The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-08-25

WAS no Hopc, ouiy ouhe sho "ouiu NC
forever faithful to me, and called on
me to trust her through absence and
silence.
"My energy tagged, but whipped
myself up. L determined to be worthy
of her, and hoped that perhaps l might
win her I; but six months after this my
father died suddenly, and 1 reeled under
the blow. lost not only him, but the
last chance of hearing anything of Lucy,
for, since our meeting at Florence, Mrs.
Clark had ceased altogether to write to
me.
"My student DAYS were past. and the
sum OF money Mr.. Clark had generously
given me was expended but had
small fortune left to me by my father,
quite enough for me to feel indie
pendent.
1t is hard to work at art at all sue
cessfully when ones brain is in constant
need of urging to do its best. In the
excitement which follows any great
shock which, while SCATTERING an actual
happiness, yet appeals strongly to the
imagination, mind deeply imbued
with artistic feeling is likely to find its
powers abnormally increased but re-
action is only too likely to set in when
the imagination has to be excited by the
will, ard in most artistic temperaments
the will is not particularly strong, except
when it acts spasmodically.
81 found all originality of design
passing from me no picture worth re-
producing rose before my mental vision,
and my very power of execution seemed
failing. My health, too. began to give
way. just then L read glowing ac-
count of the Kimberly diamond-felds.
In fit of mingled hopefulness, restless
ness and dependency / resolved to try
my fortune there. / pictured to myself
returning to England a,millionaire or dy-
ing in some tragic manner.
"Of course you know how it all ended.
1 worked hard, and hoped, and hoped.
/ got some small diamonds and very
severe attack of fever. Then l tried
farming, and invested my money in q
wool washing business, but L was not
sharp enough looking after the agree
ment as to the supply of water that was
to be allowed to me from the little river
which ran through my farm, and, after
the deeds were signed. the man bought
it of sold the right of taking more than
half the water to farmer to whom he
sold property higher up. went to
law, and lost nv case and great deal of
money. Then tried transport riding,
and lost heavily again, owing to various
diseases in my oxen.
81 don't mean to blame my luck, as
many men do. To great extent man
makes his own luck. so that each mis-
fortune which struck me disappointed
me more and more with myself.
"Then came the finishing blow. I
and in it l saw the advertisement of
Lucy's marriage, or, L should say, the
announcement of her impending mar
riage. 1t was to be grand affair. and
there were a great many details. After
that went down steadily. / am speak
ing too openly to deny that l often
helped myself on the downward journey,
when 1 ought to have known better.
Yet have never parted with her letter,
nor with the belief that, though her
seeming faith may be given to another,
her true faith is mine and mine alone
forever. as she wrote"
Having finished these words, Frank
Heathcote stood up YEARLY. took his
/
lay down to sleep. lay down, too. and
watched the flicker of the fire for long,
thinking over the story had heard. L
could not sleep, and presently L stood
up and went softly over TO where my
strange acquaintance lay.
He was lying with his rug flung par
TALLY off, and with one hand under his
head. The other lay on his breast, and,
his shirt being open, could see ribbon
round his neck attached to a small bag,
which was partially concealed by his
hand, and from which a portion of an
old letter protruded. 1 could see its
worn and discolored edges by the light
of the moon which had lately risen, and
the rays of which fell full on his nag
gard yet refined face. and, as l watched
the expression of it change, according
as the dream which was passing before
him troubled his slumber, / thought of
how the rays of the same moon that shed
her light on him might be playing on
the luxurious couch of the woman he
had faith in even through faithlessness.
The next morning L induced him to
leave his companion and come with me.
l was writing a book, and / assured
him, and truly, that his artistic talent,
OF which L convinced myself before en-
gaging him, would be invaluable 10 me
in illustrating it, my own artistic pro-
auctions being rather unsatisfactory.
He proved very agreeable com pam
ion, and enjoyed my wanderings much
more after he became my guest.
About two months after my meeting
with Frank Heathcote, we two were
riding In advance of the wagon over the
brow of wooded hill, from whence we
looked down gorge and over wide ex-
panse of forest which stretched below
us. "Stop moment" said Hesthcote.
"What is it that this scene reminds me
of It seems SO familiar to me"
Then suddenly he exclaimed: "By
Jove L dreamed of this place years ago
when / was a boy, only that there were
a number of elephants ranging about
the brush-wood and trampling it down. Z"
"There were number of elephants
here until lately" said cit is curl
Gus coincidence" and we rode on.
AT the bottom of the gorge we crossed
a small stream, off-saddled, and watched
the horses browsing until the wagon
came up and crossed the rivu.et, when
fha oxan uara ont .o,,oppa1 Niobt CANA