The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-10-09


plain. The girls friendship had open.
ed a new world to the hard-worked
student. Had he known more Of life,
he would have known he was falling in
love. Over the other a secret was steal.
ing as steadily as comes over us the
morning. A month had passed since
the senior party. The two sat in the
telescope room. She seemed to be
studying the stars.
And do you remember she was
asking, that evening you thought
through some OF them father was look.
ing at us?'
"'Yes.'
DO you suppose he can see us
now?'
"'Yes,' lin a surprised way.)
Then, hcsitatingly, do you think
he is glad-is glad to see us together?'
Won't you,' 1.-THE voice was very
husky won't you answer for me?'
Yes she said, in a voice as clear
us q harp-cortl, i know lie is
"Seyn our wondered il his senses
were civ ng away. He hardly knew
what followed. He meant to ask-if
she did not think her father would be
glad to see them always together.
Somehow the words seemed long and
heavy and lie could not make
the words come. He had II choL.
ing sensation i'll his throat and
his eyes were blinded with tears.
He felt Just as he did in thegreenhousc,
the night of the senior party. He
wanted to kiss the hem of her gar
ment. He felt that lie was in DEBT to
her and falling deeper in debt every
moment. lie knew he was making a
fool OF himself, but he didn't care.
He was the happiest fool that moment
in Gods happy world.
".You are just as much mine,' she
said at last, her hands resting OH his
head which some way or other had
found IL place in her lap,-'you arc
Just as much mine as ii l had done all
the wooing myself
"The Merdon mansion had never
seen such storm as followed Char
lotte's avowal OF her betrothal. Her
mother insisted that she should never
consent, never in the world, and the
girl who had always honored her
wishes above everything else was in
distress.
"tBut you did not marry IL rich man
yourself, mother; why should you
want me tor she urged.
"'I married man who was great
whom everybody knew; why, if you
were to marry the man, whoever he is,
who will fill his chair, should be hap
py forever, but this fellow, and her
indignation almost overpowering her,
she left the room.
TWAS late in the evening when Char
lotte stole up stairs. Passing her
mothers room, she saw the door was
partly opened. She knew what it
meant. Women, even among them
themselves, make their reconciliatiOns
gracefully, gradually. She pushed the
door open as her mother intended she
should, and went i'll. The lady sat by
her writing table; her head resting OH
her hand. and she was evidently sleep
ing. A little pile OF letters lay before
her, n picture beside them. Tears had
dropped upon the letters and the pic.
ture bore the stain of tears. Char.
lotte looked at the picture closely.
The face was familiar.
Surely she had seen it before. But
where?
She could not place it among her ac-
qu;,intances. Whose face was it! 4
broken uncertain voice seemed to say,
That's Il picture OF the president.
Her lovers remark of the portrait on
the wall, the picture that her mother
cried over. 1t was all clear, very clear,
and she didn't care to read the open
letter by the picture.
MY poor. dear mother she
thought, as, without awakening her,
glidetlfro theroom. carrying with her
the greatest secret OF her lifetime, save
one.
at was after midnight when Mrs.
Mcrdon awoke. She had hoped her
daughter would come in. She wanted
otell her that she was no longer angry,
she had been carried back over parts
OF her own life, and she wanted to tell
Charlotte, that after all, she must
follow the voice of her heart that
her own experience had taught
her 80. She was almost ready to
confess to her although she had
married IL man who WIS great, whom
every one knew, slic-iio, no, no, she
could not tell her daughter that-she
could not tell her daughter that! Very
slowly she put the letters away, saying,
.ies | loved linn then, and, God for
give me, have loved him ever SINCE
Sat noon the next day, Il servant
brought n note 20 the president sstHdy:
Charlotte u. Merdon requests tbs
pleasure OF u few moments private
conversation.
81 wonder what Addic Mather's
daughter wants of me- thought the
old bachelor, as he passed down into
the reception :nom. How that girl
brings her to mind,i
In n disnitied manner that eva,
surprised herself, Charlotte began:
"'I understand flat the trustees
have given you the power regarding
the prafGssorsbip which my father
death nude yaehntY
YES.
Have you made any provisions
yet?'
".No.'
"I havea candidate to present.
mWhAt,-you! a candidate! Who
Is it?'
".Brent Seymour
"c.,arlottes intimacy WAS nat IN
known to the president, but this as'
tonished him:
cot is impossible lie snid. u don't
see how you can think of it,
"'Would you not do much to bring
to YOU one you loved?' sheasked bold
ly.
IA peculiar light came into the grey
eyes behind the steel-bowed spcctacles
"'ies.'
"lIow mucill'
"Anything.'
| "'WouId you give profe*sorsi,ip?
nftla l'aculiar light increased: II
WAS almost t.i,iaze.
"'Yes.'
"'Will you give me this professor
ship il l bring you one you love?'
! 1.-The grey eyes were now fairly
| ailGme. She was understood. II.
sprang ~ his feet.
| Age seemed to fall! fromhim like q
scale.
"'Girl' what do you mean% he shout
ed.
THAT she loved you all the time"