The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1894-09-01
MY STORY.

We were alone, and poor-mfserab,1
p~oor-lilsie and I. Orphan sisters We
We're, living in a poor room in a tumble
down Cid ~i:ousa, away off in the third
STORY Elsie va an invalid, but she
managed 20 help us along-and "l,eer
the %exchecquer from collapsing alto.
gether," as she laughingly expressed it,
ny oolng such work on the typewriter
as she could get to do. I was a mn=;c
eeac'ler. l speak in the past tense.
1or heaven be praised for lifting me oot
OF Tie mlre of poverty and placing me
upon my feet. I had a halt. dox,,o
youthful pupils, to whom 1 taught the
scales II easy exercises; my ability
anu perlectlon In the art did not ad-
mil or much more. We had managed 70
exc out u ~precaurious living for months:
ana somehow, in spite Of our poverty,
we were not unhappy.
IL was While l was teaching one
morning that l first met Van Van
Alstyne. He was a r%ed-facud, pomp-
~ous-iooklng man, the uncle of one of
my pupils, WHO presented him to me
with eager haste, anu later Informed
me that "tncl" Van had begged l,er
'or The i~ntrolGc1iun." After Ant :.
was never free very long fruuA Van
van :Alstyne's s%t'cir;;. and / grew to
hate 1t as 1 would any evil thing. lie
was Il Widower and clilJics<. and said
TO be enormously itch. Snilie poor
music telchers would have boon ;lat-
tered by his attentions, hut to ME they
e obnoxious in the extreme. But
the first time J hintcd to him that it
did not please me to have him tncoun
teling mo at street corners and unex-
pected places for the purpose OF walk
ing home with me. he gave INC Z str lngc
look, and limited something about The
loss of my pupil, his niece. So 1
warned him in time, and at last SUBJ
mitted to his society. I knew that I
had a pretty face, Mr.. Van Alstyre took
every opportunity to remind me of it,
and 10 show Il sort of infatuation for
me, which at last began to alarm me
greatly.
One day, while walking along at my
side Gs I fastened Monochrome to my
wretched shelter and the little sister
who had been quite i'll for several days
MIR. Van Alstyne brought matters to
a crisis. He was holding his umbrella
over my head to protect me from the
falling rain, and in a hasty way, scarce
~ looking he in the eyes, he asked me
to become his wife.
The thought startled me. 1t came
upon me like Ii blow. 1t was horrible
to even think Of such a thing! / trem-
bled with indignation.
"Oh, no-no, indeedw I faltcred. II
could never think of such a thing, Mr..
Van Alstyne."
DO you care for any n else?'
he demanded.
1 shook my head. Why, I had scarce
" a man acquaintance, and so I in
formed him.
II have learned to love you," he said,
bluntly, land although you are only a
poor music teacher, and l might marry
almost any woman in the city, that I
might take a fancy to, for the pretty
dears are Ill fond Of money, and 1 have
plenty of it. still I only want you.
1 ask you to marry ME openly and
honorably, Louise"!
you dare not ask me to marry you
otherwise" I retorted. Because I am
poor is no reason why I should be sub
jected to an insult.
His red face grew redder than V
he gnawed his blonda mustache furi-
Ously.
"Well. what is your answerT he
asked. at length.
II do not love YOU. Mr.. Van Alstyue."
I faltered, 'Of course, it is out Of the
question to marry a a I do not
love-"
"Rut-you love no one else" he per-
sisted-"anl will learn to care for me
in time. Be my wife, Louise, and 1 will
wait for love to come to YOU"
Just then l lifted my head, and my
eyes CHANGED to meet the gaze of a pair
of handsome dark eyes. A young man
was passing; a young nan whom 1
had met many times upon my way
home, and the expression Of his eyes,
bent upon my face, seemed full of In
terest, and a sort of warning. He
looked as though he knew and disap-
proved of my companion.
I noticed that Van Alstyne nodded
slightly to the gentleman.
"Who is that young man?' I asked,
curiously. II meet him so often. he
seems almost like IN acquaintance"
My companion frowned.
"Only n medical student" he re-
turned, shortly. "He IL connected with
one of the city hospitals. His namf Is
Winston-Arthur. Winston. But really,
Louise, this is objectionable. I ask: the
most serious question I ever asked any
woman before, and you. answer my
questions about Arthur Winston"
81 beg your pardon. MI. Van Ais
Tyne / returned, humbly, for If I lost
mis- interest altogether, I trembled to
think of the prompt paying pupils
whom he might influence to leave me-.
For even then I comprehanded the sr-
preme seltislness of the mans nature.
His face cleared.
."You will give me your answer
soon." he asked, eagerly. Here we
are Mt your door. Let me come to-
hight LouiseT
I shuddered. Upon that n point I
| lad always been as adamant. l had
never permitted Mr.. Van Alstyn to call
upon me. l never would, unless-I
felt a chill of aversion run over me.
"Oh, no; not tonight" l cried. "Elsie
lis not well; and, besides, I never re-
'.eive gentlemen callers, Mr.. Van AL
styne."
"Then. when may I look for your In
swerY he persisted.
II have answered you, sir. I do not
love you, and, of course"
"Stop! Reflect a little. / will leave
you alone a week-a whole week.
During that time ] shall expect you to
make mp your mind. To-day is Thurs
day-next Thursday you will give me
your answer"
Every WELL" I returned but feeling
quite certain what the answe would
be.
Seven days. Seven whole days Of
rnsnitn and relief from his nrnsnncn