Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-12-25

Il
| bewildering curls.
| Long before supper was over.
Madam Van Heemskirk had discov-
cred that this night Elder Semple had
a special reason for his call, and when
the meal was finished, and the girls
| gone to their room. she was not aston
ished to hear him say. "Joris, let us
light another pipe. | hae something
to speak anent-Sit still, guidewife,
we shall want your word on the mat
| ter"
"On what matter, elder?"
"Anent a marriage between my son
Neil and your daughter Katherine"
The words fell with sharp dis
tinctness, not unkindly, but as IL they
were more than common words. They
were followed by marked silence. a
silence which in no way disturbed
Semple, He knew his friends well,
and therefore he expected it.
Joris at last said slowly. For Kath-
crime the marriage would be good, end
Lysbet and | would like ii. Howey er,
we will think little about 1t; there
| Is time, and to spare. One should not
run On new road Say what you
think. iyshet."
Neil is to my mind, when the time
Genes. But yet the child knows not
| perfectly her Heidelberg. And there
is more; she must learn to manage a
house of her own. So In time, | say,
1t would be a good thing. We have
| been long good friends"
I'VE hae been friends for four gen.
| erations, and we may safely tie the
knot tighter now The land between
this place and my place, on the river
side, is your land. Joris. Give 1t to
Katherine, and | will build the young
things a house; and the furnishing
and plenishing Wen share between
u.s.
There is more to wedding than
house and land, elder. A young girl
should be wooed before she is mar
ried. You know how 1t is; and Kath.
crime, the little one, she thinks not of
such thing as love and marriage"
| "Wha kens what thoughts are under
curly locks at seventeen? You'll haze
noticed, madam, that Katherine has
come mair often than ordinar' to Sem.
pie House lately?"
That is so. 1t was because of Col.
Gordon's wife, who likes Katherine.
She is teaching her new stitch in
her crewel-work."
"Hum-m-m! Mistress Gordon
has likewise nephew, vera hand
some lad. hae seen that he takes a
deal O. interest in the crewel-stitch
likewise. And Neil has seen 1t too
for Neil has set his heart on Rather.
ine-and this afternoon there was a
look passed between the young men
dinna like. Wen be haeing chal-
lenge. and twa fools playing at MUIR
der. next"
Il am glad you spoke. elder. Thank
you. III turn your words over in my
heart" But Van Heemskirk was I'M
der certain constraint; he was be-
ginning to understand the situation,
to see in what danger his darling
might be. He was apparently calm;
but an angry fire was gathering in his
eyes, and stern lines settling about the
Il 1890 fe@N - A@Ao 1880
My Lysbet Is the finest lady In the
whole land. Let her daughters walk
In her steps. That Is what | want
Now. there Is enough, and also there
Is some one coming"
IL VIII be Nell and Bran; and. as
the words were spoken. the young
men entered.
Again you are late, Bram"; and
the father looked curiously In his
sons face. 1t was like looking back
upon his own youth; for Bran Van
! Heemskirk had all the physical traits
OF his father-his great size, his COM
manding presence and winning ad-
dress, his large eyes, his deep, sonor-
GUS voice and slow speech.
| With the advent OF Bran and Nell,
the consultation ended. The elder.
grumbling at the chill and mist.
wrapped himself In his plaid, and
leaning on his sons arm, cautiously
picked his way home by the light of
lantern. Van Heemskirk put aside his
pipe. nodded gravely to his son, and
went thoughtfully upstairs.
In his own room he sat down on a
big oak chest; and. as he thought. his
wrath slowly gathered. Semple Knew
that gay young English officers were
coming and going about his house,
and he had not told him until he
feared they would interfere with his
own plans for keeping Neil near to
him. He remembered that Semple
had spoken with touching emphasis Of
his longing to keep his last son near
home; but must he give up his darling
Katherine to further this plan?
Il like not IT," he muttered. God
for the Dutchman made the Dutch
woman. That Is the right way; but l