The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1903-01-02

About every chair cover he will call in
the whole house. Moeder, you know
how it will be. Tomorrow l cannot
bear him. Very near quarrelling have
we been for a week"
81 know, katherine, l know. Leave,
then, with Bran, and go first to Mar
garet Pitts, and ask her if the new
winter fashions will arrive from Lon
don this month. And look now, Kath-
erlne, peace is the best thing; and to
his own house Batavius will go in a
few weeks"
Min Moeder, sad and troubled are
thy looks. What is thy sorrow?
For thee my heart aches often
mine and thy good fathers, too. Dost
thou not suffer? Can thy mother be
blind? Nothing hast thou eaten late
ly. Joanna says thou art restless all
the night long. Thou art so changed
then, that vert yer such a 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, motherlike
Jacob. They are true words. Every
good mother has said them, at the
grave or at the bridal, eff | am be-
reaved of my children, l am bereaved."
There was a sad pathos in the
homeIy old words as they dropped
slowly from Lysbet's lips. Many a
year afterward Katherine remember
ed the hour and the words, especially
in 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 a very short visit to the
mantuamaker, and then went to Mrs.
Gordon's.
A coach was in waiting, and in a
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, a 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 1 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, al a 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 W. 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 me like a fever. l
hear that Neil Semple is well. They
will make you marry him, my dar-
ling"
mo; that they can never do"
"But l suffer in the fear. l suffer
a thousand deaths. If you were only
my wife, Katherine!"
ooh, my love, my Lowell"
"See how I tremble, Katherine.
Life scarcely cares to inhabit a body
SO 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 ~unspeakabIe
agonies."
Never will l marry him, Richard,
never, never. My word is true. You
only 1 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,
nowi"
She rose, and stood white and
trembling by his side-speechless,
also. To her father and her mother
her thoughts fled in a 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
SO 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.
We'll, my Katherine, will you pity
me so far?"
"All you ask, my loved one, 1 will
grant"
Angel of goodness! Now?"
AT your wish, Richard"
He took her hand in a passion of
joy and gratitude, and touched a smesl
bell. Immediately there was a sudden
silence, and then a sudden movement
in the adjoining room. The next