The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1889-10-26

WdIu LOT once, ana tulS Is now nave
obeyed him. What am to do?" And
thus her good and bad angels strovc to-
gether, each fighting desperately for this
poor woman's soul. With which will
God allow the victory to rest?
Alice Patterson, having just returned
from an excursion with some friends,
was seated comfortably in her sitting
room, reading Tauchnitz, and seeming
ly taking life easily. She glanced at the
clock now and then, for she was awaiting
the chief event Of the day-the English
mail.
Her patience was not tried long-a
waiter presently appeared with three let
ters. and bearing an apology from the
manager, that one of the letters for
madonoiselle had been laid aside instead
of being delivered the day before Alice
opened this one first and as she peruscd
its contents she puclsercd up her smooth
forehead into rather an ugly frown.
''How very annoying!' she murnurcl,
and read it through carefully again: then
hearing footsteps advancing towards the
door, she hastily put it in her pocket.
and resumed her reading.
Miss Rogers entered the room; she
looked excited, and was trembling Wis
IDLY. She walked up to Alice's chair and
confronted her.
Miss Patterson" she began, II am
sorry if 1t is any Inconvenience to you,
but l must so home Immediately. can
not explain, but circumstances forbid me
to stay any longer aboard"
"Go hon,e!" repeated Alice with un-
affected astonishment "And may ask
if am to remain alone here, or go off at
once to suit your convenience? Is any
body ill?'
"No one is ILL; do not ask mo any more;
but l must GO" repeated Anna, picking
up Bradshaw and rapidly turning over
the leaves.
Suppose 1 say you cannot co." re-
marked the other coldly. "You have
entered into an agreement with my
mother to be certain time abroad with
me as chaperon," with a faint snccr on
the last word. "For no reason whatever,
at least for no reason that you can ex.
plain, you wish suddenly to return"
"You have plenty of friends here,
urged Miss Rogers. Lady Mackenzie
was only asking you the other day to 60
with her to Geneva; cannot you accept
her invitations"
"No, cannot" returned Alice with
anger II have my reasons for wishing
to remain at Lucerne."
Very we'll; since it is your command
Miss Patterson, of course ] must stay,
but do not forget wished to go"
Alice laid down her book, and quietly
studied Miss Rogers agitated countc-
nance.
II see what it is, Anna" she said care
lesslv; "ycu are afraid of transferring
the affections of my fiance from their
they we're having an exceptionally good
time Two out of The trio certainly
thought SO whether they said il or hot,
and these two were walking together ono
hot afternoon towards the cathedral.
"To think that have only known you
a fortnight' Mr.. Vanbruton was saying.
~ feel as if wo had been friends for
months, and yet tho days fly by"
"Then you have not been borcd:' OBJ
served his companion. "Yct we have
spent very idle life. | should have
fancied that a young man like you would
have begun to find time dragging some
what"
"How could ~ he answered ear
nesty. yesterday you allowed me to
row you on the lake, the day before we
went for drive, the day before that we
lunchcd at Weggis', you and l alone; the
day before wei
"Stop. stop" cried Anna, laughing.
II begin to feel quite ashamed of having
inflicted my company upon you SO much.
1t was too bad of Alice going off on cx-
cursions with her friends and leaving us
behind"
81 feel very grateful towards her." he
said quietly, 81 shall always think of
Lucernc as ono of the most delightful
spots on earth. Have you enjoyed TINS
fortnight, Miss Rogers, wonder:'
She turned her face away SO as to hide
the rich color which had stolen to her
pale checks. "Lucerne will always live
in my memory rs the one pleasant cx-
9eriencc in my lifc," she answered softly.
"You ialk very bitterly sometimes, -
he said. ~ often wonder if you really
mean it,"
liam afraid do" Anna sadly replied.
Would you care to hear my history, Mr..
Vanbruton? 1t is not particularly inter-
esting or cheerful one, and am very
commonplace heroine; but still it will
show you that I have little excuse to
grulnblc."
Indeed, should like to hear It," he
assented eagerly. "Let us rest here on
this bench" ...
They sat down, and Anna proceeded
with her story, gazing dreamily at the
lake as she told it, and never suffering
her eyes to meet his.
I'VE were never very well off," she
began. "But remember time when
we lived happily enough in small suL-
urban villa at Norwood My mother
died when l was quite young; she had
been q great singer, and her death made
a good deal Of difference to us, as it
was her earnings which had enabled us
to live fairly comfortably. My father
wrote for the papers and some periodi-
calls, and I know nov must hase been n
weak sort of man, but how loved himl
l was his constant companion, and would
sit up with him night after night, quietly
reading while he wrote; he used to say
that it inspired him to have me in the
room with him, SO there l used to sit,
when other girls of my age were in bed
and asleep hours before. When l was
16 received nay first blow. Ny father
married again. His second wife was 4
widow with small property, but oh! a
fearful temper. think he married her,
hoping she would retrieve our fallen
fortunes, instead Of which she dragged
US down deeper and more hope
lessly tLto the mire than we had
ever been before. Eoor old dad, llo
saw his mistake too late, and | think
he fretted for our old happy days. Be-
fore long his health began to fail, and a
cold settling on his lungs killed him, and
| was Left desolate-so very desolate!
My only brother was ranching in Amer
lea, but had bare pit,ance to live