The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-11-08

COulu 10 luOrc toItuIc tlau pho INV
endured. even if she were to take him
at his word. Surely, she could not be
worse distracted. And if he fret and
vex her by persistent following, he
might as well "pay the piper" And
she laughed again historically. The
banjo-player was still beating his in
strument in merciless way, but the
hours wore on.
She wished she could find good side
of the matter. IL would be relief to
discover some virtue in him. She
knew that he was n clever business man
and always prosperous. Still, she de-
spised him.
Good heavens! Why'keep on going
over and over it? Why could she not
dismiss it-and him, since he could
never be aught to her? What was it
she remembered hearing about girl
marrying man to get rid of him?
AS the hours wore on, the house grew
still, the gas fared and the wind struck
the high window sharply. 1t was grow
ing colder without.
Sometimes she walked to and fro,
sometimes she fell despairingly on the
bed; always her face burned and her
hands were icy and powerless.
She heard clock strike twelve.
Perhaps he would not return; per-
haps he had done this to revenge him
self-to rouse her hopes, knowing her
distress, and disappoint them.
She felt the need of composing her.
self to rest, since on the morrow she
must search anew.
The rent was due; cold weather COM
ing on. Work must be found.
Merciful heaven what longings, what
anxiety!
Sleep? She dozed little, despite
the gnawing pain. Perhaps this was
hunger; she had not eaten since morn
ing. Hunger and heartache.
The clock struck again over the
silence-twice.
Why, then, did she still live? Why
had she not died that night, when the
pistol-shot seemed to pierce her own
brain as it had pierced her fathers :?
Why had she not died when the news
had come OF her lovers fate? Lost at
sea All, heaven! Since she had once
loved and should never love again, it
mattered little what happened. Even
she might marry this man-if he came
again, and were in earnest. He would
possibly be kind. No; she would strug-
gle no longer; she felt herself grown
weakly plant. And the worst would
be only death; the worst, also the best.
Aye, but if he took her he knew what
he was taking. A soulless, worn-out
creature, who endured him.
And vet, thousands of women had
done infinitely worse.
She was moaning aloud, moaning as
if in pain. By-and-by her means sub
sided to long-drawn sighs, as though
after anguish had come relief. "She
would say to him." she sighed, if he
came again on the morrow, shat if-if
he cared so much, he might take herr"
And now she sat upright with blurred
vision and dull murmurs in her ears.
No longer suspense! No further I'M
certainty. Only a stupid WEAKNESS of
mind
The clock had struck four long since.
The blue darkness was resolving into
gray at the high window, for dawn APP
preached. The room seemed sitting.
She climbed up and knelt on the sill,
raised the sash and looked out over the
neighboring roof, painting for the fresh
ness of the new day.
Yonder, from behind the great lake,
should rise ere long the morning.
Already pale green fickered from
thread to shield, and gradually grew
golden, glorious, as the slow suns
splendor touched the sky line, and
thrilled the dumb heavens to waking
rapture.
SO kneeling, and gazing, she hardly
felt the coldness of the air piercing
her chest like steel; she only saw the
glory of liquid gold bridging the great
waters as if yonder were paradise. And
slowly out of those shining precincts
she by-and-by seemed to see advance
his image-or himself, her lover-glori-
fed, with Outstretched, compassionate
hands.
She gave low, moaning cry as if in
answer: "See All see! I have been
true! / have been true!" Then q
mist yelled her heavily; vaguely she
knew herself falling.
The room was bright with another
opened her eyes and found herself ly-
ing bruised and cramped where she
had fallen from the high sill. 1t was
a great effort to arise. Her limbs were
full of pain, sharp-lasting pain. 1t was
long before she could straighten herself
sufficient to reach up and extinguish
the still-burning gas.
Yet there was an inward strength
and a strange peace OF soul.
When some one knocked she quietly
unbolted the door; nor did she start or
tremble to find it was Drew, calling
early and looking surprised at her
haggardness.
Are you i'll ?" he asked.
MOL am-quite well,-and strong"
well, 1 only dropped in on my way
to business-and to tell you-to ask
you if / should come tonight. Some
how felt as if you treated what L said
as a-joke. But L was not joking"
She looked at him very calmly.
Il thought it over last night, she
said, presently. II did not think you
were joking"
well ?"
"Well-I do not love you; cannot
sell myself-let it go-and-I thank
you"
.