The Northern Pacific farmer., 1885-05-28

| wide balcony of the hotel in softened
harmony, and tho figures of the dancers
| within, all q wonderous bewilderment
of lovely colors and beautiful forms and
faces, could be seen by the promena-
| ders, like pictures in dream-land.
Miss Osborne moved away from her
companions, and strayed down to the
beach, dotted here and there with
solitary figures. Here the air was cool,
the breath of the ocean delicious.
A little boat rocked to and fro, and
we'll aware that it was securely fastened
the young girl seated herself in the
stern and looked out over the far waste
of waters, just beginning to whiten in
the rays of the rising moon.
There Rex found her. She had not
seen him coming, and at sound of his
voice turned stern, white face toward
him, and attempted to leave the boat.
But he was beside her; there was
something in his face that startled her.
''Shall row you out little way? It
is such heavenly nightV he said,
quietly, as if nothing unpleasant had
passed between them. ''This is my
boat. Ihad it brought down to-day"
II didn't know that" she said rising,
and very nearly falling in the impetu~
| osity of her movement.
"And suppose you did not?" he said
smiling, and looking at her with such
an assumption of ownership that she
felt the blood surge up to her temples.
II hope you will do me the honor to
stay-just for little," he added, the
moonlight falling on his handsome face:
Miss Osborne hesitated. The scene
| on the beach was yet fresh In her men,
ory:
"There can surely be no objection to
taking little row, now that the water
| is so calm" he said.
And, almost before she knew it, the
boat was loosened and they were float
ing out in the still moonlight, while
faint snatches of the dance-music sound
ed now and then across the reaches of
silence.
II am going to explain something"
he said, presently, resting on his oars,
(which only one other person knows
beside myself, and I shall trust that
secret to your honor. Are you quite
comfortable, or shall 60 back for a
shawl?"
He thought he saw her shiver.
"Oh, no; go on. am quite comfort
ablo, thank you," she said, looking away
along the grand wake OF the moon j;
though, please remember, have not
asked you for any"
"Confession," he murmured, his lip
curling little at the offended dignity
of her manner.
She said nothing.
II am sorry that circumstances have
seemed to compel me to defend myself" :"
he said, quietly; ''and yet it is no more
than your right to know. after what
has passed between us. Perhaps you
remember the great forgery case of '78;
in which David Brabant was concern;
ed? 1t happened in your city, and
made an extraordinary sensation at the
time"
She said eyes, "looking up at him with
a heightened color. She remembered
the case perfectly. The Judge before
whom it was tried was her uncle =,
The man was imprisoned for life, I"
continued Rex, plying his oars gently; !;
$50 much for him. But there was
another unfortunate person in the
case. " he said, looking down; "the cul-
prits innocent wife"
"Poor soul! Every body pitied her" !"
murmered Miss Osborne, her face now
softened and more beautiful than ever.
"And that woman" ssid Rex, in a
still lower voice, "was my half sister,
the child of my mother by former
husband, one Of the sweetest creatures
that was ever cursed by a Union with q
wretch so vile. She, ten years my
senior, took charge Of my brothers and
myself when my mother died during my
boyhood. She has been everything to
me, mother, father and sister all in
one."
"Oh, Rex!" Her hands went out a
little way. Pity and sympathy made
her lovely face study in the soft, lu+
tninous moonlight. Ill think I can
guess the rest"
"Perhaps," he said, with sad smile,
then went on: my unhappy sister, at
the termination of the trial, took her
maiden name of Selby, and went into
seclusion. She has never teen out in
society since then, how over seven years,
until now, though she has an ample
fortune of her own. It was through
my persuasion that she came here, and
perhaps you can fathom the reason
why she wished to appear merely as a
friend or acquaintance of mine; simply
bcause attention might be called to the
sad circumstances which have blighted
her life. Otherwise she would have
remained in utter seclusion-so, you
SEQ"
'toh, Rexp she said; penitently,
from under her hands, for her face
was hidden in them. II have
been cruel-to you and her. But
will make it all up, be sure will. To
Think" she added, looking up, tears in
her bright eyes, that I should have
added single thorn to the pathway
she must travel under such trial!
Will you ever forgive me! I can't for
give myself"
MY darling," he said, 1T was not so
strange-if had thought. you know
but it never entered.my mind you could
could D."
"Be jealous of your sister," she said,
with half-laugh, half-sob. II will
never be so foolish again as long as I
live. And you shall see if will not be
kind to her," she ahded, as they rowed
on, Graded in the silver white ripples
of the tide now coming in. "Rex, T
have been wicked.
For answer, radiant face bent lower
to hers, ana words spoken that brought
back the LIGHT to her eye and tho rose
to her cheek. He who had filled the
cup of her happiness to the brim had
proved worthy of her love. What more
could she ask? When she next met
the smiling face of her gentle friend
Florence, she was the betrothed wife Of