Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1894-01-27


carried her to her mothers door.
"Dear Eddie, what can do for
you in return for saving my life?"
He did not tell her, as he might
have done, that her life was not in
danger but answered carelessly;
"Pooh. it was nothing, Claire; but
yes. I'll tell you what you can do
be my little wife"
Mother says I shan't be married
till Pm 3D."
"Well, promise to be my wife then,
as Tll-Tll-"
"What, Fddie?"
"No matter, only promise"
And the strange boy caught her
arm passionately.
"Oh, Eddie, you hurt me! OF
course I'll he your wife, dear, when l
am Old enough"
The lurking devil in the boys eye
vanished, and drawing her close to
him, he said:
Remember, you have promised.
Good-by, little wife"
And springing over the low fence,
he was soon out Of sight
After the girl ha& changed her wet
clothes for dry ones, and was sitting
in her usual seat by her mothers
side, she sighed heavily, and said:
''If Eddie only wasn't so passion
ate, mother. Pll have hard time
when I'm his wife"
"What do you mean, child?"
"Why, I'm to be Eddie's wife, you
know"
"Pshaw, child, how you talk!"
Indeed, l am, mother. I prom
Used him, and would not 20 back on
my word for worlds"
"WhN Claire, you are daft child.
talking about marriage at your age. /"
PPM twelve, mother, and you were
only fifteen when you were married;
besides, Eddie don't want me to be
his wife for long time yet-not till
I'm twenty-five"
The allusion to her own early
marriage quieted the mother, though
the unconscious child did not know
the happy hit she had made.
VI uIoU mOUuCl IT,
allied that her child was fast ap-
preaching that charmed season where
childhood and womanhood clasp
hands To her mothers eye she had
never looked so womanly as within
the last hour; her face seemer and
purer, and On the broad. white brow,
seemed already written
Woman's lot is on me.
Were some sage or seer present,
could he not have devined the future
path she was to tread, the priceless
love she was to give away, the sor-
row that was to refine the already
pure gold of her nature the genious
that was to sing such songs for the
multitude aud the laurel wreath that
genius was to bind about her brow?
But neither sage nor seer were
present and the mother saw naught
of all this. but she feared enough to
make her wish she could gather her
darling to her breast and hold her
there forever-that she was once
more little child in a long white
night dress and she were rocking her
to sleepas of old. All this the mother
thought, and thought she knew the
danger was afar off. yet she shud-
dered to think what the future might
bring forth; of her ever being the
wife Of the unprincipled, passionate
Edward Logan.
1t was childish talk, she knew, and
yet it was great relief when, two
months subsequently,, the Logan
family moved West leaving her one
little ewe-lamb safe in the fold.
Five years have passed away-ive
long years, during which the flowers
have bloSsomed and faded, moons
have waxed and waned and hearts
have broken.
A girl of rare beauty stands at the
gate of a white cottage flush
ing and paling beneath the impas-
stoned glances and passionate love
words of young and handsome man.
Il do love you, Eddie, and will be
your wife"
when, Claire?"
"Just as soon after Igo home as pos
sible; very soon, if father is willing"
And the bright head was hidden on
his breast
"My bird, I will be tender and true
to you. May God forsake me ii /
ever fail you, darling Claire"
His voice was burdened with ten
derness-the man evidently believed
what he said. A few more words
were spoken, then they parted
Claire to sleep and dream of her idol
(for such Edward Logan had grown
to bel to bear through the coming
days sweet, new happiness TO carry
her young head almost regallY, as
though the white brow, where his
kisses had been laid, was more pre-
cious than the brow of yesterday.
Oh! woman's love and woman's faith!
Alas! aud alas!
Again before the dreamer's eye
there came another vision, and over
the fair face came another change-a
! change that seemed to elcctrify her
entire being. AS we have said, the
! Il, 14