The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-04-19

serious q bit OF girlish folly, q chile
lsh pioue which n kind word from
you would have melted, for all that
let It 90. The past is past. But John.
nv boy-must bis life, too, be spoiled?
He loves your daughter. She loves
him." unheeding the squire's angry
| flush. "Must they lose their youth and
let life's sweetest years be sacrificed
merely to satisfy a dislike Of me, Lem
uel?" A passionate energy inspired
her eager words.
"Dislike, repeated the squire thought
fully. "Dislike. Was it really that?'
! Whatever his faults, the squire was
truthful. "But, Hetty," a sudden
warmth breaking into his own voice,
"Hetty, you said-you said Spoiled
too Do you mean that you cared?
| Did you. Hetty?" with compelling eyes
on hers.
eyes," said Mrs. Wetherby simply.
II cared. And you went away, you
never wrote, and scat last-I married
| johnson Wetherby. He was a good
| husband" A sudden impulse Of 10y
| alty toward the dead surged within
her.
"And 1 married Susan Martini"
unused the squire aloud, but he vas
conscious of what he was saying. A
great wonder held him fast. Was this
the quiet, self repressed woman who
| all these years had sat across the aisle
from him every Sunday morning in
church, this slender, vibrant creature,
trembling in the might of her demand
for happiness of her son? Was this
the woman whom he had believed with
out feeling? In a sudden flash Of in
sight he caught himself, a man cherish
ing the hidden resentment which year
by year hardened character and face.
while She A tender reverence SLOW
~ crept into the stern old eyes.
"Come," he said gently. "we'll have
some dinner, and then we can talk
about John"
When, a week later, the squire's bug
gy pulled up before the ho%neysuckle
laden porch Of home, the owners
brows were drawn together into a SEM
blance of it's former frown. The mouth
held it's accustomed lines. Only in the
deep set blue eyes a new light cleaned
irrepressibly. But Susie did not see.
The girl came slowly to the door. Close
behind followed a tall, slim young fell
low with steady brown eyes. The
squire stared.
"Father," announced Susie. pale; but
resolute, II want to tell you at once
that I'm married to John. The blank
licenses for any one needing them We're
on your desk already signed. 1t was
only necessary to fill in the
II hope you forgive me. But if you
DON'T" as her father still stared with
features unrelaxed, "Tm ready to go.
I couldn't leave the house alone. though.
And, besides, 1 wanted to tell you my
self. We were married this morning."
The squirrels own defiant will beamed
from her blue eyes. She was his owl:
child, ali right, the squire recognized.
with an amused recollection of his for
mer thought, and he could hardly sue
himself for issuing a license to a minor
without her parents consent, his own
name being signed to the document.
The squire threw down his reins.
"Well," he capitulated, 'if it's done,
it's done. And we were planning to
give you such a fine wedding too!'
Then as an amazed 1--WE" broke FROM
the startled girl Squire Godfrey leaned
over and patted the curly head.
"I'm not going to scold," he declared
heartily. "Fact is, I'm married myself,
Ny wife's waiting nov at the hotel for
you to come; said l must tell you my
self first. So run and get on your hat,
john" while a long, searching look
passed between the two men us theil
hands met, you've got to be doubly a
son to me now. Your mother has tax.
en- me at last"