The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-10-05


A childdess widow with ample means,
she was devoted.to Hugh, andvsry fond
of doing nice things for others Hugh
was also comfortably well of, md not
at all dependent upon the profession
he had chosen.
Two years after this conversation,
Hugh, on another visit to the west,
had stopped to look after his sisters
and to see how her protege
was getting along. Six months before
this, Mrs. Holten had been stricken
with paralysis, and Lena had returned
home TO care for her and the little
household, so helpless with the chief
worker laid low. The family resources
were small, and, when Lena had the
chance of teaching the neighborhood
school for the summer months, she
gladly took it. She wrote brightly and
hopefully to her friend, but Mrs. Nor
rison feared that the girl was overdo-
ing, and was greatly worried about
her. She had looked forward to taking
Lena abroad, another year, to cultivate
her voice, and was loath to give up her
plans, even for time.
Hugh Ramsey came, saw, and-was
conquered, that little busybody.
Cupid, winging an entirely unlocked
for shaft straight at his heart at his
first meeting with the girl. She was, as
Mrs. Morrison had predicted, beauty
indeed. with her soulful deep-blue eyes,
long, dark lashes, finely penciled' dark
brows, roseleaf complexion, and hair
of that rare golden shade rarely seen
beyond early childhood coiled on the
top of her shapely little head and fall
ing, in soft, feathery rings, on her
white forehead. She was as charming
in mind and manner as she was, in per-
son, and the young mans subjugation
was complete.
Hugh had made many visits to the
little schoolhouse, and had ridden over
one afternoon from his sisters place to
plead his cause once more. The little
frame schoolhouse stood by the road
side, at the foot of a thinly wooded
hillside. From the doorway charm
ing view was had over broad, farm
dotted valley, bordered with fringe
of trees and vivified by winding
river.
School was out, and the children had
gone their several ways. The day had
been very sultry, with sudden dashes
of rain and frequent gusts of wind, and
Lena-looking picture in her simple
blue muslin gown-said, as she began
to put the things in order on her desk:
you should not have come out in
this heat, Mr.. Ramsey, and you must
go back before it storms"
"Never mind about the storm, Lena, -
he said, earnestly, leaning over the
desk, trying to capture one of the busy
little hands. Listen to me. must go
away very soon, and cannot bear 10
go until you have promised to be my
wife. Can't you care for me a little,
when l love you so much? Your school
closes tomorrow, and cannot endure
the thought of your. taking another
and drudging so. If you will marry
me you need not worry about your
parents. will be glad to make them
comfortable. Jerry told me the other
day that he was thinking of marrying
Mary Jones, and that she was willing
to come home with him and care for
the old people. Your mother would
approve, if she could speak, and. your
father has already given his consent,
Do say yes, my darling, and let me take
you right away. know that / can
make you happy, and Zadah will well
come you with open arms"
II am afraid, Mr.. Ramsey, that you
do not fully understand your sisters
wishes. know that she hopes to see
you marry your cousin, Miss Powers
and unite your two fortunes. She told
me so last summer, and dc you think
anything would make me go against
the wishes of one who has been so good
to me? Your cousin is beautiful, ac-
complished, a woman of the world, able
to take her place beside you in society
/ am only poor girl with no knowl-
edge of the great world, and just
enough education to realize my short.
comings. know that Mrs. Morrison
is fond of me, but she is not fond
enough to welcome me as sister. &c
home, dear friend; marry your cousin
and forget your fancy-it can be nc
more-for me. Say good-by now, and
do not come again."
IF you really do not care for me
Lena, l would be brute to urge you
further; but l shall not marry nv
cousin. We do not care for each other
in that way, and you are all wrong
about Zadah's objecting to you. 1 did
not tell you what she said in her last
letter. l wanted-great Heavens!
What is that?"
II had grown very dark, and ter
rible roaring sound burst upon their
startled ears. Running to the door,
they beheld a fearful sight. Coming
swiftly up the valley, huge, funnel.
shaped, black cloud, rising and falling
was moving wide path, leaving death
and destruction in It's wake. The all
was thick with flying objects; parts Of
buildings and their contents; fence
boards, farming implements, even
large animals, all tumbling over and
over, torn to shreds, now and then cast
off to one side or the other. Only mo
ment did they stand gazing helpless.
y at the monster; then it passed.
brushing. with its outer edge, the lit.