The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-01-26

risd that msrninx.
"Married-' exclaimed. -why I had
not the least idea that such q thing was
ever thought Of"
mo more had we. Master Sfiss. q
few weeks ago" answered Martha.
blushing. land. ron know. you have not
seen us since Christmas. No. as you
had kindly sent me an invitation 20 come
down aud see you. I thought | would
take the liberty 20 bring Josiah along
trip"
Il am very much delighted to see you
both. and you shall stay with M for
your honeymoon" I said. shaking a hand
Of each. But you might as well have
invited M 90 your wedding"
Martha laughed and biushed: and then
my father and Mr. Jonathan offered their
warm congratulations to the happy bride
and bridegroom.
and are ycu siiil at the Corinthian,
Jcsiahr' | inquired.
"No.' he answered.: Martha has per-
suadei ma 90 ~relinquish public life. and
her father has procured for me IN ~
polntment upon the railway ~ q porter"
A little time afterwards. Martha came
10 me with q radiant countenanee. Only
think" she said: that dear. good Mr..
Jonathan IL going TO set rs M In husi-
ness for your sake! And. Master Sllns.
what did I use TO say when you made
such n fuss about the little I could do
for ~you-didn't ! tell you you would be
rich some day. and what hne things you
would do for mer'
But I am not rich. my good Martha"
I said. smiling. "and Il IL not I who have
done this for you"
"Oh. hut it's all the same. sir" she
said. with q very sly look.
Presently my father. Martha. and Jo-
siah went into the houss. but Mr..
Jonathan remained behind. and taking
my arm. strolled with me across the
lawn.
'silas. my lad" he said. In a kind
voice. 'the sight of that happy couple
has set me thinking upon a subject I
have long had In my heartl Although
I have never mentioned II. I know all
about you and Clara. Mrs. Wilson told
me what she knew. and I have picked up
the rest here and there. have waited.
however. until now. In the frst place.
I wished 10 know you better. 10 judge
VI your utHVusitNuns Uuu. w INV htCunu
place. although the ties that bound you
TO that unhappy woman were Of the
weakest. yet. after the dreadful circum'
stances that attended her death. we wers
compelled In decency 20 allow n certain
time to elapse before the subject Of love
and marriage could be preached"
"Ah. sir" answered m~ournfully,
"Clara has ceased 20 love me. She will
never forgive the wicked weakness OF
my conduct In gaining her love while
another claimed me NJ her husband"
cit was very culpablc." answered Mr.
Jonathan. grsvely: land In any other
person I could never have pardoned IL
but your life. my poor boy. has been sc
exceptional. that u would be hard q
judge you by the rules OF everyday
life"
"And ron forgive me-. darllngr" ]
whispered rs I held Clara In my arms.
"J was never angry with you." sh'
answered. softly. II only felt sad. and
that I wished 20 die"
She was mine-mlne nc last! No,hin,
could stand between US now save death
Oh. the bliss. the rapture Of that mo
ment!
ann lying NJ her feet. with my hcaS
resting against her. and my face upturn
ed towards hers. as l used to In the ole
days. The cool air az the soft summer
night. laden with the perfume OF the clus
tcring roses. steals through the open lat
ticc. There In no light save that o.
the moon. that streams through the win
dow. chcqucring the foor with the shad
W OF the overhanIing leaves. On,
broad beam glances over my darling
head. making her golden hair glistcn lik,
threads Of gold. and falls full pon tn
portrait Of her mother that hangs bchin'
her. She II translating the rhnpsodie
that Oil the souls OF both into loves owl
lnngunge-music. Oh. those Wild. pas
sionate strains. how they thrill through
my soull They tell all the story OF GU
~love-soft. melancholy. mysterious
then broken by sobs and wallS-swellinI
into horror and cries OF agony-thel
melting into a soft. dreamy harmony To-
~ecstatic for Joy. too hopeful for sadnes
and so they die away into the passion
ate silence OF love.
9TH endl