Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-11-10
AT THE END.
II am so tired -


dy, and Nathaniel Holt looked u
from his paper with a slight frowl
on his bronzed, handsome face.
He was tired, very tired, after ,
day Of hard labor on his mountain
lands, and had thrown himself int
a great easy chair of bis mothers
on the south porch, for a moments
rest and he could not understand
how the speaker, tall, supple
girl, with hands as white as milk,
who passed her time in COMPARE
tive idlcness, could be tired,
For Elsie Marion was not one
given to unusual exertiun, and gen.
orally managed to secure the good
things Of this world with as much
ease as was possible or consistent
with her position as dependent
niece in the home of her mothers
sister, Nathaniel Hollis aged moth
er, who simply adored the bright
young girl who had brought sum
shine into her old house, and whose
helpless orphantage covered many
serious faults.
He stood over her, his hands
folded on his back, and his broad,
bronzed brow flushed a little With
some sudden inward emotion.
ELSIE he began. the brown
eyes that she dared not meet
searching the face that droop-
ed beneath his gaze. what has
tired youl"
Nothing.
you were once q contented,
happy girl, Elsie what has chang
ed you'"
Nothing. Sns spoke listless-
ly, yet faint saa-shell pink crept
into the round, soft cheeks and up
to the roots Of her golden hair.
II am NOT changed" Elsie
tried to steady her voice. Il am
the same today that 7 have been
every day for years, You know
I'm twenty, and ! must try and be
womanly
Has Lewis Walton anything to
DO with the change, Elsiei T.
Elsie's face blushed crimson, yet
she laughed merrily.
NO. You are surely not ieal-
Gus, Nathaniel"
It was Nathaniels turn to blush
now, which he did 20 perfection.
For answer he drew the dOgwood
berries out Of the little hands, and
held the slender fingers in his own.
u am not jealous, Elsie; but
you do not seem contented Of late
you are always tired, you never
run up the mountain path to meet
me, or take long rambles in the
woodland, so as to be near me; as
you see, have grown so used TO
your tender, watchful love, Elsie,
it would be hard to give it up.
And / have thought that you have
grown tired Of me, and had given
your love to Lewis Walton, who
seems more fitting mate
"A divorced man, Nathaniel"
Elsie cried, lifting her eyebrows
slightly, although her cheeks were
dyed with burning bushes and
her lips trembled nervously.
"A divorced man" repreated
Nathaniel, looking her full in the
face ''yes, Elsie, there is danger
Of you forgetting me through him,
for he is a more polished, more fas-
cinating man yet, Elsie, dear, he
is unstable as the wind, and not
calculated to make any woman
happy"
"His divorced wife was a con-
iirmed flirt," Elsie says, droamily,
drawing her hands away from
Nathaniel's strong clasp, and gaz-
ing out at a scarlet rift in the bank
of orange clouds chat overhung
the western hills.
Ellis wife was too good for him,
Elsie. Take warning and do not
listen TO his sophistries, for, believe
me, be is not worth n woman's es-
TEEN"
"You must think me very i'm
pressible," broke out Elsie, whose
conscience was not as easy as it
might have been, "when gave you
ny promise to be your wife, ] meant
% keep IT,
Nathaniel Holt kissed The lovely
ace not once bat many times, and