The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-05-15
MAYS SACRIFICE.
my last hope rests in you, May"

I'm me, father?"
May Warren made answer in a tone
of surprise, raising her sad, anxious eyes
to her fathers face.
As if her gaze discomposed him, Mr.,
Warren turned his head, and his glance
wandered restlessly around the apart.
ment. He was an old man, with tall
figure, thin, gray hair, and was sitting
in an arm chair by table covered with
papers, while his pretty daughter, May
sat beside him on an ottoman. She re-
peated the words:
I'm me, father?"
eyes," he replied, starting from a
moments abstraction. DO you remem-
Der Colonel Leighton, my dear?"
Colonel Leighton? An old man
with a heavy beard, partly gray, and
pleasant blue eyes. He dined with us
few weeks ago. Yes, remember him,
father"
"Not SO very old, May-not so old as
I am-and one of the finest men living.
He is wealthy, very wealthy, too.
He met his daughters questioning
gaze fully, now, as if he wished her tc
read something in his face. She kept
her dark eyes fixed searchingly upon
his countenance, the ebb and flow OF
the soft color upon her cheeks betrayine
the quick pulsation Of her heart.
,"What do you mean father?" she
asked at length.
II saw him last night. He offered to
help me-save me, if"
IF what, father?'
IF I would give you to him.
The words came hurridly from Mr.
Warren's lips, as if he feared that if he
deliberated he should not be able to ut,
ter them at all. AS they fell on his
daughters ear she started to her feet,
pushing back her hair from her pale
face, in a bewild cred sort Of way, as il
she were half-stunned.
"Marry me, father? Colonel Leigh
ton? ?" she cried, in low tone.
Mr.. Warren took her hand and drew
her down to her seat again.
"May, Colonel Leighton will be g
good husband to you. I have known
him from boyhood, and understand per-
fectly his character and principals.
He loves yous-will be kind to you, and
strive in every way to make you happy
And more-and more, May; he will save
me from beggary!'
He paused, but his child, with her
face bowed upon her hands, made no re-
ply-nor stirred not. The mute distress
that her attitude betokened was not I'm.
noticed by him.
II do not force you to do this, May,
remember; the matter is left entirely tc
your own choice. But you know what
my wish is-what the alternative will be
if you do not accept the Offer"
She knew only too we'll. Fully she
realized how absolutely necessary the
luxuries to which her father had been
accustomed were to him. In her youth
and strength the future would still be
bright and full of hope to her; but how
could he, with his aged frame and bur-
den Of sixty years, commence life anew
The hopeful thought that she coul6
work for him and supply him with his
accustomed comforts afforded her but {
moments comfort. To him, with hi
stubborn, aristocratic ideas, this would
be the most severe trial of all-his del
icately reared, petted child laborine
for his support. He would nver be
reconciled to it. There was no alter
native, she saw at glance. Then, with
desperate effort to think calmly, she
recalled the form of Colonel Leighton
She remembered his bowed head ant
silvered beard, his dark, deeply fur
rowed face and fifty years. She coul6
get no further: A younger face, will
merry, azure eyes and tossing, sunny
hair sprang up in strong contrast
Stretching out her hands to her father
as if for pity, she cried out:
II cannot-oh, father, cannot"
|. The old man sank back with groan
Lost-then I am LOST" he criet
shuddering.
There was no reproach, only those
bitter words and that despairing atti
tude. White and fearless she sat at hi
feet, the agony of her heart written OF
her face. The wild, desperate though
that the sacrifice was possible occurred
to her.
Father, dear father"
He raised his head, whitened will
the frosts of his sixty winters, and looked
at her with CLEAN of hope in his sunk
en- eyes. She crept into his arms, a:
she had done when child, and laid hel
soft cheek against his wrinkled brow.
''You know that I love you, father,
she said. IT can never remember YOU
but as kind, tender and forbearing will
me. Your heart has been my home al
my life. will work, beg, suffer fo1
you-I will die for you-oh, how willing
ly, if need be! But that oh, father
you do not know what it is that you
ask"
He did not speak, but a moan broke
unoontrollably from his lips, as he rest
ed his head upon her shoulder. The
struggle in her heart sent dark, shadow
waves across her face. Could She
could she?
Father" she whispered, hurriedly,
"1et me go now. I will tell you again
answer you Tomorrow" And she lef
him. :: !
He could not see her face in the gath
ering darkness, only a glimpse of some
thing White, but he felt the culver O.
her lips as she bent to kiss him, anl
reached out his arms to embrace her
but she was gone.
Heaven pity mel" The words came
Like a wall from her lips. She was
alone in her chamber, flung PROSTATE
upon a low couch, with her face hid ii
the cushions. The sound of the rust
ling foliage Of the garden, and the
chirping Of tho birds came in through
the open window with the damp even.
ing breeze, and the pale light of the
rising moon filled the room with a soft
radiance, but she was unconscious oil
everything but her misery.
The house was so quiet that the
sound .of a footstep crossing the hal
below fell upon her ear and aroused bel
to a momentary interest. She heard {
door open-the library door and ther
a voice uttered few words of common
place greeting. She remembered il
well, and sprang to her feet with des
perate, insane thought of flight. Bu
the door was closed, the house was still
again and she was calmer.
She crossed the room listlessly an6
drew back the curtain of the window
The scene without was beautiful. The
moonlight lay broadly on the garden
turning to silver the tops of the trees
pnd making the little lake beyond look
like a great white pearl. Gazing earn
estly downward she saw tall, shadowy
figure, standing beneath the shade Of
tho old elm. With low cry she sprane
fpom the room and moment later stood
beside her lover. ........'
WCnme at last NV treasure" criAt]