Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-02-22

your conversation" *
Did yonp Oh. Tam sorry" =
"Snrely you need not grulge an old
friend the knowledge Of your happi-
ness.' l said. with some bitterness.
She looked astonishcl, but said
nothing. - .--.:'
MAY I congratulate your' 1 asked.
"Not yet please" was the answer.
"Bn' come. Mr. Graham, we must be
of, or we will have no time for skat-
ing"
We started off. and every minute
her spirits rose. while mino sank
lower 1t seemed hard-hearted to me
that she should parade her happiness
before my very eyes. Alice never no.
ticed how forced my attempts at live
illness were, but laughed and talked as
/ had never heard her laugh and talk
before. 1t was the last time that I
should ever have her NIL to myself, and
never took my eyes off of her face.
drinking in her beauty. her ever
changing expression, and her glorious
eyes, now soft and sympathetic, yet in
an instant trimming over with fun
and laughter-often enough at my ex-
pcnse.
Jim Randolph was at home when we
returned. and would take no refusal
to his invitation to stop and dine with
them. For the last time" I said to
myself, and staid. He had IN engage
ment for the evening, and excused
himself as soon as dinner was over,
leaving us alone. We sat in front of
the drawing-room fire after he had
gone, and q long and awkward pause
ensued.
"A penny for your thoughts. said
Alice at last.
You would notlike them" was the
surlv reply.
"Pcrhaps not, but have a fancy to
hear them.''
''They will only tire you"
''That is for me to decide" she an
swered; and rising from her low seat.
she leaned against the mantcl, with
her face in the shadow, 80 that I could
not see it distinctly, but her voice
sounded strangely excited. ''Pie ase
grant my reques.' she added.
every well," said; las you wish
it. then, I was thinking of you. Alice,
1 have loved you since the first time I
met you-loved you as I never thought
I could love, and until my love for you
has become so bound up in my life that
now: when I must give you up, life
seems but blank to mo. I know
was a fool to think of you. am too
old. What have I to offer on in nm
parison with the wealth, youth and
social standing that have been thrown
at your feet today? Nothing bu my
love-" A sound like a suppressed sob
came from the fireplace. ''You asked
me. Alice and I have told you.
think it would have been wiser not to-
have spoken, for what good can it
do?'
What goodP O., John! Oh, you
dear old goose! could not you see that
I loved you all the timep'
you Lowell me, Aic p Iexcla1med
Yes" she broke in; land yet l
treated you shamefully." She was
kneeling beside me now. with her
head buried on the arm OF my chair.
"Oh, John, am so sorry! Can you
forgive meP l began in fun at first.
because it provoked me to hear of
women as if any of them could be
bought by the highest bidder; and when
l could not resist teasing you about
being papa'S friend; and when I found
that-that l was caring more and
more about you, determined to try
and make you change all those horrid
theories of yours before ever would
let you know it. But l did not know
you loved me so very, very much. John,
and did not wantyou to suffer, real
ly."
My senses seemed to have left me.
I sat there dazed by the sudden hap
piness which filled my heart.
"And what I heard this afternoonp'
I ga<pcd.
You silly boy!' she cried. lifting
her blushing face from tho chair. If
you had only waited minute longer
you would never have doubted me
for an instant Now are you satisfied.
dearp''
|. There were no more awkward
pauses that evening. 1t was late
when rose to take my leave. Alice
helped me on with my overcoat, and l
caught her in my arms as she would
have escaped with hurried good.
night.''
care you sure, my darling, that
you do not regret taking pity on the
old house-dogP" I asked, looking
down at her.
"Oh no. she answered, demurely;
mot as long as he is an old friend of
papa's.' And with a miscellaneous
glance she slipped from my arms. and
ran laughing away.-P Salisbury. ~
Harper's Weekly
The Razor-Back Hog.