Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-02-23
CR AyIJNG MICHIG AN THURSDAY FEBRUARY NUMBER

too. Now Ak mp some kind Of skirh
and we'll take a dash across the country
after breakfast"
"Lisle," she said, with sudden
swelling in her throat. "you are too
kind"
She supplemented her words with
glance of love that made his pulses
throb.
The ride was an enjoyable occasion
to both of them. He was polite, chatty,
attentive, solicitous, and she let him
know that she appreciated it by her re-
sponsive manner-that natural blending
of the freedom of girl with the self
consciousness of O woman that had ever
pleased him.
al am just beginning to i've" was her
mental comment.
at is nice to be ut home more fire.
quently," was his mental admission.
His desire to remain more at home
increased day by day. He became less
selfish; he comprehended that she had
needs as well as himself. He studied
to please her; he grew more steady in
his habits, and had larger views of life,
its aims, its privileges, its duties.
| no saw buhb u CnhuBO hthu bahOn pldCo
in her, and yet he was scarcely able to
divine the character of il. He knew
that she had always loved him, but he
had never before had even an approx
mate idea of its depth, its fervor. its
stability.
One charming evening toward the
close of summer they stood alone upon
the veranda. She nestled closer to
him, her head dropping upon his
shoulder.
"Oh, have been so happy all these
months. she said, q low, sweet tremor
running along her words; $50 happy,
Lisle, / would not have thought it
possible. But ] have been wanting to
make a confession to you, Lisle. and
why should not make it now? 1t has
been burden on my soul. If l could
throw that off / would be supremely
ATell it, DEAR" he whispered, look
ing down upon her from his grand
height. II am sure that it will not in
clude plea for forgiveness"
mo, Lisle," she said, though the
calm lines of her month wrought with
suppressed emotion. IL committed no
wrong; / was in no wise to blame, and
yet it might have led to peril had it
been less precipitate."
She spoke with q timid earnestness
that suited her soft, girlish voice. She
waited O few seconds; then said:
"Lisle. do you remember the day you
came home at nine in the morning in
stead of at nine in the evening, as you
had written that you would2"
"Yes, DEAR"
"When you came into the drawing
room you found me crying"
Il remember, Maggie. Don't say
anything about it."
"But I-I-want to-, she stammared.
She was looking directly at him with
the sweet eyes that ever inspired faith,
promised fidelity, pleaded for love.
@You need not n me, Maggie, for /
knQy." he said,
"Yes, dear. You refer to Richard
Brandon's perfidy."
Intense surprise filed her face.
"He didn't tell you?" she gasped.
mo, Maggie" replied Lisle, with
peculiar gravity. "There isn't even
that to be said in his favor. Dear, 1
saw and heard what happened. 1 was
on the veranda, just where we are
standing now. / made no noise, be-
cause wanted to surprise you. The
window was open, you remember. 1t
came to me like a lightning stroke. I
reached for my revolver"
"Oh, Lislel" cried his wife, with q
shudder.
"Then saw you repulse him, heard
your hot words of scorn, noted the in
dienant expression upon your face,
understood that you were pure as
heaven is pure, and as loyal as the just.
But for that would have shot him."
Her eyes grew dim with o sudden
gush of feeling. She glided close to
him again, and chung to him in her ex-
citement.
1T opened my eyes," she heard him
say. Il saw how selfish 1 had been
how neglectful. A rare treasure was
mine and had never properly appre-
ciated it. 1 had been living solely for
myself. The mental confessions i
made brought sense of shame to my
brow and pang of regret to my heart.
Maggie, have been kind to you since
then"
"Much kinder, Lisle," she cried,
trembling in her Joy and standing on
her toes so that her lips could touch
his. "The dearest, best husband that
ever lived. And you saw? And all
this time you knew?"
%Yes, pet. Let it all go. It opened
my eyes and brought Joy to you. We
should both be thankful"
"And, Lisle, we are"