The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-05-27
AND DUTY.

10 say gOOO-Oye! buL perhaps o nave /
seen too much of me lately"-some-
what bitterly, for he was disappointed
at her ~silence-"and you will be. glad Of
the change, Nell?"
She made no reply; she only raised
her head and looked at him, but that
look was sufficient.
"Nell, Nell, don't look like that" he
cried, rising hastily. "Oh, my darling!'
as she buried her face in her hands,
deaf to his passionate words. Il did
not mean to hurt you, Nell; I only
said that because I care so much, dear
because I cannot bear to say good |
bye to you! Won't you speak to me,
Nell-not n word? Won't you give
me leave to come back and fetch you,
my darling? 1t will make the going
away much easier for me, and I shall
have something to work for and hope
for then, Nell"
No answer was forthcoming save a
half-stifled sob.
He drew her INTERESTINGLY toward
him, and looked earnestly into the love-
~ fearful face; and then for the first
time in his life Charlie Graham pressed
his lips to hers in a long, lingering
kiss.
Any explanation to Aunt Fanny was
quite unnecessary; Nells tell-tale face
disclosed her secret. No English sum-
mer sun could have made her eyes
shine like stars, nor have brought so
| deep a glow to her cheeks. She cried
a little over the girl, as is the custom
| with women of all ages on similar &C.
| casions.
"Weu Nell" she said, Il Am glad
| Master Charlie has had the prudence
to say that he will wait till he gets his
captaincy. 1 thought he would be for
dragging you out to India ut once
and I could not have allowed it, Nell;
your poor father would not have done
so either. Two years is a long time,
you say, to wait? My dear, you won't
be quite grown up even then-not nine
teen, Nell. Why, you are a mere baby
now! A nice pair you would makc!
You would be quite a responsibility to
Charlie, not a help, II you married now,
little one."
Much against his will, Charlie was
obliged to keep a long-standing engage
ment, and dine out on that mOmentous
evening. 1t was a stiff party, but he
could not escape before the usual time,
and, although he made his way by
Rose Villa in returning to his quarters,
it was too late to 60 in. He looked
up lovingly at the curtained windows,
and stood still a moment ut the gate;
but no shadow crossed the blind. All
was silent and strangely white, lit up
by the moons pale rays, ave where
the clear black shadows Of the trees
were cast on the wall and path. He
was passing on, when a figure, which
he recognized with a start of surprise,
emerged from the little lane opposite
to the house.
"Why, Mark, old, fellow he cried,
"what brings you out at this unearth-
ly hour? l thought you always went
to bed before dark. Wherefore this
restless dissipation, pale scholar?'
The other laughed good-temperedly.
He was q tall man some five years
Graham's senior, with a thin and in
telligent but stern-looking face, which
few would have called strictly hand
some perhaps; and yet it was something
more, something better. Between him
and Graham there existed q fast friend
ship. Charlie had almost a feeling of
reverent admiration for the grave re-
served man, for he knew the generous
heart and large sympathies which lay
beneath that cold exterior; and Mark
loved 1.-The boy" as he called him, for
his own sake, for the brilliant lovable
qualities which. he appreciated without
envying. .e
They reached Charles quarters pref
ty quickly, neither Of them being much
inclined for conversation that evening.
Wont you come in?' the young man
asked of Mark.
Not tonight" answered the other.
II say, old fellow" he continued hur-
riedly, II have been there, and I know
all about it, am so glau: and he
wrung his friends hand heartily. II
always thought it was in your hands
to make or mar that chfld's life. Ora
ham; and you have made her very
happy. I have known her since she was
a little thing; and you are the only man
whom I have ever thought worthy Of
her. Good night, dear old felow!'-
and he strobe away without waiting
for an answer.
Charlie made no attempt to follow.
II hope I am fit to take care Of her,"
he said fervently; ''but Mark always
had too good an opinion of me. l must
try to be worthy Of her, my dainty lit
tie Nell!'
He looked the very picture of a TO-
mantle lover as he stood there In h
pale moonlight, an expression of earn
est purpose on his handsome, manly
face which both softened and ennObled
it.
Once out of sight. Of the barracks
Mark. stood still.
~'There-Ihave done it." he muttered;
land we need not mention it again!
How happy the boy looked-and no
wonder! Fortune has logged his foot
steps right through his life. He has
never had to run after her, toll for her,
work his very heart out for her like
Others" he went on bitterly. AT
school he always kept his head above
water without grinding like me; In the
army it has been just the same. The
colonel took him by the hand; and Nell
sweet Nell-was kind to him. And
noW-why, that child worshfps the
ground on which he treads! She was
ike one transported this evening, with
her great shining eyes; and he-honest,
rfght-thinking as he is-he takes it all
as q matter OF course. 1t Is his lot;
1t comes as naturally to him as his daily
food. He has never hungered and
thirsted like some; he has never felt
ready to give his soul to buy 90 much
good will. How easily he has won her,
I too! "A few short months! Is 1t fair?
Is it Just? Must life with one be con-
tinual struggle and storm, and all calm
sailing with another? : never imagined
It would come to this; I knew that,
unknown to herself, she loved him,
but I believed that with him It was
only q brotherly attachment. For her