The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-08-07
LOVES STRATAGEM.

young MAIDEN of twenty. She was ami
able and pretty, tie heiress Of Oakland,
and in time would possess larger for
tune than any one else in Bloomingdale.
Yet with all her advantages Lilian's cup
of happiness was pnly partially filed.
Suitors throngedaround her, but met
with no success, 1or the girls magma
ton had wrought her an ideal picture
that won her heats strongest admira-
ton; it was the picture of man, lofty,
generous and noble, possessing a ooun-
tenance dark, passionate and unlovely,
yet truthful and sincere, with
eyes penetrative and stern, yet
fascinating and irresistible
the picture of man between whom
and herself there lay gulf so broad
that her widest hope could never cross
it. It was picture she could not drive
away, and was always accompanied by
memory Of the poor law student, Ed
gar Wharton, in the Office of Mr.. Tate.
The presence was unwelcome to her, but
what could she do? When she thought
by strong effort Of will she had driven
it away it returned to her the more for
chilly. The fact was the pretty Lillian
was in love without being conscious Of
it, and as her father on his death-bed
had bequeathed her to Hugh Thurston,
he son of his dearest friend, whom she
had never yet seen, she believed she was
performing solemn duty by trying to
keep her heart pure and free for the
strange lover, of whom she had began
to think with some anxiety as the time
pecifed for their marriage was not now
so very far in the future.
Edgar Wharton had come to Bloom
ingdale ostensibly to look up his law
studies in the ofc' of his old college
chum, Mr.. Tate. NE had broug ht with
him from finishing school to her
fathers house the adorable little Nina
Evermore. Report said they were be-
throthed, but what such sparkling lit
tie fairy could see in the dark stern
visage of Edgar Wharton, with his years
outnumbering hers by half, was prob
lem difficult to solve.
It was entirely different with Lillian.
Her acquaintance with Edgar imme-
diately ripened into warm friendship.
Their tastes and enjoyments were con-
genial, and in the enjoyment of his
society she even learned to love the
repelling sternness of his department,
which others so deprecated.
This happy companionship, while it
gave Lillian pleasure, also caused her
many grave reflections. The time was
fast approaching which she herself had
fixed upon for her marriage with Hugh
Thornton. Rumors came to her of his
wonderful attainments. She heard of
his great eloquence at the bar, of his
high position in society, and of his
frank, honest character, but she was un-
moved by them all, and thought one
look of affection from the eyes of Edgar
Wharton would be more to her than all
Hugh's shining qualities. This look of
affection, however, was denied her, for
in her consciousness Of the wrong she
was committing, her manner toward
Edgar was distant and cold. What
wonder, then, was it that he repressed
his warm feelings for her? When re-
port became current that a marriage
between Nina and Edgar was
soon to be concluded many laughed and
others effected regret that they were
unsuited to each other. It was Lillian
only who turned pale. She knew her
hearts secret then. Edgar had never
given her cause to think he enter
tanned even o partiality for her, and
she felt mortified THAT she could not re-
press the blind infatuation that led her
to love SO dearly one who thought of
her merely as pleasant companion for
his leisure hours. Her heart, too, up
braided her for the wrong she was in
flicting on her friend. What right had
she to come between Nina and her lover?
One bright September morning
Bloomingdale was undergoing an ex-
element. A grand picnic was about to
take place in lovely spot short dis
lance from the town, and all the young
people were anticipating great pleasure.
allow do I look, Lillian ?" said Nina,
as they stood waiting on the piazza for
Edgar Wharton's carriage Glow do I
look? Pretty enough to bewitch my
dull, lifeless Edgar? Do you know I
made him half jealous last night by tell
fling him Hugh Thornton was coming to
Bloomingdale next week, and that, if
we were not careful, you would be mar
ried before us? His face grew crimson
at first, and then so pale that began to
think seriously of making you present
of him!"
It was Lilian's turn to pale and crimson
now, but with strong effort she re-
pressed her feeling and replied, with q
light careless laugh:
"There could never be any sentiment
n common between Mr.. Wharton and
myself"
$50 he says answered Nina, with a
roguish smile, "and that he should soon
er hope to inspire marble statue with
love for him than you"
''He has been making my life study, -"
thought Lillian, as Nina turned away !;
chow well he has succeeded in gaining
a knowledge of my heart" It was
painful to be misunderstood, yet how
much better than that this cold, calm
passionless man should know of her
mad infatuation for him. She would
end this struggle between duty and in
clination and write to Huge Thornton
to come and take her away from her un-
happiness.
The picnic, under the shelter of the
great oak trees for which the spot was
celebrated, was grand success. The
ladies we're graceful and pleasant, and
the time was happily passed with mu-
sic and dancing, flirting and love max
ing until evening was drawing near,
Then the ladies busted themselves in
preparing the supper, which they spread
upon all improvised table. There was
a great display of tempting viands, and
the guests were soon seated around the
board to partake of them; but so busy
were they all, so gay with jest and rep
artee, that no one observed gathering
of storm clouds in the heavens until
heavy peal of thunder broke upon them,
sending a shower of rain on their yet
untasted supper.
The rain poured down in torrents, and
as fash succeeded flash and the deep
thunder rolled, the party, after rushing
wildly about in the storm, finally found
protection in rocky cave at no great
distance. When they were assembled,
and were congratulating each other on
the shelter they had secured, it was
discovered that Lillian was not among
= L. L.