Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-11-18

me, but as she grew older she seemed
little shy
'She was a handsome woman and
possessed of a most lOyable disposition
L had never gone much in society, and
particularly that of women, and had
not since my school days had sweet
heart. But when Cassie grew up-yes,
before she was broWn-there was some
thing creeping into my heart that made
me more tender with her than l had
ever been before, and made me like all
women better. But that feeling came
unbidden. How dare [ allow myself to
love her, an old man like me? What
hope had 1? None, none whatever My
shoulders were bent, and my hair well
sprinkled with gray, not from real old
age, but then / looked old and that was
almost rs bad as being so.
Cassie had a good many admirers,
one bright boy, just her age, whom
she seemed to like very much He was
! q more suitable mate for her than 7, and
| should not have wished it otherwise,
] but ] did. He came often to see her
and they got along nicely together.
They were young. SO | suppose thought
! they had lots Of time and seemed in no
hurry to settle down.
Before Cassie was II by two days
my fond old mother died. Then l felt
! that life for me was limited to q very
short period, for believed that as soon
! rs | recovered from the painful shock
Cassie would leave me and 90 to u new
: 7 tn n iTllr Of
it. What would | do without her?
I often when Frank came / put on
my hat and walked off, leaving them
together. Several times there was Il
look that seemed half of sadness and
half Of regret in CasSie's face as |
walked away, and it made me almost
hope that she cared Il little more for
me-in the way | Wanted-and would
= have preferred me to stay. But when
I'd heard Il peal of light laughter from
her lips | felt sure | had hoped against
hope.
'One evening Frank came in looking
unhappy. | was surprised, for I'd never
seen his face wear any expression save
that of a Gsht-hearted, happy youth.
lie asked for Cassie without looking
UP, and | could not question him,
although | was deeply concerned. I
went out under Il vine-covcred arbor,
where Cassie was sitting, and found
llrr looking gloomy, too. 'Ah, yes
said !, "a lovers quarrel Then taking
her hand [ said: Cassie, Frank has
come She made no reply, and I re-
peatcd it; then she said: I don't know
why. l thought he understood Inc yes
] terday.'
! Cassie, said l, Frank looks I'm
happy, very unhappy. He loves you
dearly, and-you love him-don't you,
dear?'
Her hands were trembling within
my own, and | fear mine were, too.
! No, L don't love him. l never did,
and
Cassie, don't go on like that; it
pains me to see you cry
! She was Sobbing so that her whole
body was quivering. | drew her head
against my shoulder, but she continued
4 to weep.
| Tell me- dear, what is the matter.
: Oh, Cassie. if you knew how l loved
you you would cheer up and not make
me suffer like this
she slipped her arms around my
neck, put her cheek against my old
, brown face and said:
II love you, Jack. I've loved you all
the time, and | thought you didn't care
and Ia have to leave you. / don't want
to DO anywhere with anybody but YOU
MN iJ1o.lC I I
her in my arms, almost as | would Il
child, and thought at last Jacks day
had come. When we went in the house
was quite dark, ana Frank, who had
in our JOY been forgotten, had gone.
There wasn't any use of our waiting;
we'd known each other quite long
enough, SO | intended to freshCn up my
house and then marry my sweetheart.
4, The next week / went to town, and
was not gone more than three hours,
I but when | came back the greatest Sor-
row of my life befeu me.
You see that snag yonder? Wen,
that is Il part of what used to be an
obi wreck. The children used to climb
upon it to crab and fish. That morning
a little girl fell off into the bay and
Cassie ran to the rescue, tossed herself
into the bay and tried to save the child.
She struggled and finally brought it
near enough for the children to catch
her. and then the current carried her
under the wreck, and the water being
very deep, all efforts to raise her We're
unsuccessful. This was year ago, and
although I've haunted the bay night
! and day and watched everywhere, l
have never seen lock of my CaSsie'S
hair"
! Captain Jack became silent, watched
! the breakers a While, then he ran his
! fingers through his hair several times.
brushed two tears away with his sleeve,
walked hastily toward his lugger and
set sail. One old fisherman v armed him
of the danger of such heavy canvass in
such wind, but Captain Jack seemed
not to hear him. Once he turned his
face towards the shore. and the look of
despair in it l will never forget.
The storm never reached us-it went
around in another direction. The clouds
flew by like great white sails. and the
sun came out and shone over the bay,
making the water look beautiful.
Almost out of sight / could see the out
lines of Captain Jacks boat springing
and splashing over the waves, into
which the sail seemed dipping. Truly
there was danger ahead. That night.