The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-04-02

So need not say in rhyme
That my love don't want Il clock.
W.J HENDERSON.
A SACRIFICE.
Many years ago / had q friend, Ken.
meth Lambert. He was younger than
myself, ut that time five or six and
twenty, full of aspirations for a bet
ter, purer existence than the life we
lead.
His day dream, cherished for long
time, was to leave society, and, choos
ing some retired spot, live there alone
with nature, in study and contempla-
ton.
"ralk," his friends called it when
they heard OF it. But Kenneth,
through all his work-and he was no
idler-retained the notion ofthis plan.
At last an unexpected legacy enabled
him to leave the Bar and purchase
the chosen site for his new home.
1t was u ruined chapel on the side OF
moor, n place lie had known all his
life. OF the wayside chapel nothing
was left but an arch way. Behind
:his he had new walls built, dividing
the house into two rooms one
over the other. When all was
completed he went there. Some peo-
pie, know, thought him mad; his
sisters laughed, saying he would soon
be tired of his scheme. believed in
him. l would gladly have joined him,
but man with q wife and child isnot
q free agent. lie cannot retire into n
ife of contemplation however much he
may wish it.
l went to see Kenneth in his new
nome. The place was almost inaccess-
lble; had not Kenneth met me on the
hilltop and shown me the way over the
moor and moss | should never have
found it. The chapel was in copsc; q
wild stream brawled by it. The oak,
alder and holly, were restrained by q
fence from encroaclling on the chapel,
and marsh plants thrust their stems
through the bars. The nearest house
was a farm half Il mile away. Ken
neth's bedroom was simple, his sitting
room furnished in perfect taste. On
the walls some fine etchings, u plaster
relief whence smiled the homely face of
Socrates, on q bracket the image of
Buddha. Between these was an ell
craving OF Dorc's Vale Of Tears. Books,
too, there were in plenty, and the fox
terrler-such were kenneth's compan-
ions.
"And nature" he said when made
this remark.
"And here it is that you will stay, in
peace and quiet" l said, "until your
mission sends you FORTH"
peace and quiet?" he answered,
smiling; "no, those are not for me.
have q presentilnent that this ideal
life will not last long. l shall marry" /"
looked incredulously ut him. He
showed me his hand. "It is written
here" he said; II see it only too plain
ly. Far as it is from my desires, it is
For more than six months heard
nothing OF Kenneth. We went for the
winter to Torremouth, and my wife,
and to oursurprise and pleasure found
the Lamberts had the house next our
own. We had fiat, and on the fiat
below us lived Mrs. Vernay. Mrs. Ver-
nay was the belle OF Torremouth, and
Justly; ] never saw any woman so
beautiful, never shall again see such q
face. She was tall and slight, with u
fair skin, blue eyes shaded with dark
lashes, and her shapely head
crowned with really golden hair.
No art was there, it was all nature,
nature i'll her utmost perfection. She
was young, a widow, said to be enor-
mously rich, but had she been u beg
gar maid we all should have worship
ped her. Young, old, single, married,
there were none but paid homage at
her shrine.
Frank Lambert was badly bitten by
her charms. He WAS two and twenty,
home for the first long leave. Mrs.
Vernay encouraged him more than
any Of the others; perhaps being such
n boy she looked OH him as safe
game. l know that she stole his heart
with the first glance of her violet eyes,
and that he has never recovered from
her influence.
We were sitting together one after
noon in the 1ambert's drawing-room
when Kenneth walked in. Torremouth
was not more than ten miles from his
retreat, and lie had walked over not
tn ~ ,i..sf
to stay if she would have him.
Did any mother ever refuse to re.
ceive her eldest son? How the girls
laughed ut him! declaring their proph-
ecies true and saying he was
weary OF solitude. I felt u
little surprised at HIM. Only one per-
son preserved her faith in him; this
was Grace Cheslyn, the girls friend,
almost like another sis.er. She was
staying with them, and upheld Ken.
meth whatever we might say.
Mrs. Vernay dined that night with
the I.amberts, coming in like some
beautiful being from another world,
jewels glittering in her dress, and in
her hair a snake that glittcred with
diamonds and rubics.
We all came and paid court to her,
Kenneth included. She looked with
interest at him, saying:
"Ah! The Hermit brother. l have
80 wanted to see you. Have you left
your seclusion?"
"Yes, as we all knew he would"
quoth Marie Lambert. "The cold
weather on that moor could not be
endured"
"My sister is mistaken" said Ken
meth; 81 left for other reasons, and
did not particularly like coming away
from my solitude"
I've will teach you the pleasures oj
society" Mrs. Nernay cried. "soli
tude is horrible. Man was not made
to live alone"
Did sec Kenneth vince? / coul,!
not tell.
Then Grace came, asking Mrs. Yer
nay to write III her birthday boot;
And the beauty inscribed Lily We
nav" in u clear. beautiful writilr..