The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-07-16
ALL FOR THE BEST.

" And Is this to be the end OF all my
bright dreams, Shelah? Have you only
led me on, making me believe you cared
for me, until you forced from me n con-
fession of my love, that you might add
another to your long list of conquests
i knew you to be selfish and proud, but
/ did not believe you capable of this.
But will not censure you, If your con-
science does mott love you too well for
that"
And the speakers eyes rested with a
loving, plying glance upon the dark,
handsome face by his side.
Shelah Fortescue did not meet this
look, but stood, with downcast eyes,
nervously pulling to pieces geranium
leaf she had just plucked.
In average faces the power of express
sion is pretty evenly divided among the
leading features, but Shelah Fortescue's
eyes seemed to monopolize it. 1t would
have been hard to find sweeter mouth
when the eyes were smiling it would
have been difficult to match the delicate
outline of the face, or the exquisite CHS
cling of every feature. Nothing could
be more finished than the contour and
pose of the high-bred little head, or the
surmounted. But from all these the at
tention was withdrawn when the dark,
mysterious eyes flashed upon the spec
tator a look in which all their express
sional power was concentrated. Eyes
like those might suggest that they would
express too much unless they were under
remarkable control by their owner.
But this they were, for Shelah Fortescue
could, when she chose, express more III
one glance from those dark, dreamy
eyes than most women would in half an
hours conversation. But now those
eyes were half concealed by the long jet
lashes, and you could only tell that she
heard the deep, impassioned words a6-
dressed to her by the impatient manner
in which she tossed away the leaf she
held in her hand.
"Shelah," he said, after waiting in
vain for a reply, "can you give me no
hope-no promise that may serve as
goal in the race of life? All, darling,
you, with your cold, proud nature, can
not comprehend how deep and lasting is
my love for you. l know have little to
offer you now in return for the love 1
ask, but can you not promise me that
sometime in the future, care not how
far distant that time may be, if / should
bring name-one which men honor
to lay at your feet, you would then ac-
cept my love? l know my life has been
one of idleness and folly up to the pre-
ent time, but it was because there was
nothing to stimulate me to follow the
higher and nobler walks of life, and
simply followed where my idle inclina-
tons led. But with such prize as your
love in view, there is nothing L would
not do or dare"
Andas he ceased speaking, almost rn-
consciously, he attempted to take her |
hand. She drew back hastily, and for |
the first time spoke, and her words came |
an clear, measured tones. "To say !
that am surprised would but indiffer-
emily express what L feel at this mo-
ment, Elmer. When you first men,
itioned this subject, L supposed you were
Testing. but, since you have assumed
such tragic style, must either think
you are really in earnest or that you
have been cast for disappointed lovers
part-one of the fierce ones, you know
in some private theatricals, and that
you take this opportunity of rehearsing
your part If L am correct i'll my latter
surmise, let me assure you that, il my
criticism is worth anything, the piece
will be complete success as far as your
acting Is concerned.
And she laughed low, musical laugh,
as she toyed with chased gold bracelet
upon her shapely wrist.
"Shelah, how can you speak SO lightly
of subject which to me is the most Sc
rious of my life Has not my untiring
devotion to you for months past been
automatic proof of my love ?"
Yes, Elmer, your attentions have
been somewhat pointed, and on several
occasions you have been uncommonly
sentimental for one of your matter-of-
fact disposition but did not suppose
for moment that these little bursts of
sentiment would eliminate in anything
more serious than your making love to
me in general way; the same rs you
did to hundreds of others. Your love-
making seemed to please you, and, as it
did not materially inconvenience me, /
felt some conjunction about depriving
you of the pleasure of occasionally be-
ing sentimental
I" But, Shelah, love you-madly, de-
votedly. You surely will not wreck my
life by your coquetry; for you know,
Shelah, you have given me every reason
TO believe you cared for me-"
Well, if it is any pleasure for you to
think so, i have no serious objection.
But j think enough has been said on
this subject for us to understand each