Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-02-28

did not hear her, and. with a GOODNESS
of death at her heart, she had stag
gered into the house and thrown her.
self in a passion Of rage and tender
ness-the two strangely blended
upon the bed.
A week later Harry had gone on
his long trip to Australia without so
much as a word or line Of parting
and she had never forgotten that
hopeless, dreary winter day on which
she heard the news, with it's long sue
ceeding night Of bitter tears and
agony Of remorse. How she had loved
him! And he was lost to her forever
he would never come back-oh, how
she cursed the feminine folly and
light-heartedness which had prompt
ed her to refuse his manly declara-
ton.
Harry's honestly was limited to
one month, and the days sped swiftly
by.
Hetty-her love increased now ten
fold-lived in a perfect frenzy of al
ternating hope and fear, at one mo-
ment declaring herself the unhappiest
mortal alive, at another confident that
all would be put right before he went
away again. That he still loved her
was certain, conceal the fact how he
might, and she judged by the strength
of her own feelings, that it would be
impossible for him to leave her, per-
haps forever this time, without
word.
Three weeks passed-four! In two
days more his ship sailed, and it
would be necessary for him to leave
home overnight in order to be in Lon
don in time to reach the docks.
She had gone into the village that
day, the last, to make a few pur-
chases, and just as she emerged into
the open country he had come up with
her.
81 am Just in time" he said, taking
the heavy bag from her hand. "Why
what a weight for you to lug home
by yourself"
ooh, I'm used to it." she smiled
family, land you know I'm pretty
strong"
II have something to tell you, Het-
ty, something that has been upon my
lips ever since I returned. l do not
know that It Will concern you much;
but"
She was looking up at him in won
derment Not concern her much?
Had he not guessed thousand times
how matters stood with the poor, pitt
full little heart? Had not her every
wistful glance, her every timid re-
Spouse, her every pleading compliance
with his lightest wish-had not these
revealed to him how passionately she
loved him.
"I am married, Hetty." L"
She gave a low cry, like some af-
frighted, wounded animal, and shrank
helplessly away from him, restrained
only by his hold upon her hand.
Eyes, was married a year ago In
Australia I found life right back in
the heart Of the bush was intolerably
lonely, and-but what is the matter,
Hetty-you are crying?"
|
question had the world been laid at
her feet for so doing, but she crushed
back the deadly sickness at her heart
and said in a low voice,
''It Is very silly Of me, but 1 have
not been very we'll lately, and-oh, do
please let us hurry home"
No further word was spoken until
they reached the gate at which they
had parted three years ago. and here,
despite her efforts to escape he de-
tanned her.
do you remember when we last
stood here together? he asked.
She strove to disengage her hand !;
but he was too strong for her.
do you remember how you laughed
at me, and let me walk off down the
lane with never a word"
81 called you"
The word had escaped her lips I'M
consciously, wrung from her in the
keenness of her agony, and he looked at
her in amazement.
"You called me?" he asked.
eyes," she retorted defantly, casting
shame and reserve to the winds, Il
called you back and you would not
come. l did not mean what l said, and
-ah but what is the use Of talking
like this?" she cried passionately. cts
all over and past now, and 1 wish
was dead and away from every one."
He had released her hand and she
stood leaning against her gate, her face
buried in her folded arms, her tears
flowing unrestrained.
He touched her lightly and lpityingly
on the shoulder.
"You must not cry 50, Hetty," he
| said. 1T has all been a horl id mistake
i can see it now, and,' she felt his
breath upon her face. eff were to ask
| Won tha same 0I1aStiOn would vo.,