The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-12-19

express train to London passed Stonebury,
| the station three miles distant, about III and
he smiled as he pictured his wifes delight
when he returned 80 soon. A few PAGES down
| the avenue his countenance grew dark and
| gloomy; he stopped, and burying his face in
| his hands groaned aloud: ITO think" he
cried wildly, as turninghe saw the many lights
from the mansion shining brightly through
the trees, TO think that IL has come to this,
my career blasted: and how have / bettered
Marie, nothing is before us but starvation;
but better that than to comply with my
fathers stipulation and be renstated If de-
serted her Never never! Marie. You are
worth double such n sacrifice. and yet how
hard, how very hard, and blinded by grief
Shirley stumbled down the avenue all uncon-
scious of dark figure which, concealed be-
hind clump OF evergrcens, had listened with
widely-diated eyes 10 the words which grief
had wrung from him, On he went, not stop
ping TO glance at the familiar landmarks not
needing the snow which was softly falling,
only thinking of the woman who must suffer
for his sake. All night, as the train whrled
rapidly southwark, his dear Marie filled his
| thoughts. Only once or twice the howilng OF
the wind made him open the window and look
out. The snow was being blown mountains
high and the cold was piercing, so he drew In
| in his head with muttcred prayer for oil who
were out on such wild night When ms
journey over, he reached the quiet Bayswater
| road where he had taken lodgings for his wife,
he was surprised that she did not fly 10 well
come him. and hastily running 10 her room,
he found that not only was IL empty, but had
evidently been untcnantcd the preceding
night In answer to his sharp ring at the
bell his landlady appeared, and told him that
in conformity with Mrs. Greys orders she
gave him letter. "She told me if she re-
turned with YOU sir. it would not be neces-
sary, but as she might not do SO give you
this
Shirley wildly snatched the letter from her,
and rushing into the little sitting room, shut
the door. and drawing n chair TO the table,
sat down and glanced at the fatal letter 1t
was simply addressed to Captain Grey.
He tore it hurricdly open and read 40 fol-
lows:
Ny own Shirley: According to my instruc-
tions, you will receive this from Mrs. John
son. | have left you for ever. Do not
attempt TO seek me out or follow me. l have
committed n great sin, for ! never should
have married You, my poor dear boy; but when
you came To me in Cairo and pleaded for love
-ah! Shirley it was so great II could not
refuse you, and ever since | have felt that
through me your prospects are forever
bhghted, and when you receive this you will
acknowledge it to be so. Go back TO stone
bury To your father and mother, and tell
them you and have parted. If could unite
the knot which binds you 10 me, would do
so. Think what you will of me, believe any
love you bear for me, do not seek for me; it
will be useless, for you will never find me. l
shall watch your career from afar with love
and pride, and who knows but hope may yet
dawn for you and me? All! Shirley, my
husband, heaven keep you. Farewell
MARIE.
Shirley's first action was to place the
search for Marie in the hands of n detective;
he could not obey her and remain passive,
hn fnIf l,tst La stKrifxs of ha SHop
officers face, that it was indeed n hopeless
task for the only information he could supply
was that Marie had left the house almost inn
mediatcly after his own departure for Stone
bury. His next step was To apply for active
service. The days dragged YEARLY on. No
news OF Marie. Orders came to proceed to
Egypt on December 2i, now only week
distant, aud the same post brought letter
from Mr.. Grey promising forgiveness and
begging Shirley to return, for his mother was
very ILL., He replied thus:
My wife, hearing Of your prejudice against
our union, Inns left me leave England De-
cember "a. Till you find for me my wife l
shall not return. SHIRLEY GREY.
Mr. Grey was a self-made man. and round
his only child centered all his ambition. At
nineteen Shirley had joined the Household
Cavalry, and for eleven years led a gay and
careless life showing no intention of bringing
n rich and high born wife TO Stoucbury Hall.
Orders for the Guards TO proceed TO Egypt
were hailed by Captain Grey with delight.
During his FIRST engagement he received IA
dangerous gunshot wound, and was sent to
the hospital at Cairo. The old old story be-
gan for Shirley. The golden hair and bcauti-
iul gray eyes of the stan nurse did greater cx.
ecution than the Arabs bullet. He soon
drew from her the short, sad story OF her life.
Her father had been a naval officer but early
in life she was left an orphan aud wholly un-
provided for. and having no inclination
towards gOverness vocation, she became
hospital nurse at the age of eighteen. Five
years afterwards she, with staff of skilled
nurses. was sent TO Cairo; and thus Marie
Clifford and Shirley Grey met.
Three months passed, and the Guards were
under orders for home Shirley pleaded so
passionatcly that Marie, casting to the winds
all other considerations, became his wife On
their arrival in London, Shirley, who knew
what II blow his marriage would be to his
parents. who had always looked forward to
his making brilliant match. installed Marie
in Mrs. Johnsons lodgings, and started one
morning for his northern home, promisingto
return 10 his wife the following day, and,
with many fond embrace and n few tears
on Maric's side they parted. Travelling all
day Shirley reached Stonebury about four
that afternoon, the stormy interview with
his parents supervened and his return. only
TO discover his wiies flight Gradually it
had dawncd upon Marie that she had done
an injustice in becoming the wife Of Shirley,
and it might he, cstrangng him from his
parents, and after his departure this idea so
gained upon her that she formed n desperate
resolve. She would follow Shirley by a later
train. conceal herself near the house and
watch him leave it. lfhappy and radiant she
could picture his delight at seeing her and in
taking her to his parents; but AZ she feared
il might be. and if she saw Shirley crushed
and broken down. she would go away and
never see him again. leaving him Free and in
the favor of his parents once more. She has
tily penncd the letter we have seen and gave
il to Mrs. johnson, TO be- delivered TO Shirley
ii he returned alone. When, at the end of n
long and drenry journey Marie reached Stone
bury. no one noticed the slight. girlish figure
which. heavily cloakcd. had 10 stop and re-
pcatedly ask the way TO the hall When all
alone " the dark she CROPPED her way up the
gloomy avenue. the shadows of the bare trees
adding 10 the weirdness Of the scene. she al
most wished she had never come. but nervng
herself pushed on till many lights shining
through the trees warned her that she was
near the walls which enclosed all she had TO
love on earth, so she hastily took up her pos
behind n large clump of evergreen.
Her watch told her il was = o'clock. The
moments dragged slowly on. and Marie grew
cold and crumped from her crouching posi-
ton, Needless of the fact that the snow was
falling heavily. She had not long to wait
Tho heavy clang of a closing door and the