The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-11-15
OLD MEMORIES,
And you'll manage it if ven possibly

And you'll manage it if veu possibly
car.?'' - -
Yes, of course; now do 20, dear, I've
been here quite long enough"
Nonsense! Come here, Madge; I
want you particularly" -.
: "Oh, don't, Rex!"--the last excla.
nation having rather a smothered
sound. = So
4 - y 4"
"Alice. do shut that door; those PEG.
pie seem to think that every one must
be las impervious to draughts as they are. y
And as her younger niece rose to obey
Miss Owen said, sharply, "And why on
earth does she call him Rex" instead of
his own name?"
"Some love.nonsense, I supp ,sa,"
said Alice, with yawn; "they are silly
enough for anything.'
And she went back to her book, while
her aunt went on with her knitting, and
thought of Alice's words.
''Some love nonsense" All! she
could remember the time when she had
stood by that very hall-door where
Madge and her lover we're now quite as
happy, quite as thoughtless and quite as
contented.
What long time it used to take Har-
ry to say good night, an: how she used
TO watch until he was quite out of sight
under the dark trees OF the avenue! It
was all pure happiness until R,samond
came. Somehow, things never seemed
the same afterward. Harry used to wait
longer and longer to hear some favorite
piece Of music-and Rosamopd played
so beautiIully-so the good night talk
grew shorter every day ;yet how could
one erumble when Harry enjoyed good
music so much?
Rosamond was very pretty-every one
could SEQ thai; so it was no wonder that
Harry should admire her tair complex
ion and lovely hair aud eyes, only it
was rather dreadful to feel how plain
and unattractive one must lo.k beside
her, she seemed able to do everything,
100; and every one praised her unaffac-
ted manner.
here, and the face above it grew hard)
i remember Harry telling me be
wished 1 could try to imfta her
more, and making myself more gener-
ally liked suppose must have made
some answer, but l don't remember it.
can only remember a blind, helpless
feeling of misery and wounded pride
and love.
l could not have changed 80 much in
few daysand Harry had always till now
declared that | was the dearest and best
Ltali to him, and he wondered every one
didn't fall in love with me- knew that
WAS nonsense, but " hat was this?
went away soon after, and cried as
though my heart would break, and I
remember saying, over, and over, "Oh,
not Harry-not Harry" 1t seemed as
it could give up everything else if
might keep his love.
was dull and stupid that evening;
and though he kissed me when ne said
good night, it did not comfort me ,uuch,
seeing that it was accom- panied by II
wish dear, you wouldn't make yourself
misersble about nothing, aud would try
to take advice instead Of sulking over
it,"
They were hard words, 1 thought,
but tried to do as he said, though ev-
cry day felt more and more sure that
the lore which had been mine was Civ.
Ell to Rosa1nund, and at last our engage
ment was broken off.
1t is curious that the remembrance of
that day should make me SILVER now
after. 50 many years; but | suffered very
keenlv.
Rosamond went away, and soon after
we heard that she and Harry were en-
gagged.
| remember hearing that people did
not think could Rave cared for Harry
very much. took everything so quiet
~. ! was glad they thought 80. Why
Should they have any idea of the bitter
heartache [ seemed always now to fell?
1t WIS Il little comfort that they should
blame me instead of Harry.
Then, one day, letter came, telling
Of RosamOnds has marriage to q man
many years older than herself, but very
rich.
There was no word of Harry; and l
think grieved more for him than l
still-how dearly no one guessed-and ]
tormented myself day by day with
Thoughts of him and his disappoinI-
ment.
am so thankful that saw him again!
My mother came to me one morning
to tell me woman was waiting to see
me who would give nonAn, rr A!y
message, but begged l would come to
her directly.
ran down, for something seemed tc
tell me the message con cerned the one
l loved so well, and l knew it wis sc
the moment saw Mrs. Lewis, Harry's
old nurse and housek eeper.
She came to me and taking both my
hands, she said:
"Miss Ruth, 1 am come to give you
fresh gain. do not know how to soft
en- my message. Perhaps the shortest
way IL the best. Master Harry is dying
Miss Ruth, and he begs if you can so far
forgive him, that you'll let him see your
fac, once mOre.'
For one moment felt as though my
senses had deserted, and then felt
how precious the moments were, and
that the time for grief would come az
terWard.
1t all seems like dream. My mother
went with me. | remember hearing her
Say to Mrs. Lewis, "[t will kill herr
and reckless hope that it might sprung
up in my heart, and helped me to keep
calm and brave.
I heard my mother asking how the
accident had happened; but the old
woman could only tell her that three
days before her master had gone for a
ride in the morning, and in few hours
had been brought home unconscious,
with dark purple bruise upon his fore
head; that the doctor had given..no hope
OF his life from the first; and that as
soon as he recovered his senses he had
sent to me, that he might see me before
he died. --
We reached The end of our journey at
last, and to Mrs. Lewis eager question
the man replied:
",Just as you left him. The doctor is
with him now"
Mrs. Lewis went up stairs. returning
in few minutes with the docter, whom
she'left with my mother. saying TO me:
"Iiss Ruth, will you Gomez"
I trembled so that could scarcely fol-
low her till she said:
ale has asked to see you alone, nv
dear. Can you bear it, or shall you be
afraid?"
"No," said steadily; 81 would much
rather be alone."
So she opened the door; and I went
in.
All thought of Rosamone had fled.
went up to my darling and took his
hand in mine.
"My good angel" he whispered-"my
"my darling Ruth" And then an ex-
preston OF pain cane across his face.
and he added: "Not mine now; have
forfeited that"
L think all the love had ever felt for
him came upon me with twofold force,
and kneeling by him, told him how
fully forgave him, and how dearly
lovedhlm. and how I loved him then.
Il cannot believe it; I am not worth