The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-09-30

OFF, and came almost every night
The lane was our refuge, Aunt Jane
had gone away for a little while, and
my stepmother never opened the
best room for anybody short of the
minister,
She didn't mean to be unkind-it
was only that she loved to know
and hear all anybody said. She
could see us walking the lane length
in the moonshine, else she would
never have let me go.
She was all for Allen, thinking so
much of money as she did. He came
in the day evenings his father
wanted him to stay and talk over
cases with him.
Allen had read law. but never
meant TO practise, being sensitive as
to showing himself, lie had asked
me to marry him the week after
John proposed, Partly from vanity.
partly to make John prize me more.
let him dangle on after me, telling
him to wait-I didn't know what
would say to him in the end.
That wasn't n story-I loved John
so. I went in fear and trembling. II
seemed TO me beyond hope that I ever
could be his wlfe-and If I couldn't
well, certainly I couldn't live along
with my stepmother. It was her
Householder had left me only his
bit of money. She had said:
You're welcome to stay until you
marry" fully expecting the time to
be short.
That night Of the fun moon the
world was all silver the elder flow.
ers more than silver-pearl Wild
spice pinks in the garden Heaven
grapes were in bloom, too, and the
spice pinks in the garden. Heaven
itself cannot be sweeter than was
the air, and the dew was so heavy IL
showed in beads over everything,
and FLASHED down big drops when.
ever the mocking- birds stirred. Three
of them sang at once, up and down
the lane-they had nests in the
hedgerows and sang to their mates.
Never was there such another night
Now I love to think of it-for years
the memory was like fire.
Midway the lane we heard some
body riding in the far end Of tt
riding hard There was a little rise
before the end. AS we looked we
saw Allen come squirting over it,
bareheaded and stopping in his
saddle He was upon us all in
Whit, and saying fretfully:
What are you doing here, Lyn-
ette? Come back with me to your
He said It with authority. John
stepped before him, caught his bride
rein and said, before could answer
lim:
"Lynette will stay here as long as
ihe likes-with the man she is going
o marryi"
Liar" Allen cried, scrambling
lown. In spite of the withered leg
le had the strength of bull.
He caught John in a bear-hug,
banning out curses. John only
'lAiAAVAs " lIH a Eidhb VI lue bIOul-
Iers he wrenched free, half flung
Allen from him, but caught and
teadied him, and holding him up
light turned to face me.
Choose betwixt us, little girl" he
aid. q thought you had chosen me.
remember, I shall never ask you
gain"
"Lynette! Lynette! My Godl /
ove you sol" Allen cried hoarsely
I hid my eyes. I wanted to do
ight-to be honest and true-but
ohm had said he would never ask
gain-he must be mighty sure of
ne. And poor Allen How could I !
out him with a happy rival? |
rheeled about, calling to them over
ly shoulder
81 shant marry anybody-until I
lease"
No; that's not the end John went |
way next week; next year I married
llen-on his deathbed He said I'd
lade him mighty happy Myself?
h, it hardly matters about women.
But-last week I got a letter-next
eek John is coming for me. shall
I've the Waite fortune to charity
~ only true love has enough for us