Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-09-24
and John Grldlcy had completely r

tdl TeSIOTatlOn 10 health lildt tht
roses had returned to her cheeks, and
she was able to walk almost us well
as before her illness.
Gridlcy, who feared further delay,
determined that the time had now
come for his marriage.
He preached the subject TO Matthew
Rivers, who raised no objection; IN
deed, he was SO much in the others
power that however much he may
have disaDproved. it would have been
useless TO offer any opposition.
You must speak to May about 1T
yourself" was all he said; and John
Gridley determined he would do so
upon the first opportunity.
One was not long in presenting ii.
self. The very day following that
uLon which he had spoken TO the
malster he found May sitting alone in
the parior spinning.
Seating himself by her side. he at
once plunged into the subject which
was foremost in his heart.
Dear May" he said, lit is now
more than a month since you promised
me you would be my Wife
She inclined her head.
Il have been H." she said.
do not think for Il moment that |
meant to reproach you; | merely
would bring the evening when You
placed your hand in mine back TO your
memory. in order that ! may ask you
when you will do so at the altar in
yonder church."
do not ask me now-say no more
about it-at least not yet, murmured
May.
May, dearest. | must speak; and
what is more. | must have IN answer.
l have been looking forward TO calling
you my W rs soon as you had recoy-
cred sufficiently from your illness; n
now. il seems to me. the time is APP
%proaching for my happiness. oh, that
you would let me say u happiness.
Must il be soCn?" said May, with
the greatest repugnance 10 the idea
expressed in her voice.
Very o now"
And what ii ! beg you 70 release
me from this engagement and from
among the pretty villagers seek some
one who has Il better face. Il quieter
conscience and Il whole heart to give
you"
You cannot mean this. May? You
do not know what YOU are saying
His cheek paled; he rose from his
seat and walked rapidly up and down
the room.
Il know we'll what | say" answered
the maltster's daughter: but | fear
know YOU TOO well 10 hope for n mo-
ment that you will voluntarily SUrren-
der any object which you have deter
mined to- possess. whatever pain and
agony it may cost her whom you pro
fess TO love-
You are right. May; you l will not
give up. If you refuse me, your father
will in three days be imprisoned in
the common gaol for debt; but if you
accept me, the paper | hold. bearing
his signature, and which is the ac-
acknowledgements of a debt of twelve
hundred pounds TO me. shall be placed
in your hands to do with Is you think
fit
''.At least postpone the idea of an I'M
mediate marriage" entreated May.
Postpone it, For how long? A
week? May, before this month is
many days older you and | must be
man and wife"
He spoke in a soft-toned voice but
his manner was determined.
May saw no chance of escape. She
knew nothing, had heard nothing of
Ernest: and he was the sole person in
the wide world to whom she could
have appealed TO rescue her from the
dilemma in which she was placed.
After n few momen $ silence she
heaved a weary sigh.
1T must be as You WILL" said she;
''settle the day with my father and
will be prepared
1t was hardly more than a week
from the day of this conversation that
the bells rang out from the church
tower of Annadale.
Their CHEEKY sound awoke May
early in the morning and called at
once to her mind what she had to go
through that day.
She had often listened TO them with
pleasure when they rang for a neigh
boris wedding-She liked the sound Of
the merry chimes then; but now every
sound seemed to infict a blow upon
her heart; she felt it was her death
knell they were pealing.
Sadly she donned the bridal costume
which her father had brought her
from Alverton, for she had refused to
take any part in the preparations. and
had not ever tried on the white robe
she was TO wear.
Poor May. Her fingers trembled
and her cheeks were deadly pale: but
she nerved herself for a great strug-
gle and firmly determined TO go
through with what she had begun.
Slowly. when arrayed in the spot
less white OF a bride. she descended
the stairs to the little parlor where
her father and mother awaited her;
and all the while the bells rang out al
merrily as If Ernest Hartrey had been
the bridegroom, and the bitter frost
laden wind went bowling and moaning
around the house, as IL waiting a cor
onach over one of its Inhabitants.
The wedding. at Mays desire, ex-
pressed so strongly as to be almost a
command, was as quiet as possible.
None OF the neighbors had been asked
To be present at it; but curiosity
prompted many of the idle ones to go
to the church to see May Rivers give
her hand, as they supposed she had
already given her heart, to the malt
ster's handsome young partner.
John Gridley was a favorite with
the girls Of Annadale. They admired
his good looks, they liked to hear his
soft, pleasant voice, especially when
addressing compliments to themselves.
a