The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1907-04-18

serious a bit of girlish folly, child
ish pique which one kind word from
you would have melted, for all that
let it 60 The past is past. But John,
my boy-must his life, too, be spoiled!
He loves your daughter. She loves
him. unheeding the squire's angry
flush. Unjust 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. 'sBut, Hetty," sudden
warmth breaking into his own voice,
'Tietty, 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
''I 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
atty toward the dead surged within
ner.
"And l married Susan Martin"
unused the squire aloud, but he was
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 sudden flash of in
sight he caught himself, 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, well have
some dinner and then we can talk
about John"
When, a week later, the squire's bug
gy pulled up before the honeysuckle
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, 81 want to tell you at once
that I'm married to John. The blank
licenses for anyone needing them were
on your desk already signed. 1t was
only necessary to fill in the names.
II hope you forgive me. But if you
DON'T" as her father still stared with
! features unrelaXed, "Im ready to go.
couldn't leave the house alone, though.
And, besides, wanted to tell you my
self. We were married this morning.
The sources own defiant will beamed
| from her blue eyes. She was his OWN
child, ali right, the squire recognized,
with an amused recollection of his for
mer thought, and he could hardly sue
himself for issuing license to minor
without her parents consent, bis own
name being signed to the document.
The squire threw down his reins.
"Well," he capitulated, eff it's done.
| it's done. And we were planning to
give you such fine wedding too!'
Then as an amazed "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.
My wife's waiting now at the hotel for
you to come; said | must tell you my
self first. So run and get on your hat.
john" while a long, searching look
passed between the two men as their
hands met, you've got to be doubly a
son to me now. Your mother has tax
en- me at last