Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-01-27


and ratified on about the days amuse-
ments. "Oh, dad, Mr.. Brace was so at
| tentive; he never let me out of his sight.
He is rather coarse, but not a bad fellow
when you get to know him. He is going
TO call. There was horrid lot of wo-
men there, so stuck up, but Laurie and
| leavened the lot. Come up into the
! parlor. Mr.. Stevens is there making
love to Laurie. There, don't frown,
dad; its true. and if You don't approve of
it YOU had better 90 and tell them SO at
once, for at the rate they have been go
ing on to-day you'll soon lose all control
over the beauty OF the family"
With merry laugh Beryl led them in
to the cool, musk scented sitting-rooni,
where they found the young people dis
creetly discussing classical music.
Beryl curled herself up on the roomy
old sofa. and Tom sat beside her, while
Felix sang THAT his love was but las
sic yet" and Mr.. Stewart drowsily read
week old Times.
After this picnic the junior partner of
the firm of Brace Brothers that en-
ployed Mr.. Stewart us ledger clerk,
called upon his daughters.
Any one could see with halt an eye, as
BERTHE said what he came for. He did
not disguise his admiration of Beryl,
who was little proud of her conquest,
though quite ashamed of the man, who
was vulgar and underbred, and took his
homage as queen would that OF SUBJ
iect. Poor Tom felt that his fortune was
out at heels. He held on with the dog
ged resolution of British tar, but had
little hopes of standing his prize. Beryl
grew daily more bewitching and unap-
proachablc, driving her adorer distracted
with her many moods and caprices.
Out of patience, Tom, one day bluntly
asked her to be his wife, in few manly
and touching words. He assured her of
his love, implored her to put him out of
his misery by straightforward answer.
Beryl was alone with the young fellow
in the shabby old parlor, which looked
terribly worn and poverty stricken in
the light ofthe afternoon sun. Tom had
chosen an unlucky time to do his special
pleading, for Beryl was feeling out of
heart, tired out by the perpetual fight
to make the ends meet. Two heavy
bills rustled in her pocket, rs Tom
crushed her in his clumsy, loving en-
brace, and she was painfully conscious
Of the threadbare cuffs of her second
best dress.
"Lon't Tom, dear, you hurt me. I
can not listen to you for promised dear
mamma when she was dying | would
never marry till, by SO doing, | could
make my fathers life easier and help
my brother. 1t sounds very mean and
horrid, l know; but marriage . to me
means promotion, Other girls may
follow the dictates Of their hearts and
be happy, honest and poor but | must
keep my promise to my dead mother,
and marry money for the sake of my
people"
"Ah, l understand, and sell yourself
to Mr. Brace"
He has not offered to buy me yet"
said Beryl in a shaken voice. her fair
face pallid even to the sweet lips.
And if he does?"
Beryl bit her lip till it bloomed again,
then answered lightly:
well, if he does | suppose | must ac-
cept him and be miserable ever after"
Tom smiled contemporary: his face
looked haggard, and his eyes pleaded
as for life.
Il am glad l can know what your ma
ture is before it is too late. | thought
there was nobler stuff in you; but man
like, my Judgment was beguiled by the
Waxen mask of beautiful face. In flu
ture my mistress shalIlbe the wild ocean;
that is less treacherous than a woman.
You need not be afraid | shall trouble
you about this business again. | am not
made of such yielding stuff that causes
one, after receiving blow on one cheek,
to turn the other to the enemy. Do not
despise my love. 1t is honest, and too
dear thing to be cheapened by repeat
ed offering. He who gives the love of
all his being gives greatly, and cannot
give the whole twice. Good bye, Beryl.
May you never make such misery for
anOthera as that which now unnlans me-"
A moment later Beryl was alone, Sob
bling out the sorrow of her young heart
on her little white bed. On, how dearly
she treasured in her soul the love she
had cast away forever. How miserable
to be the cause of pain to him whom she
had held it honor to make happy!
"Oh, mother. mother, ifyou can know
the agony of your childs sacrifice, send |
down from heaven peace and PATIENCE"
prayed the broken voice, as, weary with |
weeping, the tired head sank to rest on |
the pillow that had never before wit |
messed such tears as these-tears that |
we're the distilled sweetness of crushed |
heart.
Laurie, creeping up at dusk, and find |
ng her sister sleeping, left her with
gentle caress to the repose the pallOr |
If her face showed she so much |
needed.
But while the body lay prone and |
the mind took up the burden |
If her pain, and wrecked it on the tort |
Ire of dream about her lover that filled |
Ter with horror and alarm.
Beryl awoke to see the moon-kissed |
clouds speed across a calm Heaven of |
,urply blue, broidered with pearls.
Her breast was beating furiously; her
swollen eyelids felt stiff and sore. All
he house was quiet, and the church
lock struck the hour of ten. Quietly |
iisrobing she sat by the open window
o unbind her fiaxen hair.
Then she thought of Tom. His soul
eemed close to her as though she had
tolel it from that dread form on the
Ireamy sea. Surely her dream warned
Ter not to send him away without hope.
What should she do to keep her promise
o that dear induleent mother who hah
lever laid a command upon her but In
eath?
A sudden thought came to her. Could
ot her youth be put to some task that
hould more honestly bring help to her
u" 'eItIiCl GIoik Wy maj 1ttS-O' CC3 OhO !
you'd 90 out into the world and work.
he had health, youth, talent and she
7ould be true to her love. for her hon.
st lover had the right to hold her in
ontempt.
Her elastic spirits were again exultant.
he would give a year of life for power
D begin her task at once. Oh, if she
ould only nave made peace with Tom
efore she slept again.
AS Aurora parts the curtain before the
ace of day, so now Beryl drew aside the
navy network of her hair, and looked
ut with rosy JOY to the garden where
er lover so often waited to smile on
i'm.
1t was dark in the old garden, but,
Ike a glow worm, shone the beacon
ght of cigar. Up and down the path
glowed as though the bearer were of a
estless mood. Then and there Beryl
ecided to end her reTorse. OF course
he knew 1t was very improper 10 give
er lover an interview alone in garden
t that time, but lovers have done so
rom time immemorial, and will do it
i'll the crack CT doom.
So Beryl, not to he behind romance
n power OF loving, pulled down well,