The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-06-07

splendid success. Poor Sey mour twisted
about in his chair and hung his head.
His discontinue was complete.
Miss Merdon took a deliberate look at
the picture, and did not smile. Yes"
she said, sit is called very good like
ness of him just after graduation. Have
you seen the presidents flowers, Mr.
Seymour? Let me show them to you"
Rising, and excusing herself, she led
the young man into the greenhouse, ad-
joining the parlor,
1.-The DEVIL" said Elliott. 81 didn't
look for anything like that"
Seymour, rescued in this way from
his trying ordeal, hardly knew what to
say or do. He felt as if milestone had
been taken from his neck. The pain and
the manner of relief worked strangely
on his sensitive nature. He felt that he
was in great debt to his companion. He
wanted to kiss the hem of her garment.
He wanted to cry. He knew he was feel
ing and acting like fool. He expected
that he should make a greater fool of
himself than in the parlor. But some
way he didn't care. He had lost all fear
of the beautiful girl. Her act Of mercy
had brought her nearer than years of ac-
uuaintance could. He talked rapidly of
the flowers, for he knew of them, and
Charlotte listened-listened, wondering
why she cared to listen, little thinking
that her sympathy had brought the
awkward student nearer than he would
have been had she known him half her
lifetime and never seen him in pain.
So when he pointed out to her the OBJ
servatory where he worked, the queerly
shaped building that showed its dark
outlines in the moonlight, just over the
campus on the hill, she wondered what
it was that prompted her to beg him to
take her there, to exact q promise from
him that, on the very next evening, he
would conduct her through the build
ing, that had been built after her fathers
order. She persuaded herself that it
was desire to see some manuscripts OF
her fathers which Seymour told her had
been left there. Perhaps it was.
Notwithstanding her mothers mild
remonstrance, the next evening found
her with Brent Seymour in the telescope
room of the observatory. The roof had
been let down and she was watching the
stars.
81 wonder if father often studied them
from this ROOM" she said.
whenever the sky was clear"
II wonder if he can see them now"
mo, think that through some one of
them he is looking at u.s."
Far from science and astronomy, far,
very far, from his scholarly standpoint,
the mans childish reply had taken him,
but it had carried him nearer the heart
OF the girl than he dreamed.
Mrs. Merdon's disapproval of her
daughters visit to the observatory with
Seymour, broadened into anger as his
calls we're repeated, and repeated often.
An intimacy grew between the young
people that, even to themselves, they
did not undertake to explain. The girls
friendship had opened q new world to
the hard worked student. Had he known
more of life, he would have known that
he was falling in love. Over the other q
secret was stealing as steadily as comes
over us the morning. A month had
passed since the senior party. The two
sat again in the telescope room. She
seemed to be studying the stars.
"And do you remember" che was ask
ing, that, that evening, you thought
through some one of them father was
looking at us?"
yes"
''Do you suppose he can see us now?"
Yes lin surprised way.)
Then" (hesitatingly) 'do you think
he is glad-is glad to see us together?'
Wont you" 1.-THE voice was very
husky)-"won't you answer for me?'
Eyes" she said, in voice clear as q
hard chord, II know he is."
Seymour wondered if his senses were
giving way. He hardly knew what fol-
lowed. He meant to ask-~he tried to ask
if she didn't think her father would be
glad to see them always together. Some
how that seemed long and heavy and he
couldn't make the words come. He had
choking sensation in his throat and his
eyes we're blinded with tears. He felt
Just as he had in the greenhouse the
night Of the senior party. He wanted to
kiss the hem of her garment. He felt
that he was indebted to her and falling
deeper in debt every moment. He knew
he was making o fool of himself, but he
didn't care. He was the happiest fool
that moment in Gods happy world.
You are just as muca mine. she said
at last, her hands resting upon his head,
which some way or other had found o
place in her lap-''you are just as much
mine as il had not done all the wooing
myself"
The Merdon mansion had never seen
such a storm as followed Charlotte's
avowsl of her betrothal. Her mother
insisted that she wonld never consent,
never in the world, and the girl who had