Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1904-02-27

"a 1T down, dear, and while l am
~ waiting for John, 1 will tell you
all about it. 1 know people won
Tered when we were married, and
said 1 was an old fame, and that it
was preposterous for old people like US
to marry. But, my child, 1 don't care.
Yes, you do seem like a child to me;
eighteen, did you say? And this is
your engagement ring. Pretty, isn't
it? How it brings back the old times
when 1 was just your age, and John
and 1 was counting"
There was a pause, and n small,
wrinkled hand was raised to brush
away a tear. Then the sweet old voice
continued
"You see, John was what they call
| bound boy. He was just eight years
old when he came to live with us;
married her. You knew Eunice? She
vas a handsome girl, If 1 do say it.
Nar prettier than 1. 1 did count
much for good looks, but for all that
[ took pretty well with the beaux.
But l didn't care a jot for any one of
them but John. He was five years
older than 1, and from the time 1 was
4 mite of three, my constant compan-
on and protector. How he did stand
by me If there was any fracas at
school, as there always was more or
.ess with part of us on one side, and
part of us on the other. Well, matters
went along smooth enough until l was
nearly nineteen. Then the first and
hardest trial I ever had to contend
with, came like a thunder-bolt from
a clear sky.
John and 1 became engaged on my
eighteenth birthday, and father and
mother were well pleased. Don't very
often happen that way, does 1t? But
t did in our case. You see, 1 was the
only child, and John was a fine, man
y fellow, fully capable of making his
own way IN the world, and always
ike a SOL to father and mother. How
hey loved that boy! They never SEEM
I'd quite the same after he disappoint-
ID them so. And to think they never
knew the truth. Oh, it was shame
tull But there, 1 must not judge her.
She was young and thoughtless, and
sorry enough in after years. I'll show
you the letters some time. 1t was
them that wrought all the mischief.
They were written while 1 was West,
visiting my mothers brother and his
family. You see, dear, Eunice and 1
were the best of friends, and I never
suspected till afterward how much
she cared for John, but 1 never blamed
her for taking him when he wanted
her.
81 tried to think it was the Lords
will, and stayed West two years try
ing to reconcile myself to the newt
able. Then mother was taken. sick,
and 1 came home, John and Eunice
had a little one by that time, and some
how those baby fingers helped to heal
the breach; and before 1 knew 1t 1 was
loving Johns baby as well as 1 did
him, only in a different way, perhaps,
for there would come times when it
seemed as If my life was a blank. They
were apparently so happy, 1 so lone
ly, trying to crush out the love 1 now
felt it a sin to harbor. Somehow,
though, it survived the years; for
John is as dear to me to-day, my
child, as in the long ago; when be-
meath the apple-boughs he placed this
ring uDOn nv finger. If was In tha
fair spring-time and the old orchard
was like a dream of f~airy-land."
Again the sweet voice quavered and
broke, and a tear dropped from the
down-cast eyes and glittered like a
diamond on the worn circlet of gold.
Once more memory carried her back
to the time when she was a light-heart-
ed girl. with not a cloud to dim the