News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-02-14

the power in it to bring the roses upo
her cheeks, and make her eyes droo,
and waver before it. But he droppe,
her hand suddenly, and she looked III
to see his face grown cold and stern. a
if blaming himself for the exhibition O
some weakness.
''Play for me-" he said, motionin,
her toward the piano. 'I don't want t,
talk just now."
She sat down and played softly tn,
pieces which she knew he liked best t.
hear. He heard them as in a dream
He was trying to gain the mastery ovel
himself. Every time he saw this wo
mans face, his heart cried out for love
Tender words would come rushing to his
lips, and only by the force of his strong
will could he keep back their utterance.
Fool that / was to come here to-
night, he told himself. "The sight of
her, the sound of her voice makes me
forget myself. Why can't I put the
thought of love for her out of my mind,
when know that she can never be more
to me than she is now? 1 try to re-
member that her world and mine are far
apart; but with her smile on me, I for
get everything, except that love her. -
She ceased playing by-and-bye, and
came and sat down near him.
"You have come TO tell me that you
have made your decision, I am sure, 4"
she said presently.
eyes," he answered, in an absent
way; 81 have decided at last"
"And is it to go or stay?" she asked,
with her earnest eyes upon his face.
81 shall stay here" he answered.
"Oh, Alice, my friend, you don't know
what it has cost me to make that de-
cision; but it is my duty, 1 think"
81 understand" she said, softly, and
her face was full of reverence for the man
who could sacrifice his hope of reaching
higher station for the good of those in
lowly places. 81 do not think you will
regret what you have done. If 1 can
help you in any way in the work you
have to do down there among your peo-
pie let me do it. I shall be glad to-"
"Oh. you might help me so much, if
you would" he cried, and put out his
hand as if to draw her near him, in
a swift, impulsive way. ST need you so
much" Then, as if suddenly remem-
bering himself, he shut his lips tightly
to keep back the words that struggled
for utterance.
"Forgive me-" he said, and there was
a sound of pain in his voice that he
could not hide. 81 forget myself some
times. I must not come here any
more"
"Why?" she asked, with her frank.
pure eyes looking into his.
'Don't ask me why" he cried. ''I
hink you know. If a child sees a star
md cries for if. isn't it better TO keep
i'm out of sight of 1t than have him
irving for that which is out of
each ?"
''What star are you striving for ?" she
sked, with wavering eyes and scarlet
.heeks. ''Are you sure it is out of
each?"
"Don't tempt me-" he cried. "You
ire cruel, cruel. have enough to fight
against already. I am going away and
[ shall not come here again. You might
have spared me this"
And before she knew it he was gone.
"He thinks I am leading him on. and
s too blind to see that 1 love him." she
,ried bitterly, pacing up and down the
floor. "Oh, John, I would gladly give
you as true love as any woman ever
gave if you would take it.
After that John Trevor kept aloof
rom the woman he loved. He felt that
ne was not strong enough to fight
against himself when the sight of her
ace and the sound of her voice woke into
ierce struggle the passion he held for
Ter. He loved her, yet believed that
he had led him on for the sake of bring
ng him to her feet. 1t shocked him to
hink her capable of doing that, but,
ince their paths in life were so far apart,
md he had always told himself that a
woman of her station never stopped to
me so lowly as his, he could explain her
conduct in no other way.
The days came and went slowly, and
autumn gave place to winter and John
Trevor worked hard and tried to forget.
But he could never do that.
It was Christmas Eve. He sat in his
itudy alone. Tomorrow was the Sab
path, and the children were down at the
church, trimming it with evergreens. 1t
would be more beautiful to morrow in
is Christmas greenery than ever before
n its existence, and tomorrow he hoped
% speak nobler, and more earnest words
20 the men and women who would listen
20 him than he had ever done before.
Some one knocked at the door. He
vent to it and opened it. A little boy
same in.
''Please, sir, mothers worse, and the
ady says she's going to die, and sent me
% ask you to come right away" Then
he boy broke down, and cried softly in
The shadow of the open door.
'I will go with you," Trevor said,
putting on his gloves and cloak. Then
ne went out into the stormy night, with
.he child's hand in his.
1t was bitterly cold, and the wind
blew the sleet into their faces. He felt
he boy shivering, in the keen breath of
the northeaster, and took off his cloak
md wrapped the thinly-clad form.
"Oh, don't do that ~ the child cried.
''You need it. I am used to the cold"
"You need it most" Trevor said. The
BOY smiled up into his face through
tears.
you're good man. Iknow so. She
said So"
"Who| Trevor asked.
''The lady that's with mother. She's
a fine lady, but L amt a bit afraid of
her,"
Someting told Trevor whom the boy
meant without further questioning.
They climbed two flights of rickety
stairs, and he followed the boy into a
small, scantily-furnished room. The
dying woman's face shown out against
of gloom, white and wan.
By the bedside there was another wo-
man, and he knew who she was before