Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-11-14

was about to pass from this world
to another.
"Quite right, too, DEAR" he said,
when she had finished. IL didn't
know about the entail business, but
/ do know we couldn't live on love
and fresh air. OF course, I'm aw-
fully fond of you, and it seems
funny to think of you as ga wildly, but
l'homme propose, ct Dieu dispose;
and, since it had to be done, | know
you did it with good grace, Lena?"
She looked at him with disgust.
Was this the return for her sacri-
flee. She thought of John Graham,
and how differently he would have
spoken under the same circumstan-
ces.
maurice" she said; "you are
speaking of my husband"
"All right, my dear, / know
whom / am speaking of. Don't
trouble yourself, old girl; you'll get
on right enough for few hours
You don't want me to congratulate
you, do youP"
at was for you, Maurice"
II know that, old girl, and shall
make a mental note of it, but still,
if it could have been averted, I'd
sooner have married Miss Rivers
than Mrs. Graham"
"Most extraordinary, and | must
congratulate you, Mr.. Graham
You have got over the crisis, and
have, | trust, many years before
you."
"John Graham stared at the speak
er in stupefied amazement.
"What are you saying, DIR. Burt
on? Do you know your words con-
sign one whom | love better than
life, to eternal misery?"
The doctor understood the cir
cumstances without their being ex-
planned to him. He grasped the
sick mans hand and prescott warm
ly.
John Graham, make her love
YOU" he said, solemnly; land save
her and yourself from lifelong
misery"
And John Graham did try. Lena
knew how deeply, how devotedly
he loved her, but she remained true
to Maurice. When the latter heard
of Graham's probable recovery, his
face turned to an ashen hue.
III must never see you again,
Maurice" she said, gently.
mot until the old man shutfles
off this mortal coil" he said, brutal
ly.
She looked at him in alarm. His
character was shown to her in those
few words.
81 shall never speak to you again.
she exclaimed.
A bitter curse burst from his lips.
In his own wild fashion he loved
this stately, queenly beauty. And
now she was lost to him.
No, not quite lost, for there was
a longing love glance in her eyes
that told him that in spite of her
proud honor she loved him. An
other saw that look, and that other
was her husband. 1t was the first
time he had left his room, and as she
turned round she saw him standing
before her in his dressing-gown and
slippers.
I'll have heard all, darling" he
said, quietly; "and as soon as | am
strong enough, ! shall leave the
house."
She looked at him steadily, the
tears yelling up in her eyes; then
she bowed her head, and buried her
face in her hands. She was indeed
a widowed bride-marrled to one
man, and loving another. For a
girl Of her sensitive temperament
It was terrible. True that John
Graham had made no difference
since their marriage in his treatment
of her, yet she saw the passion in
his eyes, and dreaded the time when
he should recover his strength, and
perhaps assert his marital rights
So now, when he proposed to leave
her she almost felt glad, for in
spite of her being married to Graham
her heart belonged to Maurice.
| " n "
1t was a bright June morning,
with a gentle breeze soughing
through the pines on the hillside
when Maurice came to Lena.
Softly his arms stole around her
waist.
Darling" he murmured; "you
have gotrid of that old cudmudgeon,
and l am happy"
maurice, what can you mean?"
He laughed, sarcastically.
Surely you know-you must
know l love you. Darling, throw
your prejudices aside, and be mine.
Her eyes flashed Indignantly.
Maurice Burnand, leave me
| How can YOU speak thus to me?