Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1881-04-20

would 60 to the city where he lived. Her
pride forbade her seeking him, il he were
not dead, as she often feared; she might
one day meet him in the street, or at least
hear some news Of him.
The hope Of meeting him Of hearing Of
him vanished, when she found herself in
the great metropolis and realized its size
and immensely.
She had secured comfortable home
WAS growing scanty and she Could not I tell
how long it might hold out, unless she
could find some means Of support, when
one day, sauntering idly on the street,
glancing into shop window she saw some
fancy articles painted by hand.
Gathering up her courage. she went in
of work and if she might be allowed to test
her skill.
From that heur all dread of want vanish
ed, and now that hands were busy, she
found less time to brood and think.
Il want a fan printed" the man said to
her one day. s'You may make an original
design, but it must be very beautiful
| Lena's heart had been very sad all day,
as at evening she unfolded the satin and
sat down, brush in hand, to fulfill this
latest order.
ut is a gift to an expectant BRIDE" the
shopkeeper had said, and the words had
recalled all. the long waiting, the weary
disappointments these words might bring.
| And, as she thought, she sketched and
the hours crept on and the evening grew
into night and the night into morning, and
still she bent over her work, silent, engross-
ed.
The next day, the gentleman who had
given the order for the fan sauntered into
the store. With an air Of pardonable sat
isfaction the man drew it from the box
THE young artist had outdone herself,
sir, )" he said. II never saw more beauti-
full piece Of work, and the design is entirely
her own. l."
But he checked his sentence.
The gentleman had taken the fan in his
eyes and face tro m Which every trace Of
color had fed.
Could it be that the word Nemesis was
painted upon the satin? No, this was all
he saw. On one side was woodland scene,
while, seated on log beneath the leafy
branches of an old oak, were two figures,
was about her waist Her lips seemed to
|
love and trust, and his Of promise. little
laughing stream rippled at their feet. A
bird sang over head.
Where had he seen just such q scene be-
fore? He turned the fan on the other side.
Summer had vanished. It was winter
here. Naught but the fast falling snow
drifting in white heaps upon the earth.
'Who painted this?'' he asked in hoarse,
changed tones:
How we'll he had konwn it! But how came
Lena here? and what was this which stirred
through every fibre of his being? Could it be
that his manhood might yet redeem him?
With swift steps he walked to the house
came into the drawing room to g.eet him,
and bent her head that he might touch her
forhead with his lips.
Helen, do you love me?"
| She had known him for long years. but
| never had she heard such earnestness such
rea! passion, in his tones.
! 1t was as though his very soul hung on
her answer. Strange she hadnever dream
ed his love for he- was moro than friend
ship, such as she had felt for him.
! A linge of color crept into her cheek.
Il have promised to marry you, Earl.
You know that am fond of you and how
highly respect you. Will not this satisfy
| your"
mo I want all the truth. Is your
| heart mine-all mine, SO that to tear me
from it would be to tear it asunder?"
mo, Earl. If it were for your happiness
or mine, could give up my lover and still
hold my friend and cousin"
He seized her hand and carried it to his
| Ups more fervently than he had done even
in the moment of his courtship. Then
taking the fan from his pocket, he unfold
ed it, and told her al! the tale of his sum-
! mer romance.
II thought that could forget her." he
| said in ending, and that when the snow fell
and did not return to h she would
| cease to remember me; but see Hell n.
She still remembers, and still love. do
not know what brings her here I have
heard nothing from her since last summer.
| But, tell me, cousin mine, what must do?
leave it all to YOU
Il said that would be your friend. Now,
! I will be hers as we'll. Go to her Earl
Tell her the truth. Then, if she forgives
you, make her your wife. IL she is alone
in the world, as perhaps she may be, bring
! her to me. She shall be married from my
house, as my sister. accept this fan not
as lovers gift, but pledge to the truer,
US"
Lena was exhausted after her sleepless
night, and throwing herself on the lounge
in the sitting room of her kind hostess, she
had fallen into a dreamless slumher.
| Long Earl Lysle stood and watched her
until the magnetism of his glance aroused
ri