Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-02-05

| ~. JOdnHd says IuOu ART EeStleSS oil
the night long. Thou art SO changed,
then, that vert, ever such happy
little one. Hard is thy mothers lot.
The dear children l nursed on my
breast, they go here and they go
there, with this strange one and that
strange one. Last night, ere to our
sleep we went, thy father read to me
some words of the loving, mother-like
Jacob They are true words. Every
good mother has said them, at the
grave or at the bridal, IF | am be-
reaved of my children, am bereaved."
There was a sad pathos in the
homely old words as they dropped
slowly from Lysbet's lips. Many a
year afterward Katherine remember
ed the hour and the words, especially
i'll the gray glooms of late October
evenings.
The next morning was one of per-
feet beauty, and Katherine awoke
with a feeling Of joyful expectation.
She paid very short visit to the
mantuamaker, and then went to Mrs.
Gordon's.
A coach was in waiting, and in
few minutes they stood together at
Hyde's door There was a sound of
voices within; and, when they enter
ed, Katherine saw, with a pang of
disappointment, fine, soldierly look
ing man in full uniform sitting by
Richards side. But Richard appeared
to be in no way annoyed by his COM
pany. He was looking much better,
and wore a chamber gown of maroon
satin, with deep laces showing at the
wrists and bosom.
With an air that plainly said, This
is the maiden for whom | have fought
and suffered; is she not worthy of my
devotion?" he introduced her to his
friend, Capt. Earle. But, even as
they spoke Earle joined Mrs. Cor
don, at call from her; and Rather
inc noticed that a door near which
they stood was open, and that they
went into the room to which it led,
and that other voices then blended
with theirs. But these things were as
nothing She was with her lover,
alone for a moment with him; and
Richard had never before seemed to
her half so dear or half so fascinat.
ing.
My Katharine" he said, 81 have
one tormenting thought. Night and
day it consumes me like fever.
hear that Neil Semple is well. They
will make you marry him, my dar-
ling"
No; that they can never do"
But l suffer in the fear. l suffer
a thousand deaths. If you were only
my wife, Katherine!"
'Oh, my love, my love!"
See how l tremble, Katherine.
Life scarcely cares to inhabit a body
50 weak. If you refuse me l will let it
go. If you refuse me, l shall know
that in your heart you expect to
marry Neil Semple-the savage who
has made me suffer unspeakable
agonies."
Never will l marry him, Richard,
never, never. My word is true. You
only l will marry"
Then now, now, Katherine. Here
is the ring. Here, is the special
license from the governor; my aunt
has made him to understand all. The
clergyman and the witnesses are
waiting. Now, Katherine? Now,
now"
She rose, and stood white and
trembling by his side-speechless,
also. To her father and her mother
her thoughts fed in kind of loving
terror But how could she resist the
pleading of one whom she so tenderly
loved, and to whom, in her maiden
simplicity, she imagined herself to be
SC deeply bounden? And when Rich
ard ceased to speak, and only be,
sought her with the unanswerable
pathos of his evident suffering for her
sake, she felt the argument to be ire,
sistible.
well, my Katherine, will you pity
me so far?"
"All you ask, my loved one, I will
grant"
Angel of goodness! Now?'
"At your wish, Richard"
He took her hand in a passion Of
joy and gratitude, and touched small
bell. Immediately there was a sudden
silence, and then sudden movement
in the adjoining room. The next
moment a clergyman in canonica
dress came toward them. By his side
was Col. Gordon, and Mrs. Gordon
and Capt. Earle followed. The cere
mony was full Of solemnity, and Of
that deepest joy which dims the eyes
with tears, even while it wreathes the
lips with smiles. During it, Katherine
knelt by Richards side; and every
eye was fixed upon him, for he wa:
almost fainting with the fatigue o.
his emotions; and it was with fast re
> ceding consciousness that he whis
pered rapturously at it's close, my
/. wife, my wife!"
Throughout the sleep of exhaustion
, which followed, she sat watching him
. The band of gold about her finger fas
: cinated her. She was now reall.
. Richards wife; and the first sensation
9 OF such mighty change was, in he
I pure soul, one of infinite and reveren
q love. When Richard awoke, he wa
+, refreshed and supremely happy.
0 The coach was waiting; and, with
out delay, Katherine returned wit
Mrs. Gordon to her lodgings, and the
home.
@ As time went on, without bein
;. watched, Katherine felt herself to b
a under certain amount of restraint
v II she proposed a walk into the city
t Joanna or madam was sure to hav
e the same desire. She was not fol
hidden to visit Mrs. Gordon, bu
| events were so arranged as