Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-11-25
HER ONE ERROR.
THE FISHERMAN'S BRIDE.
CHAPTER XIV.
AT STAKE.


A dark, grey heap, a weird circle OF
ashes-this was all remaining OF her
once cherished home.
She stood looking down, little Ida
holding by her hand, awe-struck, and
wondering at the terrible gap SO sud-
denly produced in a family scene.
Let us 90 away, mother DEAR"
said Ida, uneasily; 'we'll never come
here any more shall we?''
"NO dear, never any more, pet, >"
said the woman, mournfully, in her
still, deep voice, that always seemed
saying, waltz
So they turned away and for the
last time Nelly's foot touched the spot
where young Aaron had led her, a
blushing and loving bride, to their
welded home.
1t was the first week in the month;
the Daredevil, manned, storm ap-
pointed 10 the full in every little rode
at anchor in the sequestered bay az
a considerable distance from Sand
combe, seeming to fret impatient Of
her bonds, and eager, like highmet-
tied steed, to be set free.
"Once at sea, Saul Meghorn mutter-
ed to himself, "with only myself; away
from all the accursed recollections Of
that hound-not even the child to IN
terfere between us, and for her to
moan and dwindle oversize will be q
different creature In a few months.
Oh, | have known cures as wonderful.
The salt sea is a grand medicine.
Though all was in readiness, and the
men painted for action-thOugh ar
rangenents had been made for the due
care of the little girl, who was to be
parted from her mother-and though
allwas adjusted with such exactness,
that an hour might have seen Nelly
conveyed aboard the vessel, anchor
weighed, and Deepgang deserted-yet
still they lingered-still, under some
unaccountable impulse, Saul delayed
his final order, and found some new
occasion for hindrance.
But at length it was done. The sec
ond day from this, the captain was to
come on board-Yawman had all in
structions, and already was he made
familiar with the usual haunts of the
mother and child, during the lengthen-
ing evenings and pleasant twilight
most convenient hour for deeds not
adapted to the searching eyes Of day.
CHAPTER XIV.
AMONG THE FERN.
The burning of the cottage had, OF
course, been the cause of some excite
ment among the neighbors; and in the
space Of the ensuing twenty-four hours
the spot had been visited by most OF
them; the accident discussed and view
ed from every imaginable point; but
all came very quickly to one conclu-
sion-namely, that the fire had arisen
from some indiscretion on the part of
those who were the only visitors to
the cottage. A lamp had been left
burning, or a spark dropped into O.
chest, or on the bed; so they settled it
in their own minds: it was so very evil
dent; how could it be otherwise?
The only one who could have unde-
ceived them, besides the perpetrator
of the deed, had no motive to do so.
She did not seek to punish him, at
whose hands she had resigned herself
to receive chastisement.
Her old friend and ally, Meg STRAIT
ton or Rullocks, had gone to live miles
away down the coast, with her nus
band and child. Dame Rullocks, in
firm and rheumatic, was taken care of
by her daughter Patty, who dwelt at
Rockton. The old intimates of her
girlhood had all made for themselves
new ties and interests in the world,
and had given up all communication
with the mistress of the secluded
household at Deepgang.
More than ever she was alone with
her own thoughts and the companion
ship of her little daughter!
They strolled forth one beautiful
evening, and betook themselves, after
much pleading on the part of the
younger, to a favorite spot at the
base of the Chine.
1t was Ida's chosen resort, for here
she might climb and wander at will;
here abounded in profusion her dear
flowers, and here, too, the best seat
for her mother was to be found, with
what she chose to call table beside,
for all the appliances Of her work,
which Nelly never failed to bring with
her, but which, indeed, made little adj
vance in those hours, when, left to
herself it would drop from her hands,
and she would fall into the old train
of bitter, Improbable thought, self
accusation, and regret.
Ida had often exhausted her infan-
tile eloquence in vain, seeking to in
duce her parent to share with her the
delights of her paradise. Till this
evening she had failed, and, when COM
pliance was unex ectedly gained, her
pleasure knew no bounds; the more
that she had, for some weeks, been
forced to abandon the Chine herself
the cascade being swollen by spring
showers to a torrent.
So, full OF JOY, she had returned
from one of her exclusive rambles
we'll loaded.
''There, mother" as she laid the
varied treasures at the feet of Nelly,
"you wouldn't think there were so
many beauties out already, would
you, mother2 but l knew there
would be, you know-because the
sun shines a good long time here,
4hn o011 0o1o'+ o0roo co