New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1903-09-23
;. Lippincott Company.

in Mysteries by now with anxiety as
to my wherea bouts. ee
Nonsense, child. You are not half
rested. Nay, stay you here and will
have Sam put up your horse and get
out Black Nan to go himself to your
fathers with message that you are
here
Needless of James protest, she
hustled onto the porch. A glance
down the road, visible from the van
tage-point, caused her to fling up her
hands in CONSERVATION and hasten
back to her niece.
'.Jane," she exclaimed in an agi-
tated tone, "who think you is gallop-
ing up the road, making straight for
here? That wretch Bessemer, look
ing like bantam rooster astride
big gray horse"
Coming here? Are you sure? I
cannot, / will not see him"
she has his men with him, so may
hap he is not going to stop; but keep
you in the house, and will dispatch
him speedily"
She returned to the porch. Scarce
had she taken up her position when
Bessemer came in sight. James horse,
the sleek chestnut which was her
favorite, did not escape his eye. With
a word of command to his officers, he
threw himself from his horse and
strobe through the gate to the front
porch, at the top of whose steps Mrs.
Ellery stood.
"Ah, colonel, good-morning," said
the lady condescendingly. "'Tis long
since have had the pleasure of well
coming you to my home"
It could not be said that her vel
come the only other time he had
visited her had been friendly. It was
upon the occasion of the burning~of
her house, an event which both re-
membered.
evil you not be seated here upon
my good settee?" she proceeded. 81
find the spot it occupies a most shady
and restful one at this time in the
morning, and it would feel honored
to hold so brave a gentleman"
Her guest looked at her somewhat
suspiciously. Such graciousness from
such source was too unexpected to
be received without reservation, yet
he was not to be outdone in courtesy.
"Ah, madam" he said, as he bent to
kiss her hand, "you little know what
a pleasure it is to me to receive so
kind a welcome at your hands. Tis
doubly precious; first, because it
comes from your sweet self and,
second, because it leads me to believe
that you will extend the welcome to
embrace me not only as your guest
but as your nephew. Doubtless your
niece, who see by her horse without
the gate is now with you, has already
acquainted you with the happiness
she has bestowed upon me in consent
ing to become my wife. I am here to
claim the contamination of that
promise. Advices from my general,
CORVALLIS, tell me that our army is
to move and that my detachment may
be sent into North Carolina. I fear,
therefore, it may be- many days, nay,
months, before the fortunes of war
permit me to return hither, and I
cannot leave without knowing that
your niece is under the protection of
my name. My good chaplain is with
out, prepared to make us one, and I
have but to crave the hospitality of
your roof and the boon of your bless
ing for the completion of our happi-
ness"
''You cannot mean," Mrs. Ellery
cried, ''that you expect to marry Jane
here-now? My good man, you are
out of your Senses"
NAY, my dear madam, never more
in them, l assure you. Love is a great
sharpener of WITS
maybe so, when it has any to work
on" his hostess -retorted with
asperity, flinging aside her role of
affability, ''but you will find yourself
upon a FOOLS errand. Jane is in DO
mood for marrying, 1 trow." .~~
"We will allow Mistress Jane to
decide that for herself. May 1 trouble
you to call her?"
Eyes, right gladly will I call her
and let her rebuke your insolence
as it deserves. She stepped to the
hall door. ''Jane, child, come here.
Col. Bessemer wishes to speak with
you"
Jane was astonished that her aunt
should summon her, but she pre-
sumed there must be some urgent
cause-a message from her father
and mother or her brother, for she
had seen through the window that
Edward was not with the officers:
therefore she stepped from the room
into the hall. Catching sight of her,
Bessemer went swiftly forward and
took her hand.
81 have Gomez he said, bending his
head and speaking in low tone, '.to
claim the promise you made me. My
chaplain is without, prepared to
marry US. Dispatches from my gen
eral, Cornwal His, as 4 have explained
to your aunt, necessitate my imnedi-
ate departure. | cannot leave with
out knowing that you are surely
mine, bound to me by the sacred
ties of matrimony.
| JaneNrecoiled. You cannot mean
| she exclaimed. ssthat YOU have come