The true northerner., 1876-10-27

to death already. / should feel heart
less were i TO add to his misery. Ha
hal hal How does that sound 7"
GAS If she were woman of discern
ment and-well, all the Christian vir-
tues, I suppose.
He did not raise his hat, or Bracket
might have seen that for once his eyes
were wide oren. Something like a
thoughtful smile played around his lips
as he called before his imag1nation the
pale, earnest face of Maud Copeland,
It was on the following day that he
overheard her give utteranc to the SEN
tences which open our story: A faint
flush came into her cheeks as she caught
the interested glance he bent upon her.
AS he passed on he muttered to him.
self (:
"a Queen or, better yet. woman |!
She's worth seeking and l shall lose no
more time"
Five minutes later he came upon his
friend and said
Brackett, if you'll present me to Miss
Copeland you may count upon me in the
future in any emergency"
Hallo!" calculated Rolly, surprised
at the absence of Gayl's wonted languor.
"Have YOU recuperated since yester-
day9 What's to pay, anyhowa ! never
saw you so wide awake in my life."
"Never mind, Rolly. Don't specu-
late. You know that it was curiosity
that made all the trouble in the world. !"
"All right, Old fellow. I've nothing
to say. But / knew you would come to
il when YOU had seen her.
Maud Copeland's eyes looked frankly
into Gayl Farnsworth's, and she ex-
tended her hand without reserve or af-
fectation. Her cordial smile had moth
ing of the fashionable simper in it
Somehow, her directness, her fearless
ness, caused an unwonted thrill Ill his
bosom.
Then followed boating and drives and
the German. BY sort of tacit under
standing, the beaux and the bellies of
lesser prowess withdrew from the lists,
so that they were almost unavoidably
thrown together most of the time.
Even the casual observer remarked q
new light in Gayls eye when he bent
over his partner to fan her after the
heat of the dance, and new grace in
arm. The good natured smiled in sym
pathy. Those who ielt piqued at hav-
ing to "play second fiddle" shrugged
their shoulders and said:
"Let 'em fight it out u
Rolly Bracket rubbed his hands and
said : nfh IT,.
"Gayl's goner-hooked through the
gills, by Jove. / told him so, but he
wouldn't be warned. First time want
ed to present him he yawned in my face.
He had not seen her then. When he
did he came to me, stark, staring mad
Took the very worst way, and he's been
failing ever since. Fellows, 1 claim your
thanks. You kno there didn't any of
you stand show in any quarter until l
laid him on the shelf. Egad he was
worse than an italian Count with seven
teen castles-in Spain - .
Although he gathered all this from
faces with the corners of the mouth some
times drawn up and sometimes drawn
down, according to thedisposition of the
owner, and from Rolly's rattling tongue,
Gayl kept on with self contained indif-
ference, until one evening he rested on
his oars in the middle of the lake, with
Maud in the stern-sheets, trailing her
taper fingers in the water, and the moon
light streaming placidly over all.
"Miss Copeland, he said, "the first
day of our acquaintance overheard you
remark that the man who married you
must be able to command circumstances,
himself and you. / have thought of that
great many times since, and l now
wish to say to you that thus far circum-
stances have presented nothing formida-
BILE for me to overcome, but have taken
tolerable good care of myself--that is to
say, have Kept myself aloof from most
of the vices that men with as much
money to spend as have generally fail
into. With such antecedents is it ego
tism to fancy that | possess the other
qualifcationl Will you let me try to
command you9' t.
He reached forward aud took the hand
that lay istlessly in her lap. Did he
feel slight pressure At any rate it
was not withdrawn. In an instant he
was on one knee at her feet.
"Maud!" he said, in O low tone,
vibrant with suppressed passion, "I love
you!"
Eagerly he sought to look into her
averted face. Suddenly she turned it
toward him, with the moonlight falling
full upon it. With thrill of ecstasy he
clasped her in his arms, exclaiming:
"My darling!"
"My king!" she whispered, with her
lip at his ear and her cheek against his.
That was his answer. Could he fail to
be satisfied
Gayl Farnsworth's face was white and
set. There was something like fright
ened look in his eyes. His form trembled
with emotion, and great drops of sweat
stood on the forehead he pressed with
his left hand.
Maud Copeland chung to his right
hand, trying to look into his averted face.
The proud fire of her eyes was drowned
in tears now, and her beautiful face was
drawn into panied lines.
"Don't look so, Gayl" she pleaded.
"You know that shall love YOU all nv
life. 1t breaks my heart to see you suffer
30, my darling I"
He turned to her with his own ewes
suffused There was nothing of reprosch
there, only sharp pain and awakening
terror.
Maud" he said, huskily, sis this
decision finale Can nothing move youp'
. She bowed until her lips and cheek
4 a I. l.