Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-05-28


fumbled with her work. which she
could no longer see through the blur
which had come over her eyes,
There, Loo, there. won't say an,
other word to vex you, Only want
you distinctly TO understand that YOU
are my promised wife and ii YOU won't
marry me now-then I'm going to
wait till YOU do, II we should both be
as old as Methuselah."
She shook her head sadly as he lib
Grated her and they sat down quietly
and began TO talk of other things, just
as people do talk in times of peculiar
uial: of everything but the one thing
uppermost in their minds.
Il spose now, when you've said your
say" remarked Nan. maybe I'll set a
chance to get in word edsewise, An
you're not to look skeart, Loo, at what
I'm goin 10 tell YOU. Seems to me I've
been maxim mistakes all along, Just
tryin' to do my best by everybody.
Some folks never open their mouths
'cept To put their foot in it; but It seems
to me I've put my foot in things more
by keepin my mouth shut. Anyhow,
done everything for the best, an
God knows it's for the best I'm doin' ii
now"
Loo and Alec stared at the old
woman, wondering what this preamble
could mean, when suddenly she leaned
forward with her elbows resting on her
knees and. looking at Loo, said slowly
and with emphasis:
odd man Hill was no more your
father than | am"
What" exclaimed Loo, incredu-
lousy.
"No more he was. Your mother told
me the truth on her deathbed, an I've
kept what she told me till now"
Loo regarded the old woman with
wild apprehension. all her calm upset
by the fear that the trials of the last
few weeks had unhinged Mans reason
Don't We look at me like that, Loo
| know you're thinking old Mans off
her nut, But aint-not bit OF me-
though it would be little wonder If
was. Your mother told me that she
was a Newmarket wife coming out to
this country with her husband she had
run away with agin' her folks will
when he died on the passage out an
she was landed at Quebec, stranger
in a strange land and not much in her
pocket. Old man Hill was a young
man, then, but he was always great on
gettin' emigrants to come and work
for him. He got 'em cheap and your
mother was only too glad to get a
home such as he promised her: a house
keeper Oil a farm. with hired men to
help Well, she came, an when you
was born he never made no difference,
but said she could stay an bring yCu
up, which she did, and whe1 you were
years old she married him, on condi
zion he was to keep you at school
proper. An he did. Whether he had
knows DON'T can't account for
half the marriages as happens. One
ching ! do know, he worked her into
her grave. an mighty soon he'd have
dore the same by you, an by me. too
If I'd let him. Bui jest did as much
as | could an then stopped an let him
grumble as he liked. knew he
wouldn't send me away, cause |
Knowed about your mother"
but, Nan" broke in Loo, who with
Alec had listened in speechless amaze
ment to this recital, why did you keep
this a secret?"
Because if | told you. you might
have gone away and you wouldn't have
got his money when he died. | don't
know why it was, but when they came
to this part of the country, some eight
cen or nineteen years ago, he always
passed YOU off as his own. An when
you grew up an could work as you did,
a daughter was cheaper nor hired
help"
Loo sat silent moment, pondering
over this new situation.
You meant kindly, I've no doubt,
Nan; but-well, it's no use blaming
you now"
"Prhaps you'll blame me for not
IelllUS ITO" ! lOuHu IHdt III L0t CSlldI
that day" continued Nan, producing
from her pocket a mans FUR cap
beaver fur with sealskin earlaps at.
tached to it."
Loo sprang up, snatched the cap from
her and nervously lifted the stove iii
and thrust it in among the glowing
wood
Nan" she said turning upon the
old woman, excitedly, don't you ever
tell any human being where you 20,
that cap. OH she moaned, clasping
her hands and closing her eyes, "that i
all was needed That makes It clear
as day, clear as day
Not likely I'd mention now what |
didn't mention then when / was on my
oath. II they'd a asked me ef I'd
found cap I'd have TO tolo the truth
and said yes, but they didn't ask ne
an ! didn't tell"
Why didn't you?" demanded Alec.
because she'd enough agin' her.
I'd heard stories about a man, which /
couldn't believe, but when | got that