The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-04-22
queen OF One HEART. |"
BY NO. 652O.

BY NO. $500.
And he was So tall and straight
and strong, so young and hearty, so
full of vigorous and graceful action, so
manly in his treatment of men, so gen
tie and courteous with women, always
so quick-witted and sunny-hearted, and
so free from snobbishness, the waiter at
his restaurant table, the barber who
shaved him, the bootblack who re-
torted to his gay sallies, his landlady
and my lady in her chamber of state,
business men with whom his shrewd.
sharp notions, manly bearing and
SNAP" won instant favor. Old and
young, rich and poor, all joined in the
unanimous verdict that he was a
splendid young fellow" the "ifs" and
eff onlys" which frequently followed
being swallowed up In the admiration
akin to love with which he was re-
.garded by all with whom lie had to do.
Once in a while a placid far-seeing
woman-a thoroughly good wife and
mother-added: "And dangerous
yound fellow" but she was an old
~sober-sides" any way, and, indeed, the
,scrupulous respect which she unfail-
singly received from him allayed if it
did not quite dispel, the instinct within
herself. And so, by right of blood and
brains and youth, he reigned. as he de-
served, a king among men-"a splen-
did young fellow"
$50, then, Gratia, you positively re-
fuse! VIII your answer be this always?
Is there no hope that it may be differ
ent when L return from this trip"
A quick catching of the breath, con-
vulsive Tightening of the arms about
his neck, and he had to bend low to
catch the whispered word "none" which
fell from among the sobs that shook
the tiny form within his arms.
"You have not the right love in your
heart for me, then, or you would not
answer thus" were the cruel words he
forced himself to utter, while heGently,
but very firmly, unlocked the clasped
fingers and dsengaged himself from
their hold, closely watching all the while
the white face almost wholld hidden
upon his breast; then slowly rising and
putting her quite from him, he began
to make preparations for his departure,
when, with sharp cry, the girl flung
herself at his feet, in q perfect passion
of agonized entreaty that he should be-
ieye her great love for him, imploring
him to love her still, even if they should
never meet again, to let her memory at
least remain with him wherever he
might go.
Deepest pity stirred the soul of the
man as he looked down upon her and
noted the havoc which six months
he L. 4 4
fateful struggle, had made with the
bright, laughing beauty who had won
his heart, and sincerely he wished they
had never met. But the pride of
worldly distinction, the influence of an
ambitious mother, the promptings of a
selfshness not his own, led him on to
the final conflict
ave may as well end this here and
now, Gratia," he said, very gently.
Indeed, it is quite necessary that we
should, for"-very Slowly, dreading the
effect of his -"for-I-am-going
-to-be-married. My mother has
prevailed upon me TO quit the road, and
has secured for me an interest in q
large manufacturing business, which
my unc'e controls, in the Northwest
She has already. moved there, and there
Il am expected to join them in few
days. Through them / met the lady
who is to be my wife. An heiress, rich,
good-looking, gentle, who will no
doubt make an excellent helpmeet for
yours truly You will bid me happi-
ness, Gratia, won't you? Surely we
may part as friends.
He need not have feared an outbreak.
Neither sound nor motion indicated
that the form covering at his feet heard
one word of the message-naught save
,the pitilul shudder which passed
through her frame. Death, indeed,
Ebut with this difference: the soul, too
suddenly stricken to escape, died with
In, and remained-the corpse of heart
within living body.
Lifting her i'm his arms, tenderly as a
father might daughter he saw suffer,
he laid her on the poor little hard
lounge, and pushing back the masses
of beautiful auburn hair-such rare
beautiful hair The kissed her rever-
emily many times, as one might the
face of the loved dead. and bidding her
good-by, once more he slowly left the
ROOM ngingly, as if hopeful of a re-
call to the last moment. A gentle but
sure click Of the latch.--a light step on
the stair-a slam of the outer door--a
.retreating tread on the pavement be-
low-nnd Fate had done her worst.
1t isa provincial town. but one Of