The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-07-20
HIS WORD OF HONOR.


Hurried when, upon a raw October morn
ing, = yourg man presented himself at
the tar of the Green Dragon and asked,
EnG,.idlj', if he could be accommodated
with 4 bed and sitting room.
~ bed, sir:'" replied Mr.. Hunter, /,
big man with red face and gray hair;
yes, think can manage to give you a
bel."
"Anl sitting room?" echoed the
landlord, in the tone Of one
who is considering a great
undertaking; zone minute, if you
please, sir"
Ard Mr.. Hunter disappeared into the
littl,. room adjoining the bar, there to
hold counsel with some second person;
the upshot being that, in few mintes,
Mrs. Hunter and Il few Hunters just out
Of the crawling state, issued forth, bear
respectively working materials, socks in
PROCESS Of being mended, tin whistles,
and Lecapitated dolls.
lou can have this room all to your
self, sir said rs.,Hunter, triumphant
ly.
"You really must not let me- disturb
you, replied the traveller.
"pon't YOU mention it," replied the
landlord, in tone which was at once
gentle and contidential; eve would not
turn q customer away from our DOORS
You see we do not have much parlor
company"
And is this the only room you have
that Is discngaged?"
"Nell, yes, sir; this is the only room
at present, Susan! Goals for the gentle
mullS'S fire"
The traveller was glad enough to enter
the apartment, and to draw close to the
fire the one dilapidated arm chair.
Arthur Seton, barister by profession,
AMI Il writer from choice, was not really
r.f5le than thirty, though he looked con-
sidvrably older, for the dark hair and
beard We're streaked with gray, and the
tact, with its regular, handsome features,
wore 4 look of intense mental WEAKNESS.
For some time he leaned indole ntlv
back, his hands clasped behind his back:
at last he rose and took from his bag
locked up diary, which be opened and
avalllng himself Of pen and ink, which
stood upon the table made the following
entry:
October II, lS74-Got up late. Called
on the Hrainstones; George was out.
Had a pleasant chat with Annie; went,
like q fool to Richmond, and, like fool,
hunted the Well House. 1t looked just
the same as in the old, dear days; but l
heard children playing in the garden.
The house, believe, is let to city peo-
pie. Came back to London; dined at
the Pail Mall; went to the club; got
back to chambers late; wrote a column
"rG-w." \ weary, weary day. Shall
l ever know a moments forgetfulness?
He drew then from the leaves Of the
diary letter written in Il delicate hand
and addressed "Arthur Seton, ESQ, II
Gray Inn.' This letter he regarded
ing his hand on his head he read it
thr"u-h very slowly. It read az follows:
My Dear Arthur. -Ifyou will be so sus
p;c:"'ls SO jealous and exacting I cannot see
how We are ever to be happy Faith with
out works is dead, and love without faith is
no ll-Ssing, but a weary burden. am tired
Of CROSS words and looks Some women, l
belir:e, like the tevcrsh excitement ofquar-
rcls. but l only look for peace. The niser
able jealousy is quite unworthy ofyou. Do
try and put it from you, and remember that
love, once wounded, is sometimes hurt past
recovery. l received your article quite safe
ly, but | cannot speak about it now. You
have ,nado me too sad, too weary, and even
little indignant.
''Nours atIcctionately,
ALICE CLAnEF1ELD"
lie replaced the letter, closed the
diary, took up his pipe and began smok-
ing. The early part Of this day had been
fine and mild, but towards the afternoon
the sky grew leaden and the wind shift
ed to the northeast. Now the wind was
rising and the rain was falling-a cold,
penetrating, impetuous, determined
rain.
For want Of something better to do,
Seton began to write a letter; but he
male slow work Of it. For minutes to-
gct!lcr he sat holding his pen listlessly,
what sounds may be going on near us,
from feeling that is not curiosity, but
more oycrpoWering.
Suddenly what must have been very
LIGHT vehicle dashed swiftly down the
rU:,I and drew up 1T the door of the
'(;rrcn Dragon" while the voice of the
new conner became audible. Seton,
how4-ycr, could only catch a few discon-
nectcl words, such as "caught in the
rain delcate- shelter Chiselhurst -
clO;cd carriage"
Then the door opened, the landlord
presented himself upon the threshold,
and said, III a very pointed manner:
fyou please, sir, young lady, driv-
ing over to Scvcnoaks in light, open
trap, has been caught in the rain, and
her servant wants to know if | can give
her zittngroom while he drives back
to Chisc!hurst for Il close carriage"
"And this is the only one you have"
rejoincd Seton. 0, ask her in, by all
means. However, am sorry the room
l., i
knocked tho ashes from his pipe.
''Dpnt mention it, sir, and thank you
very lnuch," replied the landlord.
In another moment the door opened
again, and the unexpected intruder
pale, Madonna-like face, and golden
hair shining like an aureole round q
CaAsic head.
Seton's face had grown white to the
very lips, and quivered perceptibly as,
extending his hand, he said:
'This is very unexpected meeting."
every unexpected" echoed the lady,
removing her wet mantle and sittin 6
down on the leather sofa. The recogni-
ton had been mutual, but women, as
general thing, have more than the ster-
ner sex.
"Let me recommend this chair" said
Seton, laying MS mana upon the one
from which he had just risen.
mo, thank you; 1 prefer sitting away
from the fire."
II am sorry the room should smell 70
of tobacco" observed Seton, after a
pause, "but, you see, did not expect
the pleasure of a visitor"
She smiled a rather forced smile by
WY Of an answer, and Seton folded
deliberately and put into an envelope a
blank sheet of paper.
"The country is very beautiful around
here" he observed. writing his own
name with great care upon the envelope.
We have only been back from the
Continent six weeks" she observed,
after a pause. mamma has taken q
house near Chiselhurst. I was driving
over to sevenoaks this morning, and was
caught in the rain, and induced to ask
for shelter here"
"And how is Mrs. Clareield?"
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