The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-03-20

was but woman, with a wOman's weak,
defencele ss heart, and some times it ached
with a keen, sharp pain when she saw
Grace drive away by Captain Revere's
side, in Il low, easy-going carriage, in which
he passed hours Of every day upon the
beach.
In one of these drives Captain Revere
surprised his companion by saying, with a
culver of pain in his voice:
"Grace, if l were not the miserable
cripple that am, / should ask you to love
me; but should not do it without telling
you how dear once held your cousin
Ethel"
Grace Darricott fairly trembled. She
had never dreamed of this. She had be-
come so intimate with him only for Ethel's
sake, in order that time might come
when she could honorably and delicately
let him know the state of her cousins
heart. OF supplanting that cousin she had
never dreamed. And yet-poOr human
nature-she was tempted for just one sOr-
rowful moment. Howard Revere had long
seemed to her the embodiment of her no
blest conception of manhood. A thrill of
troubled joy at his words told her how
easy it would be to love him. For mo-
ment her heart painted after this bliss be-
yond her hopes, adorned with all the grace
and glory she had dwelt on through dream
ing years, Then resolutely she put from
her the cup she had no right to taste, and
saved the sweet draught for another. Her
''Oice, when she spoke, was as calm as
if she had passed through no perilous cri-
sis of emotion
You know woman very slightly, Cap
tain Revere, if you do not know that one
who loved you would love you all the bet
ter, esteem it all the more an honor to be
your wife, because of what the whole
country would recognize as a badge of
glory. But pardon me, think you ought
not to use the past tense about your love
for Ethel. cannot believe that it is dead,
any more than is her love for you"
Ethel! Her love for me! You do
not mean that she ever loved me?'
He spoke with a changed manner, a
wild glad eagerness, which would have ar
gaed poorly for Grace's hope of happiness
with him had she been mad enough 10
cherish auy. 1t was easy to see now, in
kindling glance and earnest tone, uhom
he lOved-whom he would always love-
Grace smiled-moSt women can when
heartache lies underneath.
Yes, | am sure. She would not like
it, perhaps at present she would not for
give it, if she dreamed that l had let you
know but | cannot think two lives ought
to be sacrificed to the delicate scruples of
maidenly pride. Ethel does love you. She
loved you all the time
"And yet" he said with puzzled tone,
as if it had all seemed mystery beyond
his solving, "she certainly refused me-"
"That was because Of some Quixotic
notions of hers. She thought then that
you were an idler in the vineyard-a man
living without a purpose, and she hesitated
to ally her life with yours lest both might
be a failure. 1t was only that she did not
quite understand you then. When you
went to the war she began to sec you III :.
new light. IT, you had asked her the same
question that day she would not have said
no."
Captain Revere turned face over which
the dawn OF Il new day had broken, to his
companion.
Il cannot thanl, you fifty" lie said
"YOu knew me better than | knew myself
when you told me my love for Ethel was
not dead. And yet thought had conquer
ed it, l took her so fully at her word that
night. If she did not care for me then, /
thought she never would have never
cherished any shadow of hope since"
1t was not quite sunset when they reach
ed home. Ethel was in the yard, just re-
turning from walk.
"Come with me and see the sunset, will
you not?' Captain Revere asked in tone
which seemed to take her compliance for
granted. She was tempted to say "No,"
out of sheer perverseness; but she reflected
that she should be Furnishing herself as
well as him. Already the clouds were
turning to flame; the sea was radiant, the
air balm. Why should she not enjoy it all
with him-her friend-he was at least that.
She stepped into the low carriage by his
side and they rolled away. Soon he gave
her the reins-he was tired Of driving he
said Leaning back, as if enjoying the
luxurious ease of his position, the swift
motion, sunset goldenly glorious, he was
silent for time. After a while he began
talking to her talking as he never talked
before-lamenting the loss of his arm be-
cause of the idle, aimless life to which it
would compel him. He told her how
alone in the world he was-Fate had TAX
en- his arm, his power Of usefulness, and
given him no compensation-no wife, no
child, no love true and tender enoug Oh to
conquer all the ills of life. 1t was hard.
His words, his bitter, despairing mood,
so unlike himself, touched her to the hearts
core. She turned her fearful eyes to his
sad fate She forget the conviction she
had begun of late to entertain that he
loved her cousin; forgot pride and woman
ly scruples.-forgot herself, and thought
only of comforting him.
"Would the heart you once asked for