North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1867-04-03

"Don't you think could ever guess it,
Milly dear?" asked, pressing the little
one to my throbbing breast.
"You never could and yet how your
heart is beating!" she said, looking up at
me timidly; II believe you really do.'--
Then, sinking her face down to my shoul-
der once more. she added, almost in whis-
per, "Hester, he told me to ask you whether
you would see him tomorrow
He, means Mr.. Mark Sutherland, of
course E"
"Of course, Hester, do you mean to say
yes?" asked Milly, stealing another Of
those timid glances at me.
"My yes will go with yours, Milly
dear."'
"God bless you, Hester ! my darling, my
dear, dear sister " cried Milly, fervently
and for long while we were both silent.
Nor, indeed, did she mention Mr.. Suther-
lands name again, nor recur in any way
to the subject till about the middle of the
next day she suddenly sprang up from her
place by the window, and glancing at me
with vivid blush and smile ran out of the
room, and heard her fly up stairs.
sat still because to move was entirely out
of my power. So, when he entered the
room, sat, and thought, held out my
hand, and tried to utter a greeting. /
know that my lips only murmured inartic-
ulately. He looked at me as he held my
hand in momentary grasp and thought
there was both pain and a shock of sur
prise in his face. Then he began:
hoya NOT cpf,o ,,fIay I hopaT
Milly promised to ask you--to tell you''--
''She did tell me l expected YOU"
strove to say (; and hope said it quietly.
did you guess why / wanted to see
you?" he asked. with that directness Of
speech remembered SO well.
Yes, l even wont so far as that" an
swered, and smled-on +! what wintry
smile, if it did not belle my heart.
"Of course l could have only one pur-
pose in asking to see you again." he went
on quietly; "but ali! Hester, what will
you say to me this timer"
"What does Milly say?"
Milly always Milly still +! but Hester
it is for you to answer me first" he said,
and abruptly walking from his position
on the hearth, he came and sat down beside
me.
"Hester-I mnst call you so-did your
sister tell you what l said to her yester-
day 2"
Infer Fiddledee Nothing like plain
speaking to express meaning" he spoke
out rather impetuously. But you are so
cold, so unlike your old self, Hester, that
covld not take it for an answer to what
I came to ask. Did Milly tell you that
yesterday - for l have grown to love
the little girl dearly-Hester! Hesterl
What have said ? What is the matter 2"
Ihated, despised myself for the weakness,
but the mortal struggle of yesterday was
not done yet. / could not heas this man 49,
whom had loved so long, - ef-t'ply, aVo"
TO MY fsace MS transferred affections to my
sister, and be unmoved. lnvoluntarily
srasped the arm of my chair for support,
for my life seemed fading from me in the
He bent over me, he lifted my
faint head on his broad breast, but l shrunk
from him feebly.
sit is nothing am often faint. lam
quite well again. You was saying-yes, go
On. MIR. Sutherland"
II was saying-ah, Hester-I think l
need not 60 on--you are so changed, DEAR"
he said, looking down on me with sorrow
full perplexity. Well, well, Milly led me
on to hope but l ought to have known
better. You never cared for me in the be-
ginning as did for you.''
% Surely, surely, that bygone ought to be
q bygone now," said bitterly.
eff you say that, it ought indeed" he
turning from me; but l told
you then, Hester, that should not forget
you, and from something Milly said, and
your remaining unmarried, l was wild
enough to dream-to hope -
Something's light that dazzled my
poor eyes-was breaking in upon me AS he
spoke.
+" Mark !" said I, "what did you come
here to-day to ask me?"
"The same question that l asked eight
years ago by the stream in the marshes,
Hester. l have done with India am no
longer poor man and want the woman
whom always loved. Hester, is this true?
Is she mine at last?
For long time, think, we forgot the
existence of any one besides ourselves
Then told Mark the little game of cross
purposes we had been playing. His in
credulous wonder that could imagine he
had ever thought of any one but me, touch
ed me TO the heart.
"Poor Milly |" he said e" so you would
have put her off with the reversion of heart.
No, when she marries, may she be what
you are, Hester, her husbands first and
last love-"