
great grandmother, "but | didn t. y
ooh, tell me, please, cried Linda, "lad
you lover? Did they separate you? [
never knew you had a love st3ry-that is,
that Kind Of one.
yes" said the old lady. 81 had
lover You can nave many lovers, but
never more than one father and mother
Folks think OF that when it is too IaJ"
When father said that Cecil was Lord
knows who, and he should not come to see
me, | remember | almost hated him Tor
it. When mother said she didn't Ike
him either, ! alm0s5 hated her. Cruel
creatures that stood between me and IN
young lover-that was what my parent.
seemed to me then; and was worse than
you my dear, ever so much worse, for l.
seemed wicked TO me that any one ehruld
take il for granted a man was not WORTHY Ut
love because he was stranger, AM
made preparations to run away with Cecil
and marry him at GretnG Green.
Everything was ready; Ihad my jewel
ry In my bosom and my little bundle on
my arm and was creeping out of a sid
door that led into the garden, when d had
came down on my shoulder and a voice
cried out:
My girl is this the way you use u 2,
and there was my fat her
My father s face was white as a gho t
and his hand shook as he held mine.
Oh, father, father | cried. If YOU
would only let me have my will in this
one thing! You can make girl love or
hate by saying So.
He stood, holding me firm and fast.
1T Is Emeine who has betrayed me,
| said, and, though they would never cd
NIT it, knew the maid had proved false
''Well, they locked me up in my room.
How often cried out: I shalt die il
an separated from CeciIr
81 am very old, but when | think of it
the old pain comes back again. His eyes
were ike black dirmonds, and, he had
an olive cheek and full red lips, and your
men with their padded shoulders and thin
arms and legs and hollow chests wouldn /
look like men standing beside him.
1t was dreary time and my health
broke down under it. | had a fever, ana
when | was well again the doctor said |
must have change; so mother decided 10
take me to the seaside; but first we were
to go TO by stage-COash to London and
visit an aunt had there.
ut was In the day of stage coaches and
the day OF hlghwaymen.
Going over a certain common on the
way coaches had more than once been
stopped The men were armed ALWAYS
and the women tremb'ed when they saw
horsemen riding toward them. u
Your money or your life, was their
word, and they kept 1t.
If we should meet the highwaymen. >
said my mother; but | was not afraid. [
didn't are whom we met or what happen
ed to me.
I'VE rode away from our home in rha
bright daylight and stopped for dinner
and to change horses at a, inn; then we
rode on again. 1t would be night long
before we reached London | sat In the
coach with my nd on my mother shout
der thinking Of just one thing-Cecit
Should | ever see him again-never
never-never? Would he not follow me
and carry me off by forceb Could | not
somehow let him know and escape from
my aunt house III London, and BE- mar
ried, so that no one could part us? On!
| was so miserable-miserable Nothing
for wTetchedness like making plans that
can come to nothing and burst like bubbles
when you have thought them out
The afternoon faded out and the sun set.
The moon rose.
See, what lovely moon, said nv
b,,A I L.
the moon since | saw ii over tue gar
0en wall that night | had tried TO ruu
away. Rumble wcuJ tie coach, era K wen,
the whip
Suddenly Chere was a tumut
Gent men. cried the guard gentle
men, N afraid we are to have some
trouble here. See to yo1r weapons gentle
men.
Then the co CD came to a stand.
g he shrek NJ women clung together.
-Four masked men rode % the DIOR. The
coachman and guard lay in a ditch. One
ct tHe gentlnm-n was bound: the OTTER
was Old and lame. They were r.Ai 20 his
pockets while n" was screaming. They
took out HOid wa'ch. A purse and his
snuff box with diam rnds on IT. They had
already the others money.
Then one-tbe la,g,st, the handsomest
hgure-bent over us
'S'Don fear, ladies', he said IN a sof
voice. All We want is whatever V .Iuable<
you may have about you.
Mamma began 20 scream
The lady who sat next TO her tainted
y { could not see the mans face, for
ne was masked. and We were in the
shadow of the coach.
) netting shines on your finger, NJ
said. let me see it
lie caught at a chain on which | wore
a locket with curl o. Cecil's hair.
Don | take that cried. Don't take
that
I'll clutched it. Que heads were close TO-
gether saw his chin and mouth under
his mask. At the same moment my face
was thrust into tie moonlight.
'AmNt | heard him whisper to him
self. and knew Cecil
Meanwhile something had happened
Two gentlemen mad ridden up-.he one
who had been bound was free For once
the tables had en- turned upon the rob-
bers.
Then, one had ridden away, two were
bound and one lay bleeding. This last Que
was Cecil.
Il knew now that my father mad not
not been wrong. Cecil was even wor, e
than he thought him. He was high
wayman, bad man anu the companion