The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-04-29

ished, more fascinating man; yet, Elsie,
dear, he is as unstable as the wind,
and not calculated to make any woman
happy
"You must think me very impressi-
ble,' broke out Elsie, whose conscience
was not as easy us it might have been.
"When l gave my promise TO be your
wife, L meant to keep it,
Nathaniel Holt drew the golden
head down to his breast and breathed
silent prayer over it; for Elsie
was woman with a beautiful woman's
love of the worlds follies and adula-
tons. and he knew enough of Lewis
Walton's character to know the argu
ments that he would use, and that he
would not be Sparing of hattering
speeches.
"Remember this, Elsie he said sol
EMMY "'what God has joined together,
let no man put asunder,' and, although
the law has separated Lewis Walton
and his wife, in the sight of God she is
his wife still"
"There" Elsie lifted her face sud-
denly. ana held up her lips for kiss
"that will do. | must 90 into Aunt
Eunice."
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
brows.
After that life went on much as
usual at the Holt farm, Elsie was to
become its mistress at Christmas, and
her Aunt Eunice was very busy over
the expected wedding. She loved Elsie
with a mothers love already, and Ma
thaniel, as the Autumnal months drifted
by, grew trihe thoughtful; for Lewis
Walton, who had been Summer guest,
in the neishborhood, still fingered, and
still called on Elsie, who tried to hide
her growing fondness of his company.
He was wealthy, indolent and gifted
with a 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 begwled away
from the true and steadfast love of an
upright man.
Nathaniel watched her with brood
ing tenderness. He was so loyal him
self that he would instinctively notice
any wavering on Elsie's part, he thought;
vet the eyes of love ere often blinded by
self-confdence, and when Elsie came to
him and laid her golden head against
his arm, as she often did in the Autumn
cleaning, Nathaniels happiness was too
deep to be delusive, and he would hold
her to his breast as if nothing 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 it as
some Princess might the service of her
vassals She never thought how DESC
late that life would be if bereft of her
love-how barren of 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
The purple haze of indian Summer
was living on the hills. The sun sailed
through the mist like a great ball of
flame, and pillows of dead-browr 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
draped with scarlet runners, came in
view. His mother sat on the porch
bathed in a rift Of ruby sunshine but he
looked in vain for Else-Elsie who had
promised to come up the mountain path
to meet him. Something like murmur
of voices attracted his attention, and,
turning into a side path, he came upon
Elsie and Lewis Walton seated on a
messy log, with their faces turned from
him Waltons hunting Jacket and gun
lay on the ground, and Elsie's hat had
fallen at 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 the innermost thoughts
of her heart.