Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-03-21
Love is Love for EvermOre.
BY MARGARET.

Answer me, Christie" and the
speaker threw himself on the grass with
poorly disguised yawn.
The person whom he addressed was
only little country girl, and during
these perilous sweet days that Guy
Meredith had spent in the old farm
house, Christie North had become used
to amusing" the handsome young
fellow. He had been attracted to this
quiet village that lay nesting between
the hills, by the trouting, of which he
was passionately fond /; and when Mrs.
North, a widow and Christie's mother,
was asked for one of the cool, old
fashioned rooms and daily lunch, she
consented to the plan which was to place
many welcome dollars in the family
purse. To her mother, Christie was a
child, and little thinking that the dark
eyed stranger was to affect her daugh-
ter's happiness in any way, the good
woman sent the young people out. day
after day, with fishing tackle, lunch
basket and book. The book was SUI
perfuity, however, for Guy Meredith
liked far better to talk to the girl, look
ing into her innocently babyish face the
while. Having spent seventeen years
of her life in the little village where she
was born, Christie North knew little of
the world outside, and when this en-
thusiastic young fellow described in
glowing language the beautiful places
he had visited, she
Listened while pleased surprise
Looked from her long dashed hazel eyes,"
To-day was like the other days which
they had spent together, but a shadow
seemed to fall over them as they sat
there, the girl with an anxious look on
her lovely face.
81 don't feel like amusing any one
just now, Guy" she said. 81 wish
you would tell me why you have been
so quiet all the day long you have
hardly spoken to me for the last two
hours"
Guy Meredith laughed, little nerv-
ously, and pulling the petals from a
daisy, one by one, he answered abrupt
ly, I'm going away tomorrow"
Going away !" echoed the girl,
catching her breath as she spoke.
"Yes, I received letter from my
mother last night, by which she in
formed me that she and my cousin,
Kate Matherson, are awaiting me at
Newport, from whence we are to go
home together. I am to be married to
Kate next month, and suppose must
go. You will miss me little, Christie, !"
he continued, thinking that the sweet
face had never seemed quite 80 lovely
before.
While we have been talking, Mr..
Meredith, the sun has gone down, and
mother will be anxious about u.s." ans.
wered the girl, and, without glance
at her companion, she swept the daisies
from her lap and walked hastily toward
the house.
The young man gathered up the
book, basket and lines, and was about
to join her, but she was already be-
yond call, and with sigh he walked
slowly across the meadow.
"Christiehadah headache and didn't feel
like coming down stairs" Mrs. North
told Meredith that night, but the next
morning she came down to breakfast,
and after Guy Meredith had taken her
mothers hand, she extended her own
with quiet =" Goodbye, Mr.. Mere
dith, and thus they parted.
That night, John March called. For
six months Christie had worn on her
hand little circlet of gold that
meant far more to John March than his
large farm with its broad acres. To
Mayville people John March was the
the common friend to whom all might
60 for help and sympathy, and they
never failed to find it.
All the little babies held out their
little arms to be gathered in his great,
strong ones, and to the children he was
q Kriss Kringle who stayed with them
all the year round.
Was it any wonder that when this
man asked Christie to be his wife. she
gave the promise and accepted her fate
at his hands? Since her babyhood she
had been taught to regard John March
as the embodiment of manly virtue and
goodness, and it had been no hard mat
ter to feel that her future life was to be
spent with him, but as for analyzing il
the child had not thought of 1t until
Meredith came.
John March had quietly watched the
two through the long summer days, feel.
ing that his hearts treasure was slipping
away from him, but treating Christie
with the same gentleness and Difference
that he had ever given her.
John," said Christie, that night,
Il must not wear this any longer, VI
pointing to the tiny ring which lay in
her hand, and holding it out to him.
Why, Christie ?"
Because don't love you."
That pains me, dear don't say II
again. please" answered the man as he
took the little cold hands into his own.
Do you think that I have been &c
blind these many days, child, that
haven't seen your trouble? If I thought
that it would make you happier to re.
lease you from the promise you gave
me last winter 1 would not hesitate q
moment. But, Christie, let me try to
win your love. Trust your happiness
In my keeping, and, please God, you
never shall regret it"