The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1889-12-21
RECOMPENSED:

he stretched himself once or twice in in
dolent enjoyment of his luxurious comfort,
before plunging into the bath which stood
ready for him. When his careful toilet was
ended. he strolled l~eisurely down to the
breakfast-room, and made a feint of relish
ing his solitary repast. There was a shadow
on his face which deepened when, at length,
he found himself alone in his library. The
silver tinkle of merry sleigh-bells came to
him from time to time, and broke rudely in
upon his gloomy thoughts,
"Ah. we'll" he exclaimed, at last, with a
yawn that ended in a sigh, "it is Christmas,
l suppose-Christmas to all the world. But
to me"-"
} He did not finish the sentence, but bowed
his head upon his hands.
He might have been forty years of age.
The dark brown of his hair was not without
a %sprinkling of silver threads. His brow wss
high and pale and smooth as polished marble.
Deep, thoughtful eyes, and a proud, firm
mouth, completed a face not handsome, but
still not easily forgotten.
But Hugh Corcoran loved not the haunts
OF men. Few knew his secret and none
ventured sympathy, for his reputation among
MS fellows was that of a morose and cynical
man.
hoPS AO udu cdIuou tu0 uOuOUIul
celebrity he had attained. Yet there were
those who remembered Hugh Cor
coran as the gayest of the gay cir
Gle in which he shone. All had pro-
phesied for him a brilliant future. His
giant intellect had seemed to hold as in a wise
the hearts of the many who were pleased to
follow in his train. His wit dazzled, his gen.
erosity fascinated, his strong will constrained.
But all that was long since passed. He had
deserted the world, and it had repaid the
slight, first by criticising, and finally by for
getting him.. He had needed neither its con-
domination nor its failure to remember. To
the former he was wholly Indifferent; for the
latter he was very grateful.
AS the Christmas day On which our story
opens wore on, Hugh Corcoran's thoughts
were irresistibly drawn to the past. He was
again the busy student at the university.
Talent and youth and brightest expectations
were his. In the struggle for knowledge he
was victorious. Radiant success crowned his
labor. Prizes were won, the laurel was on his
brow. came his brilliant society ca
reer, at the zenith of which he met Ethel Erns-
cliff, and became her betrothed husband.
And then a dark mist rose before his eyes.
He pressed his HAND hard against his fore
head.
Let me think" he murmured, in a voice
that shook from strong emotion, cit was my
wedding day. 1t is ten years past-ten years
ago this morning. I heard my marriage
bells ring joyfully forth, and knew the hour
had at last come. l remember that the
church was very beautiful, and that when I
entered it l was conscious of a deep, holy joy.
The priest was there, and a throng of eager
spectators, but she-she did not come. We
waited a long time. Then some one touched
me on the arm, and. looking up, I saw my
old friend, Philip Douglas at my side. We
had been chums at college.
Come away, Hugh he said, in a voice
that struck terror to my soul. For Gods
sake, come awayp
II remember nothing more for many weeks.
It seems l had been very i'll. But by-and-by
/ learned the ghastly truth; that Ethel, my
Ethel, my beautiful bride that should nave
been, was lost to me forever-wedded to one
of whom it fired my blood to think, SO poor,
SO mean, 80 base was he. And yet for him
she had broken her troth to me, and left me
on our marriage morn with no farewell. O
Ethel. my beloved, was there no better wav
truer, kinder, gentler way9 But whatl
do / reproach yous Not even in thought. I
am not maddened by the memory of that ILL.,
omened Christmas morning. Since then the
world has been a thing for me to hate. One
bond only remains betwixt life and mel
fain would know, my Ethel, something Of
your fate. No word, no rumor, have l heard
in all these years as to your lie or fortune.
Yet still can not sly adieu to hope. Some
time, somewhere, I must find you. You may
be near me how-in this city, possibly, pining,
dying while / Great God, the thought is
He rushed at once into the street. Crowds
of merry-:nakers haStenei to and fro, and
the atmosphere of mirth and gladness every
where present, proclaime a gala day indeed.
All this Jared painfully upon his present
mood. He sought the most deserted quarters
OF the city, and picked his way for hours
through alleys and by-paths where merry
making is never known, and where even
sheds scarcely a ray of bright
ness on the darkened lives of its inhabitants.
His heart sank as he proceeded.
us it amid such surroundings as these arm
come to search for you, my beautiful Ethelq'
he unused. bitterly. mo, no, I will not
believe it. A mere chance has led me
here, and now I am wearied out and must
Turning hastily. to retrace his steps.
lao CoWo Suuuonly upOu b scene on
which he gazed with mingled
wonder and compassion. A little in advance
of him, a child knelt in the cold snow, search.
ing, apparently, for something she had lost.
The cutting wind played wildly with her tat
tered garments. and blew the bright, golden
curls rudely about her uncovered head. AS
Hugh came up, he perceived hat the child
was weeping bitterly.
"Why, do you cry, my little girl~ he
asked kindly. "Have you lost something's"
The child looked up quickly, dashing
away her tears as she did so.
ut was not much" she said, rising and
blushing deeply as she met the strangers
gaze. at was only five cents, but it
was all I had with which to buy bread, and I
dropped it in the snow. 1t was very care
Her hands were blue with cod. She tried
to hide them amid the rags which were her
sole protection. Mr.. Corcoran noted the
and shivered.
ut is Christmas day." he began presently,
his purse with a hani not quite
"You will not refuse a little gift in