Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-05-01

serious a bit Of giriish folly, child.
you would have melted, for all that
let it go. 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. Must they lose their youth and
let life's sweetest years he sacrificed
| merely to satisfy 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," q 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.
Yes" 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
atty toward the dead surged within
her.
"And | married Susan Martini"
| 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
oh, ell vi,
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 fash 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
ly 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 honeysuckle
laden porch of home, the owners
brows were drawn together into SEM
blance of its former frown. The mouth
held its accustomed lines. Only i'm the
deep set blue eyes 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 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, I'm ready to go.
couldn't leave the house alone, though.
And, besides, / wanted to tell you my
self. We were married this morning."
The squire's 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 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 ave" 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 wifes waiting now at the hotel for
you to come; said l must tell you my
self first. So run and get on your hat.
john" while long, searching look
passed between the two men as their
hands met, you've got to be doubly
son to me now. Your mother has tax
en- me at last"