Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-03-19

and terror. demanded and wrlpr h,
him the ~why-the why that doomJ !
To that living death Of widowba1
And he told you. My father n
no secret from the wife Of his bos0J
said the young girl
He told me-. Alma. there are Mn
that Kill the soul in the body and n
the body into stone. He told ma
whispered enc dreadful word in \
car that struck me down at his feel
II thunderbolt strikes Il statue 70 /
grUu..d, When ! recovered nv n
seriousness he was gone. and | kl
that be could hot ought not, must \
ever return
And yet le loved you, My moth1
whispered Alma, in the half hul
tone OF awe.
Yes" muttGrgsl the lady.
And yet you loved himg"
Yes"
And your marriage was Aapgj
10 that fatal evening"
Perfectly happg."
And yet-and yet"
And yet we purted-ycs, as u
M sea- that meet and strike in III 1
and IT, l>under-wrccks doomed a
dawn 10 destruction, - we mar1
and So we severed"
Was it rigitg'
lit was right"
oh. mCtaer what made it "a
What couid make ii right that |
ana my father. who loved each ~
So devotedly. who were 50 WORTHY
each other. too. and whose marf
was so happy in itself, and 50 hid
approved by all. should separate
suddculy-sO utterly ana eyerlaStiG1
The lady did not reply but tuaI
away her face 10 avoid the seiTai
eyes of her daughter.
"Oh. Heaven" cried Alma, IA
could have been but one reasons
previous engagement, or bond /
Or
She could not bring herself 10 r1
the other word, but dropped her \
in her hands. while her bosom 4
and fell with these convulSiyS q
less sobs that seem to press the
from out young hearts"
Il know what you would say. AN
but you are mistaken, poor. unhaI
girl. There was no previous eng1
ment. bond or love. far less marrAi
either ON Hollis Elycrton's siCe
mire. with any third person whse
istencc could invalidatc our marEH1
Hollis Elverton was Il bachelor III
a girl when we married. n0F had Il
er Of us ever loved until we me-
loved each other. No, Alma, HWnI
previous marriage that burst w y
der" said the lady. rs some iHeIj
of unusually exquisite pain conu7
her statue-like form.
Then, i'm the name of heaven. n
and hades. what was hE eSeA1
Alma. with starting vehemeIer,
Il have told you enough-enouS
decide your fate. ! must not 'H
more
Yes. and without any reasOD
signed, you have prencuncee
fence OF eNcommunication anu
lawry AGAINST me-: a sentence
cuts me off from the comforts ~
ion and the. intercourse OF scceyl
sentence thar doomS me 10 =
worse. infinitely worse, thah N
But, mother. without n reason
shall convince my own judgmen'
satisfy my own conscience -
and ought not. to accept Una
tence or submit tc that Iate'
Alma, with gentle iirmness'
Rash girl. what do you me''
that" NJ
Il mean. mamma, that' W
may obey your fIar,i e0fiGiahas Y
l am a minor. even though ooes
may destroy my life or reason,
may. but when I am free, maln~
every one ought TO be- at on. I
Of their life, 1 must redeem ~!
ed troth by bestowing my nam
that Norham Montrose TO Wno
you acknowledge that you ps4
~ SOhdt OpJeNttOh
all | mean. mamma. III
But, I'm the interval, you a. a.
and converse with him ofteh. n
mo. mother. I will not sew Nm
him: l win even try TO ayolu n
But If he should throw n 20
your way. or happen TO niecs
speak to you, you will ans%.
you will converse with MN. n
II wish / could promise tha' ~
not, mamma; but. oh, couiu
such a promise, believe ine, 9Th
not" said Alma. convulsed wi
II do believe you; and lna ss
forces me at length to sp.t !
word-that word which hiu
you at once and forever ,hsrA
from all others that WORD va
sink into your heart ana =" -
life until you r bloodiesS,
or that may kill you at ON No
You down dead before me. n
better that you should DIE al
marry" said the lady. risins .hIld
preaching hes daughter srss
grayness OF death again
her pallid face.
t tTo he Continued