Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-09-23
CHAPTER XXI.

4
CHAPTER XXI.
| Thus it came to pass that I, Hugh
TreIawney. a man Of the people, became
the accepted lover of Madeline Graham.
Looking back at it all now. after a lapse
Of so many years. il still seems an in
credible thing, unreal and visionary but
raising my eyes from the paper whereon
these lines are written. | see beside me
the sweet assurance that It il true.
Love is by nature selfish and in the
first flush Of my new joy | almost forgot
the sorrow in my poor home. But when
Quilted my darling. and joined the little
procession which followed my poor uncle
across the heath. 1 reproached myself for
having felt 50 happy
The miners had procured rude
streteher. often used when accidents took
place ia the mine. and the dead body was
laid upon il. with cloak thrown lightly
over it. 70 hide the piteous disigured
face set in its sad gray hair; but one
hand hung uncovered. and this hand An
nie held, as we walked slowly homeward,
four Of the men carrying the load l fol-
lowed. helping my aunt, who was simply
heartbroken.
God has taken him" | So :, solemn
ly. lie is happy now"
"ay. happy wi God" sobbe. my aunt.
Forty year we ha' dwelt together + this
house. and he meier gave me angry look
or Grass word. He be GAVIN, where I'll
soon gang too. Wait for me, my bonnie
man, wait for me-wait for her that
loves 'ee. and is coming to ee soon"'
Why should / finger over this scene
IT sorrow, why should | turn to other
scenes which follow ed Il? Time and
Death have healed all those wounds; to
speak Of them is to open them again.
A year after the flooding Of the mine
and the deaSh Of John Pendragon, mar
ried Madeline Graham. The ceremony
took place quietly in London. whittier
we had gone together; and when it was
over we spent brief honeymoon abroad.
One spring morning. in a hotel by the
lake Of Geneva, | read in the paper an
announcement that filed my heart with
surprise and pain. 1t was an advertise
ment Of the approaching sale by auction
Of Redruth House, st. Gurlott's, Corn
wall
A short time before this the mining
company had passed into liquidation,
and | knew that George Redruth was a
ruined man. Little or no communication
had PASSED between the cousins, but,
when the crash came, Madeline, with my
full consent and sympathy, had written
TO her aunt. Offering her a considerable
portion Of her fortune for George Red
ruth's use and benefit. This offer had
been refused. The next thing we had
heard was that mother and son were
living together ia London, and closely
following on that had come the news Of
the mothers death, an event which filed
my darling with no little distress. To the
last Mrs. Reiruth had refused to forgive
her niece whom she uniustly held re-
sponsible for all the n,isfortnnes which
had fallen upon her son.
I showed nay darling the newspaper.
and We forthwith determined 10 Journey
down co Cornwall Thus it happened
that, about a week later, we arrived in
st. Gurlott's. whore we found Annie and
my aunt ready ~ receive rs az the old
cottage. / then ascertained that George
REaruth had left England Tor America.
where be intended 10 remain Annie. who
was my informant. told me that before
leaving the village be had sought her out
to say farewell
And. Oh. Hugh, she cried. he asked
for ms forgiveness. and | f3rgave him.
with all my heart I think. If had
wished Il. he would have taken me with
him "A his wife"
"You did not wish itY'
She shook lssr mead sadly.
Within another year fresh company
was formed for the mine, with Hugh
Trelawney. Esq. As protector and chief
owner; large sums were expended in the
improvements which. If carried out.
would long before have saved the con
Germ; the sea was gently persuaded to
yield ap possession. and before long the
Old mine was hourishing prospeyousjy. a
source Of prosperity 90 all concerned in
il. AMI Of blessing 10 the whole popuia-
ton.
Another Tact remains to be caronlcIed.
We bought Redruta House. and IL he.
came our home. There my aunt and
Annie joined as dwelling happily with
as. till, in due season. my auut died. An.
ME lived on, and still lives. a pensive.
gracious woman. full Of one overshadow.
ing memory, and devoted to our chill.
dren. The last time she heard Of George
htokHtAtt az " a@ wen -tp-uo aAeFCN&AEs
living in the West.
Thus. through ;ae goodness Of Cod. {
remained Ia the old home. able to help
those who in time Of need had helped
me. st. Gurlott's is now a happy. thriv-
ing place; my Lar wife is idollzed by
the simple people; and /, In the fullness
Of my fortunate days. am the master IT
the mine
g-JskA erN