Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1907-10-24
Elizabeth s
Romance
BY Rebecca Harding Davis
copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.)

moonlight had enough of out-of-
doors on the farm, he said. Lizzy was
pairing peaches by the kitchen table
with her mother the morning the mat
Ter was definitely settled.
Mrs. Woods had hoped for this for a
long time. John Melvin was as steady
as rock, and his farm was his own,
and unincumbered. There was a great
weight lifted from her heart about
Eizzy's future.
AS for John, he, too, had been anx-
ious about the matter for years. Eliza
beth was very dear to him; yet he
would never have married her If she
had been shrew, or wasteful. But
she had no faults that he could dis
cover. He had suddenly come into
full daylight this morning.
People in the country, however, usu-
ally smother emotion under the COM
monplaces nearest at hand.
will you come out and show me
your wallflowers?"
It was the stranger from New
York, whom Mrs. Merrill had brought
over for tea, who spoke. Elizabeth
was so used to strangers that she had
not noticed him before. She went be-
fore him now, glad to get away from
them all, down through the dusky gar
den-paths to the Wallfowers.
A queer-looking little man, Lizzy
thought, turning to look at him sharp
ly; with a bilious-yellow complexion,
dead black eyes, and lank hair put be-
hind his ears, dressed in coarse
brown suit of city cut, the gaping
pockets stuffed with letters and
cigars.
The stranger was very friendly. He
told her he was newspaper man.
Lizzy was dumb Nobody who had
not lived in country village, and
known the awe-approaching dread ex-
cited by man who has written for
the press can comprehend her emo
ton They sat there until dark
came. I'VE must go in, or we
will have your knight down to reck-
on with me. You ought not to put
the yoke about your neck, by-the-bye,
until you had seen more of the world,
Miss Lizzy. If you were boy, how
| should like you for compagnon out
yonder exploring the west!'
Lizzy did not answer. If John came
down, he undoubtedly had the right to
break up this delicious dream which
the last hour had brought. Why did
she give him the right? The yoke
CALLED her If there had been any ap-
proach to Irritation in Hanlon's man
ner. her purity would have taken the
/ alarm But this intellectual sympathy
this wish that she were boy and
his compagnon; there was a greeting
here of soul to soul, which she had
never received from John Melvin, and
in which was no disloyalty to him.
Must you go now?" she said.
Yes. l have an engagement with,
with These stupid duties are. the
chain wherewith we're darkly bound,
after all, think" He held her hand
pressed it slightly, and hurried away.
The truth was, it was Mrs. Merrill
supper hour, and he had a keen re,
inembrance of her fried chicken and
waf,es.
As for Lizzy, she sat still, to think
She had learned from her favorite his.
tories that in every heroic life comes
the crisis, the imminent moment VIII en-
Fate must be met and grappled with
She thought it had come now; John
Melvin, she acknowledged, was one OF
the noblest of men, generous, honor
able to a fault, and loved her dearly
OF Hanlon she knew nothing. He was
the acquaintance of day. He Nigh:
be weak, cruel, gambler, or roue
out he pleased her passion or he1
! vhim. To be sure, Hanlon did not
4; love her, there was no chance that lhe
| ever would. ..
Night gathered around Lizzy as she
| rat alone. Her blood grew chilled, hel
head panied her The outcry and per
| secution would be terrible if she broke
| her betrothal; she was not strone
girl, and she began to cry. But
+snnot marry him with the feelings
Sat | have!" she sobbed II will 90 tc
John and tell him all" she cried, get
ing up.
| Perhaps if she had had time to reacl
tho house, the story might never have
| :,ecn told. But a hand was laid OF
| her shoulder as she spoke
What's the all you have to tell me
Elizabeth"
"Oh, john" (There was no need t
tall all; half would do Il meant tt
say to you" pale and desperate, "tha
it must all stop. l cannot be you
wife, John.
Why not, Lizzy?" He laughed;
wild, dsscordant laugh, she thought
We are not alike. There is not tina
kindred instinct, that sympathy be
| tween those born under one star.
! trying to talk the dialect of all youn,
| women in her situation
What do you mean, Eliza BETH" h
said.