Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-06-11
An Idyl of the Welsh Mountains.

or deed Of mine has led you to make
this declaration. | assure you that
never had the least suspicion that
your affection for me was other than
that of friend. am so accustomed
to think of you as such, that ! never
once suspected that you cared for me.
The speaker was a young lady Of
seventeen summers, the daughter Of
a wealthy merchant of the city. But
the scene of this dialogue was charm.
ing villa at Kensington. Very lovely
she was as she stood leaning against
the window, looking up half frighten-
ed into the face of the gentleman
whom she was addressing. Her dress
Of pale blue, with fall of snowy lace
the neck and wrists, set off her del.
icate beauty, pure as the opening rose
bud and her golden ringlets sur
rounded with kind of halo the face
upturned to his.
you are young yet, Katie" he
said. II would not ask you to give
up freedom yet, only give me hope
and | will wait for you as long as you
desire. May | wait and hope OIL,
Katie ?"
II know | am young, Mr.. Norton,
but not too young to decide owe
you the truth" she said, the rich
blood crimsoning her white forehead
land, as a tried friend, know / can
trust you to keep my secret am
already engaged"
"Then l am too late" And the
frame Of the handsome young man
trembled as he buried his face in his
hands. Looking up some moments
after, he said, gently caressing the
golden head bowed SO penitently {:
MAY you be very happy, Katie. /
once hoped to call you my own; now
all that is past. ! can not say give
you up willingly, for it takes the sun
shine out of my life: but if he is
worthy of you l give you up, and may
the good Father bring you all the
happiness ! covet for you, my little
friend; :" and, turning quickly he left
the room.
Just my luck exactly !" sobbed
Katie after he had left her alone.
ITO think that he loved me, and when
would give almost anything in the
world to please him, since he has been
SO kind, and the very thing he wants
must refuse him I"
"Crying' Why, Katie, what is
the matter? This is a new freak of
yours. Come, tell me what the
trouble is" And the gentleman seat
ed himself beside her, and turned to
find the reason of her tears, but re-
ceived no answer to his query.
II met Norton on the stairs" he
continued, "and he looked as if he
had lost his last and only friend.
Has he any connection with these
tears, Katie ?"
ooh, Henry, that is just it," aud
she told him all her trouble, adding,
81 am SO sorry, for he has been SO
good to papa and myself"
"And so you refused hint Well,
you need not trouble yourself about
him; he will live through it. never
did like the fellow" he continued, his
brow growing dark as some unpleas-
ant memory crossed his mind "and l
am glad some one on whom / have a
claim can make him feel like an
ordinary mortal"
"You shall not talk so Of Mr.. Nor.
ton, Henry Grey" and the blue eyes
flashed threateningly. "He has been
one of our very best friends during
papa's illness, and | will not listen to
such language; I'm friend OF Mr..
Norton and after all his proofs Of
friendship to me and mine, | am not
to hear any one talk of him in that
style, much less you of all others, Mr..
Grey
The stock broker, seemingly much
amused, said Really. Katie. you
are actually growing handsome.
What treasure was lost to the stage
when you promised to be Mrs. Grey |!
But we will not quarrel about him.
| have no doubt he is a nice fellow,
only every one does not know it, and
he"
Henry Grey = threatened Katie.
beg pardon, but | had forgotten.
BY the way, Katie, the Wandering
Minstrels sing at Lady Chatterton's
this evening, and | want to hear them"
THANK you, Henry but / do not
wish to GO" And she leaned her
cheek against her hand, and looked
down steadily at the carpet. seeming
to forget his presence.
"But ! have set my heart upon
going" he answered impatiently, "and
] do not wish to go alone, just for
within of yours. Come, don't 90 into
mourning over that luckless knight of
yours, and deprive me and yourself
Of an evenings entertainment"