Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-05-23


rapid the winter before. I
But disturbing element soon came
into his life against which his armor
OF aspiration was not proof. It was
the pretty. smiling face of R,tlie
Neremore, one of his classmates.
Miss Neremore was the only daughter
of one of tho wealthiest mon in the
Villages; and Arthur felt sure that her
father would never consent to hor
union with Lindsay. even if she were
willing: So ho tried hard to put her
out OF his mind. But the more he tried
to forget her. the deeper became his
unfortunate attachments. Finding It
useless to fight against it, he resolved
to work early and late to attain the
position he 80 :longed to occupy, as
we'll now that no might court Rettie
Neremore from a station in life which
she would not be ashamed to share, as
to satisfy his old aspiration.
At first Miss Neremore treated the
quiet young man whom nearly every
body Stunned, with cold Indifference;
but he kept on with his studies In his
earnest plodding way, and gradually,
as they became acquainted with each
other. her manner toward him grew
to be quite friendly. There was
some thing. however in the expires
sion of her pretty brown eyes which
caused him to feel that she considered
herself above him. OF course he
made no attempt to win her love; he
would not, he told himself, till he was
able to do so as her equal; but he did
try to win her respect
Three years passed in this way,
Arthur had decided to go to cole &c.
and. feeling encouraged by Rettie's
continued friendliness toward him. he
thought he would tell her of his love
before starting. He was not the thin.
stoop-shouldered boy now, but tall.
well-built handsome man; and ne
felt that. considering what he had &C.
complished, he had some claim to
equality with even the Neremores.
The evening before his departure, he
called at the Neremore mansion to
hear his fate from the lips of the girl
whom he had learned to love with all
the intensity of his earnest nature
without sign of encouragement
from her, except such as any one
would expect from friend. She re-
ceived him with her usual frankness;
and. when he spoke of going away, she
added:
What has led you to that decision
SO suddenly"
1T is not so very sudden" he re-
piled. Il have been nearly three years
thinking it over, and making prepara-
lions. 1 did not suppose any bod y
would care, so l have said nothing
about it. But 1 did hope, Kettle. that
you would care a little; and ] have
come to have little talk with you,
and to say goodbye"
''Rettie.' he continued. drawing
nearer to her, Il am under the impress
sion that you will not wish to hear
what / have to say tonight. but I can
not go away for so long without know
ing whether you care to have me re-
turn"
''Why. of course. we shall all want
you to RETURN" she replied. evasively.
''Bnt you do not understand. Hove
you Kettle. have loved you ever
since we first went to school together:
l know you have not encouraged me,
but love you all the more; and if you
will only let me hope for your love in
return. will wait till can offer you
comfortable home. and as good a
position in society as you now hold.
I realize only too we'll that can not
do so now, but I am able and willing
to work; and it will give me the great.
est of pleasure to think that l am work.
ing for YOU"
Il am sorry to disappoint you, Mr..
Lindsay, but l can never become your
wife. l noticed your preference for
me. and did not encourage you. be.
cause knew that we could never be
more to each other than friends. II
will be long time before you finish
your studies, and you will undoubted
ly find lady more suited to your
tastes than am"
Il do not want to find another he
said, impulsively Il will be satisfied
to remain single if can not win you.
But you do not say that my love is no
reciprocated. You surely do not in
tend to let me 60 away in despair il
you have the least spark of love fol
me2 You are only testing; you will
some day be my wife. if work hard
for you. will you not?'
'There are other things to think Of
besides love, MI. Lindsay. know i,
is hard. but you do not fully compre.
bend what you are asking Of me, or
you would not expect my answer tc
be different.
Il do comprehend it, too we'll, per.
haps, and did not expect differe ut
answer; but if you knew how much
love you, how all my time for the last
three years has been devoted to max
ing myself in some degree worthy o.
your love, and how increasingly l an
willing to work for Won in the fr1trra