Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1896-08-27

Ernest Hartrey of whom her father
spoke his language would surely have
been different
Who is it whom you would have me
love!" she asked in faint voice,
dreading at the same time to hea.. his
reply.
Who should it be, but John Grid
ley?"
May shuddered and turned away her
face She knew she could never bring
herself to love that man.
why do you not answer. May?
Surely, you cannot object to him? His
face, his manners, his position-all are
in his favor
May covered her face with her
hands.
Tell me, May, what answer am to
give him from YOU
May raised her head Her cheeks
had lost their color and she was ashy
pale.
Tell him" she said firmly-'tell him
cannot be his wife"
ooh, May. May, think we'll before
you answer thus! You do not know
how much your reply involves-you
can never know!"
L could not love him, father, even if
II
"Even-if what? Spe.la-tell me what
you mean"
Il only mean. father, that | cannot.
cannot marry him!" answered May;
and her thoughts ran: "Oh. it could
only tell him how much love another
how ernest Hartrey is my first and
only love-how | can never wed any
bat he:"
Then the promise she had made re-
CURED to her mind, and she felt that
on this subject she was tongue-ted.
May said Matthew Rivers-and
his vc.ce was stern and sorrowful-"l
had hoped for Il far different reply to
this. | would never attempt to fo''
your inclinations, but reflect ere
make Il final decision. You do ii
know how much is at stake. you can
not guess how much this miscarriage
of all my plans would affect me.
lnve ever been loving father to you
Can you not make me some return?'
Then his voice changed to one of
supplication. 20, think well of what L
say he continued. TRY if you can
not love John Gridley. DO not decide
at once against him. o, if you would
but agree to his proposal, it would be
tho happiest hour of niy lifc"
But. father why Gre YOU so eager,
when | tell you | cannot love himT"
why an. | eager? Because my hon
or is at stalle-because this wedding
can alone save me from ruin"'
''Father--father surely you talk wild
ly. 1T cannot be as you say!"
1T is-it is' groaned Matthew Riv-
erS
Tell me all father!-lct mo know
the worst"
NO, no!-I cannot tell ycu now. But
l know that what l say is true, and
thft your refusal is my ruin"
"Oh, what must | do-what must
do?' sobbcd poor May.
Say that you will marry him"
NO. mol cannot! If you knew all
yon would not press mer'
For mercy's sake, delay your final
answer" said Mattht w Rivers This
day week we will talk again Of tila
matter, and try, May, darling, if you
love me, to think of it differently by
then"
May shook her head, for she knew
how impossible it would be for her to
marry john Gridlay. Her heart was
no longer hers TO give; and even had
'iiN p''li w illih- W Ssitlllltc utIStl. loI
her father. she felt that she could not
90 through the mockcry of standing ut
the altar with one nan when her whole
affection was centered on another.
let me tell him he may hope,''
urged Ter father.
No! 1t would be wrong to mislead
him"
But YOU will think over all have
Il ,,l+
termination"
said, father; but | do not believe it
possible thar can change my mind on
the subject
Matthew Gridley let his head sink
down upon his arms, which were
crossed upon the table, and remained
in that attitude for some time.
When he again raised his head it was
to study the book lying before him,
and he said no more to his daughter
on the subject of her marriage with
John Gridley until they parted for the
night.
Remember, May-this day weell!'
1t was all he said but the words
were fraught with a terrible signiti-
cance to the poor, fearful girl to whom
they were addressed.
What could it mcan?' May asked
herself. What could be the ruin
hanging over her fathers head. and
which her marriage with John Gridley
could avert? What was this terrible
mystery which had so aged her father
during the few weeks of her absence:"
Again and again she sought for an
explanation; but it was beyond her
Could she make the
required sacrifice to save her father?
She answered, unhesitatngly. in the
negative. She was not called upon.
she argued with herself, to give up all
that was dear to her, even though so
much was at stake.
The days passed slowly and wearily
by. The sun shone and the flowers
bloomed. The rich hues of autumn
tinted the tret IS; but all uLheeded by
poor May, who, like one in a trance.
walked listlessly about the house with
eyes only for tie face of her kind faith
er, which, almost day by day, showed
fresh signs of anxiety.
II was tile day before that upon
which May was to give her final de-
cision, and as yet nothing had occurred
to make her alter her determination.
Yielding to the entreaties of her
l,n fny