Nebraska advertiser., 1882-04-20
From All the Year Round.l


Gradually it became evident to most
of them that the case was hopeless.
and those Captains who had once looked
confidently TO making Lal their own,
returned to their former habits of friend
ly communications, and asked her advice
and opinions in the matter or honorable
proposals for the hands of other young
ladies.
Three suitors still remained, and,
each in his own way, refused to be sent
away.
The first of these was Captain
Holstius, whose acquaintance we have
already made. He was, of course, in the
Norway trade.
Perhaps It is not altogether fair to call
Captain Holstius suitor. He was a
lover but he had long ceased TO hope
for anything except permission to 90 on
in a friendly way, doing such offices as
lay in his power TO please and help the
girl whom he regarded being a simple
sort of fellow of a religious turn-as
Dante regarded Beatrice. She was to-
him mere angel of beauty and good-
ness; in happier times she had been
that rare and wonderful creature, a
merry, laughing, happy angel, always.
occupied in good works, such as making
plum duff for poor humanity; now, un-
happily, an angel who endured sus-0
pense and the agony of long waiting
for news that would never come,
For the good Norwegian, like all the
rest, believed that Rex was dead long
ago Captain Holstius was not a man
accustomed TO put his thoughts into
words; nor did he, like q good many
people, feel for thoughts through a
multitude of phrases and thousands of
words. But had ne been able TO set
forth in plain language the things be
intended and meant, he would certainly
have said something to this effect. |
think he would have said il more
simply, and therefore with the greater
If | could make her forget him; il
Icould substitute my image entirely for
the image of that dead man, so that
she should be happy, just as she used to
be when i first saw her. and If all could
be as II he had never known her, |
should think myself in Heaven itself; or
If by taking another man to husband.
and not me at all, she would recover
her happiness, should be content, for
love her so much that all ask is for her
TO be happy" .,,v
1t is n form of disinterested love which
is so rare that at this moment | cannot
remember any other single instance OF
it. Most people, when they love girl,
vehemenuy desire to keep her for them.
selves. Yet in the case of Captain Hob
stius, as for marrying her, that seemed
thing so remote from the region OF
probability, that he never now, whatev.
er he had done formerly, allowed his
thoughts TO rest upon it, and contented
himself with thinking what he could do
for the girl; how he could soften the bit.
terness of her misfortune; how he could
in small ways relieve the burden of hei
life, and make her little happier.
Lal accepted all he gave, all his devo,
ton and care. Little by little, BECAUSE
she saw Captain Holstius often, it be.
came a pleasure to her to have him in
the house. He became sort of brother
to her, who had never had that Otter
unsatisfactory relative a brother, or, al
all events, a true and unselfish friend
much better than the majority of broth
ers. who gave her everything and askee
nothing for himself. She liked to b,
with him. They walked together about
the wharyes of the Commercial Docks
in the quiet evenings; they rowed o,t
together on the river in the little dingv
she sitting on the stern gazing upon the
waters in silent thought, while the Nor
wegian dipped the sculls gently, look
ing with an ever-increasing sorrow il
the face which had once been so full o
sunshine, and now grew daily moro
overcast with cloud. They spoke littl,
at such times to each other. or Mt an,
time; but it seemed to her that sh,
thought best, most hopefully, about Re,
when she was with Captain Holstius
He was always a silent man, thinkin,
that when he had q thing to say ther
would be no difficulty in saying it, an,
that if anyone had a thing to say unit,
him they could say 1t without any stim
ulus of talk from himself. Further, il
the case of this poor Lal, what earthl,
good would it do TO interrupt the girl ii