The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-05-04
XII.

phen and found him busy preparing
for his concert, for the success of
which he showed such anxiety that /
expressed my surprise. Take me to
some retired place, and l will tell you
why" he said.
We walked out little way into the
country, and sat down under q clump
of aspens in sight of the sea. You re-
member that when my father died he
left me only title encountered with
heavy debt, to repay which / have
been obliged to mortgage my future
career as artist. How many times I
have gone dinnerless that l might
have gloves to wear upon the stage,
how many times have 7 felt almost
crushed by trials that would count for
little now, if could feel they were at
an endw
"And are they not nearly so?
"No; had assumed too heavy bur-
den, that payment of a hundred thousand
francs, with only the aid of my violin
However, If Lame had helped me, it
would have been done before now"
'How?"
"Why, I loved her long ago, or
thought I did, and asked her to be my
wife, and by her wonderful economy
aid me in my task Alice was then only
a child, and Lame said her first duty
| was to her sister. When insisted she
steadily refused, for she did not love
! me, so I began my artistic career
alone, and though made much money,
| my habits of luxurious living We're
strong upon me and drew largely from
| my income. Last spring all was paid
but twenty-five thousand francs. I
10 T bod
| turned from school, and to see her was
| to love her. One evening when we
| three were alone, I said, acting upon a
sudden impulse, Liane, it is written in
| the book of fate that one of you is to
| be the Viscountess of Gregory Will
you give me AliceY Alice showed her
surprise by her heightened color, but
when Lame, taking her face between
her hands, looked steadily into her eys-
and asked if she loved me, the kiss
! Alice gave her and the Quick-falling
| tears made answer. My romance, you
see, has been but simple one"
During this story I watched Stephen
| closely, and never had seen nobler
| face, or one more expressive of deep
and tender love. But how deceived he
was in regard to Lame!
What did Lame say?' I inquired.
"She was greatly moved, but gave
her ready consent, saying that Alice's
happiness was hers Also She stipu-
lated, however, that we should not
marry until the debt was paid. 1 then
went to Germany, but the war-cloud
hung too dark over the country to
make my stay much Of a success, so
| that in four weeks time / had accu-
mulated only ten thousand francs. I
then went to Baden, and one evening
| tried a game Of rouge ct noir, and
| lost"
Are you a gambler?'
mot at all. 1t was only my eager
| ness to hasten my wedding day which
! tempted me. But that is not all. I
| gave my note of three months time to
the last creditor just before leaving
| Paris, so you can fancy my consterna-
| ton when I saw the pitiless rake of
| the croupier draw up my ALL
What did you do then?"
II returned to Paris, where I found
my note had been protested weeks be-
fore. did not dare see my creditor,
but I sent Marasca, the Italian who
acts as my agent and accompanist, and
| he obtained a promise to wait--for a
money consideration, of course. But
! am very like sDamocles, and do not
dare to tell Lame of my trouble. What
| AZ you adviser"
:'Eopceal the truth. Gambling is a
| vice which frigitens all honest souls"
q. shall never try it again, But what
shall say to Lame"
'"Tell her your trip has not been so
successful as you hoped, and that the
marriage cannot take place till winter:
Than go to England and Belgium, and
If by that time you have not secured
| ths amount you need, will arrange
for the Fest. VIII that do?'
YES" he said, grasping my hand;
"God only knows hoy fQpndly I love
! Alice" -