Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-04-15
A Happy New Year.
BY HELEN HARCOURT.

y
speak to or associate with! You do not
know him as | do. What chance have
you, | ask, to form proper estimate Of the
character of man whom you never met
save at balls or private houses OF course
he is on his best behaviour there and
while he does not offend their tastes, while
he keeps all the dark traits carefully
turned from them, people will tolerate him
for the sake of his brilliant conversation
and easy manner. | hope, Susie, never to
meet him in this house again"
Susie Cullen was a proud, naughty girl,
and could i'll brook reproof from any-not
even from the man by whose side she had
promised to journey thro' life. What
right had he to dictate to her?
"Wcll, sir, have you finished ?" she
asked, collly, with flushed cheeks. BE
cause, if you have not, allow me to inform
| you that | will hear no more on this sub
jcct. had thought Mr.. Blake to much
of gentleman to malgn another behind
his back, and from 50 poor motive as
jealously, too.'
"Susie" he exclaimed; "this from you"
From me Yes; why not? DO you
think | will quietly hear my friends SLAM
dcred, even by you? You are mistaken, l
assure you. Mr. Farnum is more of a
gentleman than another | could name has
proved himself to be-"
"Oh, Susie Susie could not have
believed this. Had an angel told nc that
you could use such words to me | would
have turned from him in scorn."
Nor would have believed that Henry
Blake, the man whom | thought to be the
soul of honor, could descend so low as to
attack another in his absence, and that.
too, to LADY,
There was that in the flash of her eyes.
in the ring of her voice, that rouscI all the
young mans sc!f.rcspect.
He loved the fair speaker with all the
intensity of IA powerful nature, aud much
he could and had borne from her wilful,
passionate lips, but never before had she
used such bitter. scornlul words-never
before accused her bethrothed husband of
conluct derogatory to his high character.
lie felt that his forbcarance had reached
its limit, that the moment had arrived in
which his dignity must be reassertcd or
forever lost.
";:asic," he said gently, but firmly :
Susie, you have very bitter words to me.
You know, in your heart, that every word
| have said is true. 1t is your pride and
passion that reader you SO un Just. | have
spoken only for your good. John Farnum
is well known among gentlemen to be a
professional game,tcr, although his family
l. ~,
society, so long as he shocks no fastidious
tastes by bringn: his evil qualities into
view. Believe me, dear Susie, it is not
well for you to permit him to visit here.
You know am not jealous of the man !;
have too much faith in my Susic's love-"
6 Too much self esteem, you mean,
SIR was the angry reply. Mr.. Blake.
it is time we understood each other. l
have to much pride, you say. You are
right; have to much pride to bow down
to any man in slavish obedience to his
whim, and prcjudices. have yielded to
your will to much in the past, but have
done So for the last time This ring l
wear you once said should be worn only
by her who should become your wife.
Here it is, | can keep it no longer. re.
turn it to you with the hope that you may
find some enc to wear it, in future, who
will submit to be dictated to. Do not
mistake me--I mean simply what I say.
We are both free. Adieu, Mr.. Blake !"
And then, with a scornful toss of the
head. the proud, imrcrious girl passed
from the room, leaving her lover standing
in specchless pain.
A groan burst from his tortured heart as
he threw himself into chair, waiting in
the faint hope that she might return.
Bat the thought was vain one, and
soon he turned his face from the house in
which the happiest hours of his life had
been spent-and now they were all over.
lie was " free. ~
He gained his office, and like one in
maze passed through it into his little
chamber beyound.
There he dropped heavily into a seat,
and, leaning his arm on the table, en-
deavored to think calmly of what had just
taken place.
But the effort was fruitless the time
piece on the mantle, with its monotinous
ticking, seemed to repeat him mockingly,
You're free you're free you're free p
He bore it awhile. and then springing to
his feet, stopped the abnoxious pendulum.
Then he began to pace his little room in
great hurried strides.
"She does not love me! was fool
to think it. A rising young lawyer peo.
pie call me. She thought me a good
match, no doubt. What fool I have
been She is right; I have 'selfesteem'
(conceit she meanD l believe she loved me-"
He ground his teeth in his agony.
"But, no." he continued; "no, I will
not do her injustice. She does love me.
1t is only that terrible pride of hers, that
takes fire at the least word. All, have
always dreaded that, but l never dreamed
that it could lead to this"
Weary and worn with emotion, the