The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-01-11

that II Anne was in town, and could keoT
herself from him at n time when she WI.
most sacredly bound, it must be because
she had some other lover. But he found
this hard to believe. Pho very memory
almost tho taste, of her last kisses rose tc
contradict It. He could not persuade him
self that those kisses were deccitfiL and
counterfeit.
A few days after, he was walking slow.
ly along, musing gloomily over this mys
terious blow, he chancel suddenly to look
up, and saw the sunshine fall upon shape
which he had now no doubt of. He .faw
it was Anne who hurridly turned the cor
ner at the end of the street. He was de-
termined to stop her and upbraid her; he
felt in moment half strong enough to
fling back in her faco the love of long
years. On second thoughts, however, he
resolved to discover where she was living,
and for whom and for hatshc had broken
| her faith. He noticed that her cloths
were very ragged and Unlocking; perhaps
| already she had begun to earn tho wages
Of unfaithfulncss by being cruelty used
He kept at moderate distance behind
her, sinking ard hiding between interven-
lent persons. In this way he followed her
through several streets; but turning sud
denly in more crowded thoroughfare, as
he was stralning forward eagerly to keep
glimpse of Anne at distance, quito ro-
gardess Of what was near, burlv dustman
ran against him. He stumbled and fell.
When he sprang up again, he could see
noihiag of that scild bonnet and torn dress
his eyes had been so steadily following. =
Alas he thought to himself, what mat
ters it to find where she is, what she is
doing. Plainly she was in the town;
near him, yet not caring to see him; try
ing to conceal herself from him. Her very
rags, perhaps were but a disguise.
He felt so faint and bewilderd, that ne
hal to stumble into tavern and get some
brandy. As he sat there looking tho
awful changes of his life in the face, he
made up his mind to depart out Of the
country. A map of New Zealand hung
on one side Of the fire, view of Otago on
the other, He talked with two men on
emigration. Tho old town of his youth,
the theatre now of such mockery, seemed
to grow hateful to him. He talked with
them until he persuaded him TO emigrate.
But il was not the glorious vision Of wealth
they set before him that tempted him; he
was impelled by the strong desire to burst
all his present trammels. Io hardly
knew whether his pride and indignation
would save, or his sense Of loss destroy
him. He male up his mind to get rid of
everything-shop, and house, AMI business
at once.
In two hours time-having made an
appointment with the two men for the
next day-he returned to his shop. Two
or three parties Immediately came up to
him with inquiries. Would he have the
shutters painted green? or grained live
oak or picked out with different colors9
He pushed by them, answering: "Oh
anyhow
The men looked confused. Experience
had taught them that anyhow was always
wrong. One of them advised oak.
81 don't care the least how the shutters
are painted. shall never see them, l
hope. shall sell the shop, and go off in
a day or two to New Zealand"
The men fell back, and stared at one
another. They looked at him again, as
doubling whether or no he was drunk, or
whether he bad begun to grow insane thr'o |
his trou, les which all Of them pretty &C.
curatcly knew. Tho master determined
to present his bill, and insure payment
William said that he would pay him inn
While watching the painter
make out his bill, his young apprentice
came whislling into the shop. After
little while he said to William.
"Have you seen tho person in the par
lor, sir!"
"What person9 No" said be.
"There was one came for you an hour
ago." said the lad, "and sho told mo she
should wait until you came in"
William gave a murmer, sigh, and
pushed his way gloomily through the work
men, and implements, and packages into
tho room at tho back of the shop. Some
one fell back as he did SO. All! through
the little window bctwixt the shop and
parlor, Anne had been watching him ever
since he came in. Her heart lashed her
with pain and woe rs she saw the thin fig
nrc, and pnchcd faca, and felt that she
had made him so meagre and white.-
She leaned on the ail and sobbed. She
dared not go through to him, for she fear
ed the scene of their meeting in the open
gaze of the workmen.
Nor shall describe that scene here.
1t was a long time before either of them
could reolize its truth, and particularly be-
fore William could. He asked her if he |
had not passed her one night in the fog.
She answered yes, and that the night and
the early MOI ming were the only times
she dared to 90 out, she so dreaded meet
ing him. He asked her il he had not seen
her that very day, three hours ago. She
blushed, and pointed to her dress. Will.
liam looked down at it.; it was silken
one. She told him she was rushing 10
fetch it out of pawn on purpose to visit
him, and explain herself, when he perceiv
ed her tn t morning; and then she added
all the story Of her illness and penury,
with many tears and prayers for forgvness.
William was so thankful that he wondered
what he had to forgive. Her proposals
to regain her little capital, '.just for vani
tvs sake" he would not listen to, but de- |