Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-11-10

uitu anu ran lulo Nuc houot
and Nathaniel, silenced, but no
convinced, sat perfectly still an,
tried TO reason away his fears, will
knitted brows.
After that, life went on much a
usual at the Holt farm. Elsie wa
to become its mistress at Christ
mas, and her Aunt Eunice wa,
very busy over the expected we'd
ding. She loved Elsie with a
mothers love already, and Nathan
lei, as the autumnal months driftod
by, grew q little thoughtful, for
Lewis Walton, who had been a
summer guest in the neighborhood,
still fingered. and still called on
Elsie, who tried to hide her grow
ing fondness for his company.
Nathaniel watched her with 81
brooding tenderness. He was so
loyal himself that he would in
stinctively notice any wavering on
Elsie's part, he thought, yet the
eyes Of love are often blinded by
self-confldence, and when Elsie
came to him and laid her golden
head against his arm, as she often
did in the autumn cleaning,
Nathsniers happiness was too deep'
to be delusive, and he would hold
her TO his breast as if nothing
could wrest her from his faithful
arms. Poor Elsie, little did she
know Of the passionate depth and
power Of this strong mans love.
The purple haze Of Indian sum
mer was lying on the hills as
Nathaniel Holt trudged down the
mountain-path, and his eyes kin
died with love as tho old farmhouse,
with its tall gables draped with
scsrlet-runners, came in view, His
mother sat Oh the porch, bathed in /
a rift Of ruby sunshine, bu be
looked in vain for Elsie-Elsie
who had promised TO come up
the mountain-path to meet him
Something like murmur Of voices
attracted his attention, and turn
ing into a side-path, he came upon
Elsie and Lewis Walton seated on
messy log, their faces turned from
him.
"Elsie-Elsie, the soft, persua-
sive voice was saying, be wise,
and listen to me. You do not love
Nathaniel Holt as women love men
they marry"
Nathaniel is SO good and he
has been like a brother TO me
since mammals death" murmurcd
Elsie, by way Of protest, while
stood as if rooted to the
spot, his breath coming in quick,
not gasps.
"That is just it, Elsie you have
mistaken your feelings. Instead
II the love you should give him,
you will reward his great lovc-for
le does love you deeply-with a
warm, ,sisterly affection. All ! Elsie,
.hink in time-I love you as /
never loved before, aud Elsie, YOU
owe me- said Lewis Walton, as he
put his arms around her slender
waist, and drew Elsie's happy face
9 his bosom, and covered the warm,
ed lips with kisses.
Nathaniel Holt fed from the
pot like hunted deer. The veins
N his temples stood out like whip
lords, and dry, voiceless sods broke
rom him, as he sank down on the
nossy turf, and buried his face in
he cedar spears that lay an inch
ieep on the moist ground
When his passion Of grief had
psnt itself, he arose and turned
nto the path that led homeward,
ceiling very much as if he had
TODD beside Elsie Marion's grave, ,
nd seen her laid in it. His face
lad grown white and hard and
tern in that short bitter struggle,
nd the brown eyes were full Of
,rief too deep for tears. He grew
Amt and dizzy when he saw Elsie
landing at the meadow gate alone,
beautiful bloom Oh her young ,
ace, and the light of a newly
Weakened love in her blue eyes.
"Nathaniel," she speaks nervous {
y, for her womanly instincts tell
her something is wrong, "what has
happened you are late"
/
"Just this, Elsie"-.he takes her
Iand in his, and turns his set white
ace AWAY from hnr- ~ hnrn lnat