The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-08-21

now, for, of course, as gentleman
and officer | am bound to keep my
word, and my word is given to marry
Alice, hang i'll | wish j had never
been born. She, too, poor girl, may
discover that my love has somewhat
cooled. III it ever was love il never
was the same feeling | have for dear
little Nataia, bless her loving heart. )"
So Tom went TO Nataia and told
her that he was engaged aud another
month would see him married.
Her delicate face whitencd, but con-
trolling herself, she said:
al congratulate you, Mr.. Douglas ="
Then bursting into tears, she turned
away. The sight of her tears was too
much for Tom. Embracing her ten
derly, he said: al love but you, Ma
Italia, darling. Oh, that | had met
you iirstl Ny foudness for Alice was
but n neeting thing, and my love for
you will last forever.
Pressing warm kisses on her lips he
held her close.
''Leaye me, Tom. 1t is right for
you to keep your word, but you should
have told me of your engagement be-
fore. We had best part now Good
by"
"But can't come to see you, Ma
talia, as usual?"
"Why, certainly not, Mr.. Douglas.
1t would only be painful, for we can
never from this time forward be any
thing but the most formal of friends. y
Tom was touched by the simple
dignity of the young Russian girl,
whose quiet life had been spent by
the scashore under the shadow of the
mountains, far from the noise of city
or town. SO he bowed to her will.
Their parting was heart breaking
one to both.
"Natnlin, | can't bear TO leave you.
1 must have you. dearest.
"rhere, go now This is only fool
ish. "
"Well. then, let me kiss you for the
last time, darling" pleaded Tom.
Natalia put up her little tear
stained face, and Tom silently kissed
her and went away.
That month passed only too quick
ly for poor Tom, who looked with
dread toward the coming of the
steamer. He studiously avoided Ma
talia, denying himself the regular
afternoon walk to the Indian River,
which is the event OF the day to all
the white people at Sitka. He kept
close to his rooms when not on board
ship, cursing the mistake OF his life,
which was soon to make an unwilling
bridegroom of him.
To Nntalia, whose soft brown eyes
were red with weeping, life seemed a
dreary blank now that the daily visits
OF Tom had ceased. There appeared
in her mental horizon nothing for
which to live. She wondered how she
had existed before he came to Sitka.
But then she had been busy with her
lessons. and now, in the idea of her
old fashioned father, her simple
education was complete, and ii was
time for her to mary one of the Rus
sian lads who sought her hand.
The next Steamer day" Tom Doug
las was seen rushing madly to Ma
talia's home. The neighbors, who, OF
course, bad noted his long absence,
we're greatly surprised
"Natalial Natalia!' he cried. as
soon as she came into the quaint draw
ing room to receive him. "Ive come
to-asls you to be my wife. Dearest,
say yes at once. "
why, Tom, are you crazy? What
has become of Alice?"
"Well, by George, Natalia, she is
married Just think of it-married
And | am the happest man on earth.
A pardoned convict's feelings of relief
are not to be compared to mine. You
see, soon after she left Washington
she met an old sweetheart whom she
had cast off to marry Mr.. Deering,
whose position and prospects seemed
better. In the mean time this fellow
had made fortune, aud as he was on
his way to Alaska for pleasure TRIP
they decided to make it also u wedding
trip and break the news to me in per
son. Rather awkward, you nigh,
think, but congratulated them with
all my heart and thanked my stars for
freedom. Come, little girl, put oil
your hat and I'll take you down to tn,