The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-02-24

ASeA AOOAcu duHOyeu, uuu ue pEcScull
walked away in a dreamy fashion. 1t d.
not take them long to discover where h
had been, and most of them felt incline
to follow in his footsteps. For it was no
to be expected that Lieut.. King would b
the only young soldier aroused by q gal
liant desire to crafty this heroine OF nov
increasing fame. Agnes had beauty
she also had wealth, and, too. she was t.
be sought while the other girls wer
seeking. Under these enticing condi
lions it was not strange that permits TT
go hunting became the order OF the day
nor was it strange that the atmosphere
around old Judge Wells residence tool
on blush tint; nor that the old man
being deaf and near-sighted, and Ions
since insensible to the sound of low
voices and the mystic changes in atmos.
pheric tints, was entirely unconscious
that his castle had been bes;eged. For
far from being the least amusing fea'
ture Of the comedy as it unrolled was the
fact that the instigator himself was the
only innocent man in town."
No one knew how it all came about.
Charles King was sure it had begun with
him on the first day when Agnes gave
him the roses; from that moment with
definite purpose he had gone to work to
shape the end. With Agnes it was differ
ent; she had drifted from the romantic
Utilization Of one meeting to the dreaded
but hoped-for ecstasy of the next, while
in the intervals her conscience lay on the
rack. She had no time for thought OF
the future; she could only tremble and
fear, tremble and hope.
1t was not until the day when
Charles first left her under the rose
vine and went into the library to speak
to her father that she felt this uncer-
tainty diminish; not until then did she
feel diffused through the gentle waver-
ing disposition inherited from her
mother something of her fathers
strong self-will. 1t crept over her
slowly at first, self-affrighted; but
when she watched her lover walk
about the garden before coming near
her, it suddenly leaped like liquid fire
through her veins, stimulating, elec-
trifying. He read her promise, for bet
ter or for worse, before a word was
spoken.
Heaven bless you. my darling!" he
said, pressing her white hand to hi9
lips. 1T matters not what he says
you will marry me. l see it in your
eyes,"
But what did he say, Charles?''
"Too much. He refused to glance at
my uncle's letter; did not, would not,
even hear who am. But it all makes
no difference now; tomorrow we will
be married"
They were wrapped in twilight, and
had no fear Of interruption. All at
once Agnes became motionless, afraid
to stir, afraid to breathe; the tread OF
an old man approached the sheltered
nook.
"Doncher git scared. honey; faint
nobody but Uncle Joe, an he done seed
young doves er coon befo' les go on
wild yer kissin' an huggin'-Uncle Joe
don care, he bin er watchin' yer all
de time. Lord! but Use glad it's you,
A'A a. DC SAoA 1Co, SooC JILL 81 udLSu w
all dem blue coats er flynn round dis
here chile wat / done raised, dat I'us
feared she'd git fused an take up wild
er Yankee. OATS right, chin; jes
90 on wild yer foolishness; Uncle Joe
swine ter hep yer tie de knott
And he did. But for him one of the
party that gathered on the following
afternoon as II by accident, at the
1.-The chile wat he done raised"
would have been absent.
One OF the other servants, however,
lad not been so faithful. At the mo-
nent when the young minister began
n trembling voice TO read the mar
'iage ceremony the father had been
Informed. and was walking up and
lown his library floor in violent |
age. When the minister warned: III |
my man can show just cause why they |
nay not lawfully be Joined together"
he father had ordered his carriage; |
when the minister questioned: "Who |
,iveth this woman to be married to |
his man." he was dashing along rap
dly, yet urging his horses to greater
peed; and when the voice of the
'oung soldier spoke out confident and
trong: with this ring I thee We'd"
le was tearing at the little church,
ard gate. AS the noise reached the
xpectant ears of the few friends. all
prang to their feet.
The old man came hobbling up the
isle, shaking his fist at the officiating
riest. stop, sir! Stop! You are
verstepping your authority"
But the tremor had gone from tho
dice of the young divine; he no long
r hesitated, but said, looking sternly
nto the eyes of the enraged father.
'hile he held firmly the newlywedded
ands: "Those whom God hath joined
ogether let no man put asuuder."
And though the old man stumbled
nd fell in his passion, and Agnes
eemed ready to faint, and Florence
dickson cried out Historically amidst
he general commotion, he kept
traight on until they were awed and
titled by the words: Il pronounce