The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-03-14

know There was a climax, at which I
unwittingly assisted.
One night I dropped in at the
Hastings, and when the man said
Miss Hasting was in the drawing
room, l entered without ceremony,
as an old friend might, only to find
an empty room. Hearing q murmur
OF voices in the library beyond, 1
made my way toward it. Mary and
John Torrance were standing near
the fire, lie leaning an arm on the
mnntel, and looking ut her with un.
mistakable triumph, while she, lost
in thought, gazed q little sadly into
the fire. As / stood with my hand
on the portiers. Torrance flushed and
handsome advanced q step nearer to
her, and called her name
"Mnry!' he said, gently, but with
confidence in his power.
She lifted her head slowly, and al
most unwillingly, as If compelled by
the sound of his voice, and moved
slightly toward him. l saw him
draw her yet nearer with his arm
around her, until her head rested on
his breast, and he bent to look upon
her fair face,
Idon'tknow how l got out of the
house. but remember assuring
myself over and over again that /
never had been in love with her, and
never had chancei if had been.
"Sour grapes, calculated Hunting.
ton, softly.
II felt bound,' resumed Barton,
Ito tell her of my unlucky caves.
dropping. Next morning I went
around and began rather lamely by
saying, had called the evening be-
fore, and, not finding her in the
drawing room, was about to enter
the library. when l saw herself and
Terrence engaged in conversation.
There was little enough of CONVEX
sation, but that was a delicate way
of putting it. and l looked at her
meaningly. Now what do YOU think
she said in answer to my look? ION,
wise man, don't you know flirta-
ton when you see one?"
\ Irritation. Great guns. This was
too, much. I was Mortified. II
thought l did know yours when see
them, Mary" I said, "but as Tor
rance was en- She interrupted me
with u smothered exclamation and
one of her rare bushes.
Doubtless you do know them,
Fred" she said, land you were right
in thinking this was not to I've num-
bered with them. 1 suppose l may
as we'll tell you that we, that is, that
Mr.. Torrance, mean
"Never mind,"I said, 81 must be
going, and you are quite explicit"
l rose and, feeling rather upset at the
confirmation of my fears, was MAX
ing my way out, when she held out
her hands with some woman's in.
stinct that might be wounded.
Goodbye. Fred; wish me joy,
won't you?" she snid.
Certainly, my dear girl certainly;
many happy returns" and having
covered myself with glory by this
last brilliant remark, l left.
"Well, Ideclare," said Huntington,
cts just like the lovely poem.
"a little thing is love,
That cometh from above
And lighteth like dove
On some,
But some it never hits
Except to give them Hts
And'scatter all their wits.
Oh, hum!'
Il thought you were asleep" says
Barton, laughing ruefully ut this
poetic application.
ION the contrary, my friend, you
underate your talents as n narrator.
wait thegrand finale with undated
interest"
well, it came rather quietly. The
fact OF the engagement never was
much known. Torrance hung around
Mary as much rs he could in public
and was excessively devoted in pri-
vate. But unfortunately he was
called to Mexico on business shortly
after, but still they wrote to each
other. He was detained IL long time,
and the spring, summer, and autumn
passed without seeing him here again.
began to suspect something was
wrong, but even then l knew the cor
respondence continued.
"Then the winter came bringing it's
round of gaieties, and Mary seemed
to go out Us much and be us pop
ular as ever. No one seemed to re-
member anything very particular
about the Torrance episode, and
then Kenyon came out here from
Washington.
He was wild about Mary from the
first, and it wits not very long before
the engagement was announced.
Now, there's what can't under
stand, Kenyon had not SO much
more money than Torrance as to
tempt any girl to prefer him, and be-
side Mary was not mercenary. To
my mind there had been some mis-
understanding, He may have been
jealous and tired her; she was very
young and Kenyon adored her open
ly. Well, the cards came ont. had
felt uneasy about John oil along,
not that ever heard of him, but l
was so sure he would try to see her
again, that I was rot surprised to
see him walk in the very morning of
the wedding.
"You have come
q see ler married, lie interrupt
ed, "only that. l wish to see her
vow herself to another man. Can
you manage it,"
Yes" l said, but don't you
think
81 think nothing" he said, saw
agely; and then, in n few moments:
''Wllere is it to be?"
"Church." was my only reply; and
then We lapsed into silence.
Once he sprang to his feet as if
moved by sudden determination, but
in n moment seated himself again,
and spoke OF other matters-MeXico,
his business and it's success.
We went early to the church. and
as l was an usher, easily seated him
within the ribbons. There were so
many other fellows there who were
known suitors of AInry Hastings, that
Torrance's presence was otespecinl-
ly commented upon. He did not turn
his head to see the bride as she came
in on her fathers arm, hut I saw he
listened with painful interest to the
service, and he was deathly white Us
tho roun0ponc no mn svo,,, <1,o ,lko,