, 1880-04-29

would not. DC sparing Of tlattering
speeches. j.
Remember this, Elsie" he said sol
emnly "t'what God has joined together,
let no man put asunder, and, although
the law has separated Lewis Wal ton
and his wife, in the sight Of God she is
his wife still" P ".I}t,
"There"- lifted her face sud-
denly, and held up her lips for kiss
''that will do. 1 must so into Aunt
Eanice.Y ~ i.3Ia ..
Nathaniel Holt kissed the lovely face
not once, but many times, and years
after those passionate kisses were re
membered with keenest pain. Elsie
slipped away from him and ran into the
house, and Nathaniel, silenced but not
convinced, sat perfectly still, and tried
to reason away his fears, with knitted
browis;a ''-''''-'- '''''--.'.'' 'r'r-'---''
After that life went on much as
Usual at the Holt farm, Elsie was 30
become it's mistress at Christmas, and
Her Aunt Eunice was very busy over
the expected wedding. She loved Elsie
withga. mothers love already, and Ma
thaniel, as the Autumnal months drifted
by, grew trihe thoughtful; for Lewis
| Walton, who had been q Summer guest,
in the neighborhood, still fingered, and
still called on Elsie, who tried to hide
her growing fondness of his company.
He, was wealthy, indolent end gifted
with persuasive tongue. Elsie loved
ease, lacked frmness Of principle and
will, and, although she ;imaged herself
faithful to Nathaniel, her heart was
slowly but surely being begulled away.
from the true and steadfaSt love Of an
upright man, p Nav, IN an agg
Nathaniel watched her with a brood
ing tenderness. He vas so loyal him,
self that he would instinctitely notice
any wavering ON Elsies part, he thought;
yet the eyes of love ere often blinded by
self-conGdence, andwhen Elsie came to
him and laid her golden head against
his arm, as she often did in the Auth hmn
cleaning, Nathaniel's happiness was too
deep to be delusive, and he would hold
her to his breast as if fnothing could ever
wrest her from his faithful arms. Poor
Elsie little did she know.of the passion
ate depth and power and OF this strong
mans! love. His homage was hers
by right, and she accepted IL as
some Princess might the service OF her
| vassals. She never thought how desc
late that life would be if bsreft of her
loveAhow barrenof hope or happiness
| would be his darkened future for, if he
erred in any sense, it was in the strength
and purity Of the love he had laid at her
| feet. '- ~ -'' = - - -'- N'
The purple haze of indian Summer
was lying on the hills. The sun sailed
through the. mist like great ball of
flame, and billows Of dead-brown leaves
swept up the ravines, as Nathaniel Holt
trudged down the mountain path, his
brown cheek flushed with exercise, and
his eyes kindling with love as the old
farmhouse, with its many windows
stained with amber, and tall gables
dreped with scarlet runners, came in
view. His mother sat on the porch
bathed in rift Of ruby sunshine, but he
looked in vain for Elsie-Elsie who had
promised to come up the mountain path
NO meet him. Something like murmur
Eof voices attracted his attention, and,
Turning into side path, be came upon
! Elsie and Lewis Walton seated on a
mosylog, with ,theirfaces turned from
him. Waltors' hunting Jacket and gun
lay on the ground, and Elsie's hat had
'fallen a. her feet while the fair glowing
face was upturned to the hazy November
sky, as if she dared not, yet longed to
meet the fire Of those black eyes that
seemed to read tie innermost thoughts
| of her heart.
4 rta Elsie Elsie" the soft persuasive
voice was saying, " be wise and listen to
me. You do not love Nathaniel Holt
as women love men they marry"
/ VI" Nathanielis so good and has been
| Ike d brother to me since mammals s
l death, ,P'murnured Elsie, by'way of pro-
test, while Nathaniel stood as if rooted
to the spot, his breath cor coming in thick
hot gasps. - '''' F
| '"ThatIs just it, Elsie; you haven't
mistaken your feelings Instead of the
love you should give him, you will re,
ward his great love-for he does love
! you deeply-with warm, brotherly af,
fection. OH Elsie, think in tine-I
love you as / have never loved before,
and, Elsie, you love me- said Lewis
Walton, as he put his arm around her