The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-03-01

some better man may win you; to love
you better is not within his power.
Nor must you think that blame you
that you shrank from sharing the new
life upon which / enter Flowers can
not live without sunlight. Even as /
spoke knew your answer; / only
wanted to be sure that / made no
mistake in interpreting the best course
for your happiness"
And then, with a few more passion
ate, loving words of farewell, the let
ter closed.
Two years passed, and the little
world which had known Chester Thor
ley SO well knew him no more. He
had entirely disappeared. 1t was as
though the sea had opened and swal-
lowed him up.
Marion Willoughby was Marion
Willoughby still. If she suffered she
madeno sign; but those who had seen
the one sparkling stone, which had
been the pledge of her engagement to
Chester Thorley, noticed that she
wore it still, and others, yet more mar
row watchers, observed that always,
when she entered crowded room, she
would take a hasty glance around as
though expectingto see some one not
there.
She was yet but twenty-five, a belle
and a beauty still. The third winter
OF his absence she went west to spend
several weeks with her aunt.
II cannot spare you," her father
had said when the invitation came.
But she, going close to him, and lay
ing her head for a moment on his
breast, said:
II think, papa, it would be best"
They were simple words, but he in
terpreted Alright. The old wound
would not cease it's bleeding. She
wanted to GO amid new scenes, SO he
only kissed her and bade her to re-
member that the old father awaited
her return.
'"You have not been through the
steel works." some one said to her one
day. cit is really a most interesting
sight. Will you join a party, if we
make up one to visit them, Miss Will
oughby?"
with pleasure, she answered,
lightly.
And her aunt, charmed with the sue
cess of her beautiful niece, smiled at
Clay Clayton's numerous devices to
ensnare Marion's society
He was a great parti of the place.
She had heard something of some
early disappointment in Marion's life
1t would be splendid triumph thus
to obliterate it, and already she felt
quite sure that the fat lay in the girls
own hands.
The morning appointed for the ex-
petition dawned beautiful and bright.
They seemed, indeed, like drones, in
truding upon some busy hive of work
ers, as they entered the great building
and looked about them. Department
after department they visited, watch
ing with interest the delicate machin-
cry and its wonderful working.
Marion's cheeks flushed with in
terest, and Clay Clayton, noting,
thought he had never seen her look so
beautiful
To-day he determined he must
speak, when suddenly he heard little
cry, and, glancing up saw her standing
quite apart from the group, her eyes
ablaze, her lips quivering.
At little distance from her, adjust
ing some piece of machinery, was
men i'll a working blouse. Her cry al
SO attracted him and he looked up.
Their eyes met. His face grew death
ly pale, but he gave no other sign of
recognition. She went straight to-
ward him; oblivious of all, with hand
outstretched.
"Chesterr" she said, in voice scarce
louder than whisper, cat last!"
He bowed low in response, and took
no notice of her hand, but the old
dauntless pride was in the uplifted
head and fearless glance.
"Did you know that / was here?"
she questioned.
NO." he replied, II am no longer
nyour world"
"You will come to see me?'
"I cannot"
Here his voice broke a little.
"Mr. Clayton" she said, 'slet me
present my friend, Mr.. Thorley.''
Spite of the innate breeding of the
man. some of the instructive surprise
at hearing steel-worker addressed by
Miss Willoughby as friend, made
itself apparent in the manner he yet
strove to conceal.
Then the party passed on. He won
dered, however, why Marion fingered
a moment in the Office to address the
superintendent some questions as they
came out into the air. He had meant,
too, to ask her on the way home the
question, which all the day and for
many days, had been trembling on his
lips, but there was a new expression
in her eyes and mouth, which instant
" told him that this was not the
time to plead his cause.
Had that fellow inside, who bowed
SO like a gentleman, been otherwise
than working man he might have
suspected him as in some way respon-
sible. It was quite singular enough
as it was that Miss Willoughby should
have addressed him as friend.
Doubtless some man who had seen
better days, and for whom she felt
womanly pity.
"Can see Mr.. Thorley?"
The mistress of the humble little cot
tage in one of Chicago's suburbs look
ed up amazed at the beautiful young
lady who asked the question.
"Indeed, suppose YOU may. He's
gone up to his room, where he spends
all his evenings, and not a bit ofsupper
tonight has he touched. Shall Icall him
DOWN."
mo; let me go up to him."
cts the first room to the right
of the stair, miss. He is the only
lodger have, and you are his first Wis
itor."
But the girl needed not the words.
A strange vision she surely was as she
stood an instant outside his door,
clad in costly velvet and rich furs;
then she softly turned the handle and
entered.
He did not hear her. He had thrown
himself upon his sofa and buried
his head in its cushions. He was so still,
50 motionless, she thought he must be
sleeping.
She swiftly crossed the room, and
laying her hand on his shoulder, called
his name.