Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-02-12

NY ullcIt, WHO Ddu SuDh IItlnDllllg INTO Il
chair, looked up, amazed, as she continued:
Look at your father Look at the shame
and trouble yOu'm brought upon him. 4
year ago he were happy man, and were a
happy woman: but not0-look at US both
alOaUl Better to be dead and buried than TO
COON back var, wi thy shame upon zee,
bringing sorrow and disgrace on folk that
once held their heads up WI the BEST
/ was lost i'll amaZement at my auntS Sc
verify; for never for moment had | antic-
pated such a reception. Hitherto, indeed,
my uncle had seemed to take the affair most
to heart, and it was his attitude toward An.
ME that | had most dreaded. But the parts
of the two seemed reversed-my aunt was
the stern man: my uncle the gentle and for.
giving woman.
Come, come, aunt l said. You must
not talk to Annie so. There has been troub-
lie, no doubt: but it is all over now, and
everything can be explained"
But my aunt was intieXble.
"Whar has she been all this while, tell me
that? She left o her avn free will, and she
comes back o her avn free will; but till ]
knaW what she hd done, I'll ne'er sit down
or break bread wiz her again."
81 told you how 1t would be!' cried Annie,
addressing her words to me, but still hiding
her face Let me go! | wish l had never
cOmer'
And she made hurried movement toward
the door, as if to fly. Seeing this, my aunt
reented a little, though her manner was still
harsh enough.
At this moment, my uncle rose.
Annie" he said, ''dawn't heed mother.
She dawn't mean it, my lass-she dawn't
mean it! Whate'er you'm done, this is your
home, and you are our chld-our little lass"
Then, turning to his wife, he added, Speak
to her, wife speak kindly to her! May be
she'll tell zee all her trouble
His broken tones, 50 pleading and pitiful,
melted the mothers heart. With wild cry
she sank into a chair, the tears streaming
down her face
'Oh! Annie, Annie! may the Lord forgive
'ee for what you ha' dOnen
Suddenly mastering herself, my cousin UNI
covered her face and looked at her mother.
Then, drying her tears, and speaking with
tremulOuS determination, size said:
Il know / have been wicked. | know l
should never have gone away. But if you
have suffered, So have |. peYeF meant to
bring shame and trouble upon You or father;
l loved you both too well for that. But if
you can't forgive me, if your heart is still Bit
ter against me land God knows don't blame
you, for L deserve it alb, L had better go
away. | don't want to be a trouble or a
burden. | have made my bed, l know, and
l must lie upon it; and if had not met my
cousin Hugh | should never have come
hOme.''
Tell me the truth, Annie PendragOn."
said my aunt. 'Wha took thee from home?
Was it him as is lying, dead and murdered,
in his grave?'
Annie opened her eyes in wonder. My
uncle started, and then, curious to say, avert
ed his face, but stood listening.
What do you mean, mother"'
what daw | mean?" echoed my aunt,
sharply. What should | mean, Annie Pen
dragon? Folk say you did leave ST GurlOtt,s
| VII man. Were that mau>him that is dead?'
Il have already asked her that question:"
! said; land she denies it,
| saw my uncle start again. He was still
eagerly listening.
mo, mother" said Annie, firmly.
Nav? You were seen together i Fail
mouth; all the folk think the OVerseer took
| zee away fro home"
Then it is not true'
My uncle turned; his face, which had been
troubled before now CHASTITY beyond meas
ure.
'Annie, Annie my Iassr' he cried.
''Dawn't deny it! Speak the truth, and well
forgive zee! 1t were Measter Johnson VIVA
brought thee to your trOube-say it were,
Annie, say it were!''
His voice was pleading and full of en-
treaty. | alone of all there, guessed why.
But Annie shook her head sadly, as she re-
piled:
No, father Him you speak of was moth
| ing to me- and never harmed me by word or
deed"
John Rudd saw We together Falmouth"
cried my aunt; ''and after that, the overseer
| were away for days. Why will zee lie to her
that bore zee, Annie PendragOn?'
Il am not lying, mother. | am telling you
| the Gospel truth. Father, she lCO1c't believe
me. But you will, won't you? God knows
would not deceive you, after what has
| passed.
But my uncle had turned away, like man
mortally wounded, and, leaning against the
| Intel of the window, was looking wildly
| out.
'Dawn't speak to '1ey' Ire said, "dawnt,
my lass! | can't bear tr'
L thought it time to interfere; so gently
taking Annie by the hand, led her to my
aunt and made them shake hands and kiss
each other. Thus some sort of reconcile
ment was established, a. / presently the two
women, mother and daughter, went upstairs
together. My hope was that, after that, re-
examinations would cease, and some sort of
peace be established in the unhappy house.
Directly we were alone, my uncle turned
and faced me. saw that he was still great
ly agitated, and fancied that l guessed the
cause.
Hugh, my lad" he said, Il knaw l can
trust ZEE. Ever sin you was a little lads
you m been most a son to me-"
With the tears standing IN ny eyes, |
wrung his hand. / pitied him, with my
whole heart and soul; for indeed loved him
like a SOE. ~-.sy.f-, e.
'Hearken then, Hugh, my lad. Did you
hear what poor Annie said about hersen and
| the overseer?'
l nodded; and he continued: 5
BE it truth, think 'eeP'
u think sO-nay, am certain
"rhere We're nawt between them?'
"Naught. Annie would never have look
ed at such fellow. Lord forgive me for
| speaking so of one that's deadw
He drew his hand across his brow, where
the perspiration stood in beaded drops.
II think youm right, lad; I dawn't think
my Annie would lie. But it has allays been
on my mind, dye see, that Johnson 'ticed
her fro her home. God forgie me if ha'
been mista' en-! More than once, lad, dream
ing like, ha' fancied-I ha' fancied-that
Overseer hiSsen confessed wi his avn mouth
| that he were to blame; and only last night
| abed dreaming like again. l thought had
! my fingers at his throat and tried TO take
| 'un's lifei [ might ha' done it, | might ha
done it if what thought were tTueI'