The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-09-18

have heard that which showed
plainly that Percy Hamilton had a
heart and that it all belonged to this
woman. They stood face to face in the
dim, soft light amid the perfume of the
flowers, her face very calm and even
cold, his full of earnestness and con-
centrated passion.
"Why will You not answer me, Ag-
nes?" holding her hands in a fierce
clutch. "For three interminable weeks
you have kept me in agony; a week
more like this would kill me-"
Il think that is exaggeration, Mr..
Hamilton" she answered, in low,
sweet voice. that stung him as q harder
tone would have not; people do not die
so easily"
agnes, 1 love you." he cried. Il
love you passionately."
Il am sure that is very kind, but is
it just wise in you?" She said this
very languidly, and looked at him with
quiet smile that he thought had
mockery in it.
do you mean to drive me mad,
Agnes Harcourt? tell you this is the
love of my life. My whole heart and
soul are yours. You must be my wife,
my own, to hold against the world. Do
you understand me; do you believe
me"
He flung out his arms to her, but she
retreated pace or two and raised her
face to his. Every word she spoke was
clear and distinct as the ring of q
trumpet, and yet her voice was lifted
OH xuhic nd he.
stood there in her naughty triumph, it
almost seemed to the man who loved
her that she was larger by one-half
In stature than ever before.
"Nlr. Hamilton, / understand you and
/ will answer you. You say that you
love me. So you told me once before,
years ago, and you We're recreant to
your VOWS. How can / believe you
now? Ha, you start see you do not
know me, but do you not remember
Maud Fleming? You never thought
you were making love to her a second
time. You thought your crime
would 60 unpublished. 1t was FORUM
ate for you, coward and hypocrite, that
l loved you as did, else L should have
killed you. But / swore to be re-
venged, and have taken my own way
to keep my oath. Percy, L loved you
once better than my God, but that love
has long since turned to hate Sooner
than wed you L would make myself the
wife of the lowest brute in the universe
who could be called man. There,
you have my answer. Col"
She lifted her white hand with all the
nf
pointed to the door. He obeyed her
without word His face was pale as
death, and his eyes had in them sort
OF stony desperation like those of man
going to his doom.
The next morning society was startled
by the announcement that Percy Ham
ilton had shot himself and was not ex-
pected to live. A physician was sum-
moned, who found him conscious but
very feeble.
Doctor" said Hamilton, as he bent
over him to probe and bandage his
wound, Il meant to have done the job
without bungllng, but failed miser-
ably. l am sorry to trouble you, but l
do not wish to live"
NO man has right to throw bis
life away" answered the Doctor, sol
EMMY. Life is holy trust"
you do not know the reason why L
judged it better to die than to live. 1
ought to die, 1 deserve to die; yet she
might have changed the whole tenor
of my life. l do not blame her; she
was just; but. oh, 1 love her so, Doc
tor. must see her before 1 die. l
must see Maud-Miss Harcourt She
must forgive me. Oh, will not the
sacrifice of my worthless life atone in
part for the wrong did her.
There was no need of sending for
only few moments after Miss Har-
court-Maud Fleming-herself came
in. She went straight to the bedside,
knelt down, and lifted Hamilton's head
against her bosom.
"My darling!" she said, in a tone
weakened blood thrill like wine, "will
you forgive me? L had no right to
take vengeance out of Gods own hands.
L had no right to spurn you as l did.
And yet only heaven knows what it
cost me, for, Percy, 1 love you as 1
have never loved any earthly thing. 1
have never ceased to love you. In oil
my sorrows and in all nv triumphs
you have been the dear one of my
heart. And you must live to bless me
to be mine. Oh, my darling, my
darlingl" and, bowling her face on his,
she gave way to fit of sobbing which
shook her from head to foot.
Old DIR. Amnesty stole out of the
room and left them together. When
he went back there was new and
beautiful peace on both faces.
doctor, l am going to live, and you
must help me-" said Hamilton, with
smile that lighted mp his pale, hand
some features. Il have something to
live for now, and, God helping, 1 will
retrieve the past"
And Percy Hamilton did live, and,
through Maud Jennings love, became
a happy, prosperous, honored man.
The past they never recalled.