The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-08-27
FACE TO FACE AT LAST.
by EVA RICHMOND.

It was the ball of the season, and ]
was the beauty and the belle. Many a
one envied me, l suppose, as 1 swept
down the long rooms flushed, triumphant,
smiling. elegantly attired, and with my
titled lover by my side.
He was my lover, openly enough, though
we were not engaged; that was my fault
entirely.
You will grant me an interview to-
morrow" pleaded Edward, softly.
knew we'll VIII { that meant, he would
be tritied with no longer. l bowed col /
assent. Then Mrs. Gray came up to me
and said: i have charming surprise for
you, my dear. Who do you suppose is
coming here to-nig ht-coming, too, e1-
pressly to see you? You remember your
old schoolmate, Viola Wilton? She
married abro nj recently, and has come
home for her wedding tour. They ar
rived only yesterday l could never have
persuaded her to be present tonight but
for her longing TO zee YOU.
Nv heart beat wildly. Viola coming
home, and SO anxious to see me! What
might it mean? Pretty Viola, about
whom Frank Bascome and l had quar-
relied because of my jealous fancy. |
realized now how idle that jealousy had
been. What if Viola was the bearer of
some message from Frank Some pre-
cious olive-branch of peace and hope!
ooh, If il were but a word, to tell me that
in spite of pride, his heart had been ms
constant as my own, how would well
come it, Hope sprang high in nv breast
-Sr Edward NAV be disappointed to-
morrow, after all, thought; and then
inquired as calmly as l could:
who did Viola marry?"
An old acquaintance of your own,
dear, which makes 1T so much more
agreeable. Pretty Viola is Mrs. Bascome
now-as pretty as ever, ana much more
stylish. 1t seems TO me that you and
Frank Bascome were good friends two
years ago. 1t will be pleasant for you
al TO meet.
And then some one else attracted her
attention. and she ran merrily away
don't know how long may have sat
there, quite still without realizing any
-thiug but the anguish of the wound she
had so innocently given my heart. The
first thing that aroused me TO a sense of
the present was Sir Edwards voice.
He was tending over me with an air of
Iover-like solIcitnde. 1t would have an
eered me at another time, but it was well
come now.
Il fear you are not we'll, he said, ., on
look so pale.
arose and took his arm. l did it
pointedly, with a certain air of appro-
priation that all might see.
L I'm not we'll" / said. IF you will
take me quietly to my carriage, and then
return and make excuses to Mrs.
Gray" paused, then added, mean
inglv. looking strai ght INTO his eyes: i
shall be sufficiently recovered to receive
you when you ca tomorrow, l dare
say"
A look of triumphant pleasure flashed
into his face.
Dearest Christine!" he murmured.
He had never presumed to call me by
NV name before. / shuddered with q
feeling of repulsion for a moment. then
controlled myself and leaned upon hie
arm. Many eyes followed us under
standingly rs we made our way slowly
through tue crowd. At the carriage door
he kissed my hand That was seen also.
did not care. What did it matter? He
was not to be disappointed tomorrow,
after all.
As bowed good night from the win
dow another carriage drove up to the door,
and saw it's occupants descend. A gen.
tleman came first; tall, with a face that
seemed familiar TO me. Then sprang out
into his very arms little dainty hgure
clad in bridal white Violai-pretty Vic.
la Prettier, indeed. than ever, and spark.
ling with happiness and Joy. Another
figure followed her-Frank Bascome-the
man loved
Oh, heavens the sight OF him, after
those two long we rs. How il drove ell
other thought, all other memory from m,
mind, save only that OF how loved him