Omaha daily bee., 1889-02-24

and hope that | would visit them OF the
day named.
The following Saturday was the odd
one on which there was no session of
the school, and on the morning OF that
dav | secured information as to the To-
cation of the Douglas farm, and started
for it ON foot. Ii wasa wretChed country
over which | passed. Tho roads were
buried in snow. the fences were oiraCed,
great drifts barred my way, and Il saw
age north wind steadily beat against
me-. The sky was lcadcn and sullcn. the
o Of the gale through the ~leatlcss
branches was filled with suggestions
ominous OF evil.
struggling through some woods, |
reached the further side and saw before
me a vast stretch of rolling land, near
the center of which was a farm house
with its barns and outbuildiugs. 1t was
a wooden house painted white, OF two
stories. and was by far the most prCtcn-
tiuus residence OF the hill region, In
the white level of the snowy plain, with
nothing 10 interrupt the monotouy. it
vas cold and ghostlikc.
In response to my knock tho door
opened. and Miriam herself appeared.
Her dark face flushed and then palcd as
she saw me She extended both her
hands. seized mine and shook them
with hcartiuCss.
"Oh. it is YOU, Come in, am very
glad TO see YOU
AS entered / placed my arm about
her shoulder and drew her near me.
She resisted little, and then swavcd
toward me with Il sweet, yielding grace.
touched hCrfcrchcad with alinht kiss
and then we went in.
The interior of the house afforded
evidences of p%rospcritv. There were a
piano. some pictures of the better class,
and every other evidences of cultivation
and wealth. As had learned Farmer
Douglas was the posscssor of great
wealth, much of which had como to him
by inheritance. He was Il man of about
half n century. slender, slightly stooD-
inr. thin locks. with Il carcworn face.
At the table there appcarcd Mr..
DOUGLAS. Miriam and a Young brother.
rs Mrs. DOUGLAS iIly" asked.
MY mother is" responded Miriam.
with hesitation and marked confusion.
MY mother is"
.'pardon me: did not know. am
very nwk ward. Don't saw any more"
a dead silence followed. and n par-
ccntiblc feeling of restraint and cmbnr-
rassment fell on the family. After the
sumner we all went into the parlor.
where. after awhile. Miriam and myself
were left alone.
recall ,hnt evening with profound
rerret. We we're both hcsitating.
and timid mt the outset.
Miriam had changed but little.
She was charming as when | had known
her ot th, semlnarv: if there were any
Inference if was that the habitual sad
ness of hcr face and the sombcr mel
ncholv of hrr splcndid eyes had grown
more Intense It could not be a lack of
for she was the incarnation of
y1por and perfection of form.
However soon ceased to notice This
o,nlitv hniup absorbed NV her convcr-
Iotinn her ~Schnnpeful. Winning face.
and the tenderness which pcrmcatcd
her tones. She was exquisite that even
ns we cbnttcd in low voices and
unutternblc thinrs into cach
others eyes. A half dozen times was
m he noint of ~nslinr her to marry me.
for | felt that she was willing to throw
herself into nv arms. WHY did not
,nnok, cannot tell. if mus, have been
The result of n decree of fate.
II was late when Iretircd. The wind
was tearing by, straininr the timbers
md Joints OF the house and twisting the
Tree tops outside the windows Of my
There were a crCaking of doors.