The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-10-18

RA'After tonight he will forget me-"
she murmured, sadly. "And II
shall remember him-foreverl
Then, as though a sudden truth
had burst upon her, she threw down
the shade, to throw herself, with a
quick, impetuous motion, prone upon
her couch, and weep the first heart
tears she had eyer shed.
III is all over-Miss Viner has re-
fused him.N This was the general ver-
Jerome Fleetwen bid his friends adieu,
and withdrew to town on plea of sud-
den business.
The news soon reached Dorothy.
Il have not refused him." she said
aloud; mot even that satisfaction is
mine, she said to herself-''nor ever
will be! 1t was only the might have
been.'
He was not a man, she knew full
well, to plunge desperately into fir
tation, or associate his name at once
with another woman's, or to retire la
ter or rise earlier or in any way dis
turb the even tenor of his way. The
difference between them was only
this-his heart was healing, perhaps
already healed, but he would bear its
scar to the grave hers was fostering
sore, which hurt the more she had let
the physician who might work its cure
pass her by.
The summer wanes to close. Au-
tumn had touched the mountain and
hillside into glorious beauty of brown
and red. Then came winters tagging
footsteps, mercifully bearing the ex-
quisite white shroud of snow to cover
up all signs of devastation and decay.
The season in the gay world was at
its height Occasionally murmurs
among the dcbutautes for its honors
arose at the fact that, though Miss vi
ner's fifth winter, her former success
paled in its most effulgent light. She
and Lieut.. FleetweQ constantly met.
She almost wished he might avoid
her, but at their first chance encount-
er he had approached with outstretch-
ed hand.
'How charming you are looking,
Miss Viner," he had said. And all in
vain she had watched for tremor i'll
his tone, or a shadow of embarrass-
ment in his manner.
'Only a week between him and
shipwrecll," she thought, bitterly.
"Oh, he has sailed so far from the ia
tai rock that doubtless he would now
laugh at its supposed danges-and /
was weak enough to think he stood
upon the precipice's brink"
The new year had come, and one
evening Dorothy stood alone in her
fathers drawing room, looking out at
the fast gathering darkness, when
through its somber shade she saw fig.
ure pass and mount the steps. ~
visitor" she uttered, wcarily; then
waited the inevitable announcement
she knew must follow But spite of
her every effort, she started when the
servant, throwing open the door, call
ed out Lieut.. FlcetwellW Oh, how
glad she was that the rooms were not
yet lighted as she went forward to re-
ceive him!
MAY welcome you III darkness2"
"As you WILL" he answered. II
have but few moments to stay. l
am come to bid you good-by and to
ask you to bid me bon voyage"
"Bon voyage You arc going
Gbroad9"
Eyes. sail on Thursday. 1 hest
tated about calling, but my desire to
see you led me to believe you would
pardon my audacity in surprising my
going question of enough moment
to make it worthy special call"
my friends are always welcome.
I did not suppose it necessary you
should hear that repeated now"
'Nor is it. 1t was only q morbid
fancy Oh my part which induces me
to question it. I shall come back, l
trust. with my mind clearer. At least
l shall be some years older. When l
return presume shall look for Miss
Dorothy Viner in vain, until l find
her in some matron, equally charm
ing. cannot imagine her quite staid
and portly."
So he could speak thus lightly of
her becoming the wife of another
man? And he was going away; she
might never again hear his voice nor
see his face. 1t was too cruell He and
fate were too strong for her. The tears
gathered in her black eyes, but the
darkness hid them.
He ratified on--she had no need to
speak. Then he rose to go.
"Good-by, Miss Vinerl'-he took
her hand in both his-"Good-by! God
bless your
Was it her fancy that just at the
last his voice trembleda
He crossed the room; he had gained
the door. Another instant he would
be gone; another instant it might be
too late.
'Jeromel" she said softly.
Two strides, it seemed, brought him
back to her side.
You called me, for what2 To make
my going harder2"
''Oh, is it hard In mercy tell me,
for my own heart is breakingl"
"Your heart is breaking2 Dorothy,
Dorothy what does this meant" But
the sound of her sobs was his only an
| swer.
Dorothy" he continued, "can it
be that l have judged you wronglya
Look up, my darlingl Isit your wish
that should stay2"
Then she found her voice. Il
thought you did not love me enough, !"
she murmured. but stay, or if you
must go take me with you"
| 81 will, :" he answered her simply as