Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-11-02


that Bertha Dalton could ever care for
a fellow like me" !" Douglas replied. Il
popped the question yesterday, and re-
ceiyed very gentle-Heay bless her!
but point-blank refusal. Now you
know what's the matter; and I'm on TO
Rome, or the top Of Mont Blanc, or
| over the dark blue waters or some
where, till can come backa sane man."
"She refused your cried st. Law
renee.
This termination to his friend WOO
| ing had never even occurred TO him. A
thrill Of joy darted through his frame.
Suddenly the cloud that had oyershad-
owed him was lifted away. Yet he felt
indignant with himself for his gladness.
do you think she was in earnest,
Douglas?" he asked, as soon as ne
could trust himself to speak.
I'm sober earnest. She LETT me no
room for mistake on that point" said
Douglas. ut is an uncommon thing
| for me to be off my Sleep" he resumed,
after pause, during which each was
too much occupied with tumult OF
Thought and feeling to speak; but last
night l scarcely closed my eyes, and
think | see some things / never saw be-
fore. The idea came to me-not from
anything she said, mind you-that If
you had asked her the same question
the answer would have been very diff
ferent."
II, my dear fellow!' exclaimed st.
Lawrence, the blood flushing his cheeks
and brow, and his heart throbbing with
an emotion that in its intensity was
pain. ''Are you dreamingy"
When Douglas left Bertha Dalton
the previous evening he had guessed
her secret, as she had feared he would;
but he left with a generous resolve to
bring these two he so thoroughly loved
and valued together. AS he said, he
had not slept, for not only did he feel
his own disappointment keenly, but it
was with many a bitter and jealous
pang that he made up his mind to
stand on one side that his friend might
be happy. He did make up his mind,
however. He had told Bertha that, if
she would not have him for a husband,
she should have him for brother; and,
after all, if st. Lawrence and Bertha
loved each other, he could not keep
them apart, even if he had the will. and
it was better to help than to hinder
better to keep a warm place in their af-
fections if he could not hold the first
where he wished. So, after tossing
about through restless and wretched
night, he came to his friend before his
resolution failed.
mo" he replied to st. Lawrence's
question, II am going to make a clean
breast of it. l think blinded myself
when we were with Bertha together. l
have seen the bushes rise to her sweet
face and the light come into her eyes,
and tried to hope it was for me; but l
see now [ was miStaken. Well, per-
haps, as you have sometimes told me,
am not intended for married man; but
if Bertha would have had me, would
have tried to make her happy, Heaven
knows" He ended with sob, leaning
his head down on his crossed arms.
II am sure you would, dear boy" said
st. Lawrence. And / know what it
must have cost you to say what you
have told me just now. Do not talk of
it any more, unless it does you good to
speak out. I am in a desperately idle
vein, and going to take a long ride;
| come with NEEDN'T go and NOPE at
home" ea
II don't know; it's scarcely worth
t the trouble" Douglas replied, raising
"Nay, come" st. Lawrence urged
come for my sake, if you will not for
your own" .s...b
"Well, as you will, - Douglas rejoined,
languidly rising from his seat and TAX
ing his hat. 81 may as well go as stay,
and stay as go, for anything l see.
Hang it all, it has been blow to me! l
suppose a fellow doesn't get over this
sort of thing all at once"
NO" said st. Lawrence, placing his
hand on his friends shoulder; II think
if it were my case I should never get
over it. But you are naturally more
buoyant, Douglas; have more hope for
1 you"
(Which means I am a shallower
mortal y Douglas commented, with the
! ghost Of smile. "And I am afraid
she thinks SO too.' y'f
''Thatis is not what I intended, re-
turned st. Lawrence; ''you know it is
not. Don't I know your warmth Of
hearth Haven't you stuck by me
through good report and evil report?
Haven't you believed in me when no one
else did2 DON'T you think me a callous
brute, Douglas. y .;
II believed in you because I couldn't
help it, )" acknowledged Douglas. ''Well,
if we are to go, let us be off; it is
sitting here. What dc, you purpose?"
ITO take the train to EPSON" said
st. Lawrence, as they descended the
stairs, hire the horses we've had be-
fore if we can get them, and take long
stretch out through the country. We
can dine somewhere while we put up
the nags, and return in the evening"
"Oh, hang the dinnerp' Grid Douglas.
THAT was not always your creed, old
| fellow st. Lawrence said, smiling.
,tDo you remember dragging me off to
dine one day after the prom enade in the
1 Botanical Gardens, when would have
said Hang the dinnerP just as you do
| now?" 7" e'i'"
"Ah, that was where we met Bertha"
observed Douglas. "How you were
taken with Lena then!" iai'
- Because didn't see below the sur
| face, "St. Lawrence explained. "That
fancy was soon over." #ta3
Douglas looked in his friends face
wistfully, as if he longed to question
him; but, thinking better of it, he
smothered a sigh, and walked on in si-
lence. A crowded London thorough
sfare was not favorable to much CONVEX
sation of a confidential kind, nor was a
railway-carriage, and but little more
passed till they arrived at EPSON,
where they were fortunate to secure
the horses they wanted. Turning their
heads southwark, they soon found them
selves pursuing the course of the Mole.
through the lovely scenery amongst the
Surrey Hills.
| What a change from the heat and
dust Of LondonI Instead of bricks and
mortar, there were wooded uplands and
/ H.. = No. L. i.