The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1895-03-02
AN EARLY CALL.

Oh dis kuceS " ucCldAC In"I AAS "N
be nothing to him without her, but he
told her, simply and earnestly, that
she was very dear to him, that he had
always loved her, and that as his wife
it would be his care to guard her
from the worlds rude butfetirgs. Il
think I could make you happy" he
said. Il am not as clever as some OF
the men you know, but I love YOU"
eyes," she murmured, II know you
love me-you have always been GOOD
to me; you must know-you must see
that 1 appreciate it. 1t touches me to
have you care for mel wish l could
make you understand that I am CRATE
full"
"Grateful! But why should you be?
Could I help loving you? Could l
know you and not care for you? You
are so unlike other women, so free
from envy and petty malice. l have
watched you with your girl friends
[ have seen you do many a kindness
that you thought nobody knew any:
thing about. I think it was your
goodness that charmed me first"
She locked up was he really In
earliest?
Don't praise me-" she said; "compl1-
ments from other men are we'll
enough, but not from you"
lis it a compliment to tell you what
I think? And it seems to me I have
said so little. All! If you could know
what is in my heart-but no doubt"
as she made an impatient movement,
"you have heard all this before-a
twice-told story wearies. What can l
say to win you-you who are so used
to being loved? To another woman
might speak of my wealth, of all
that I could give her, but not to you"
"You think too we'll of me-" she
broke in.
mo, Edith; I understand you, and
that is why I want you all for mine,
to have and to hold, to love and to
cherish; say that you like me a little,
that you will be my wife"
She leaned toward him; the words
that would send him from her and end
forever the friendship that had be-
come a part of her life were trembling
on her lips, when he, guessing her in
t%ention, perhaps, said h%urriedly:
"Some one is coming your german
partner, 1 think. Don't answer me
now; later on will do as we'll"
She breathed freely. 1t was natural
for her to postpone unpleasant things
to put off the evil day as long as pos
sible.
GAS you wish, then; will you call to-
morrow"
eyes, in the morning at H." He
bowed and withdrew just as her next
~ %o4 m ~ l,pry&Nnr nm
"Thc cotillion is about to begin, Miss
Alton" he said, taking M%anning's
chair, "but I think we have time for
a short chat. You don't mind talking
to me for a few minutes, do you?
"Why, no. she answered, for she
fixed the lad. not only for his own sake
but because of his friendship with that
other, whose image was never long
absent from her mind.
"By the way" he said, as if reading
her thoughts. 81 got a letter from
Agnew to-day. I thought you might
care to hear from him; you always
seemed such friends"
eyes," she responded idly. How is
he?"
every we'll; but growing homesick.
| Think of it? He has been away six
weeks"
"No doubt he is enjoying himself"
"Oh, Carl will always get the best
out of life; that's his way, you know"
eyes, I know.
The answer was given so c~arelessly,
| with such apparent Indifference, that
he was about to speak, to tell her the
tidings that his letter contained, and
which so far some instinct made him
| withhold, when his hostess appeared
at the doorway.
"Ccme, you two she called; 1.-THE
others are waiting for you"
"Dear Mrs. Danton," said the girl,
rising. "Mr. Lane and l are such old
friend; that we sometimes forget how
time flies"
"Yo" young di%ssembler," laughed the
older woman; "you know Herbert
Manning was in the conservatory with
you"
A sudden blush stained Edith's
cheek-she hated herself for it, it was
so apt to mislead-but Mrs. Danton
seemed in no way surprised.
"There child don't look frightened"
she said. mo one wishes you happi-
ness more than l."
"But, Mrs. Danton-'
IRE ally, Miss Edith" put in Lane,
who had been a puzzled and uncom-
Portable listener, 81 don't like to hurry
you, but We shall surely be late"
She turned away; after all, what did
it matter; by tomorrow the world
would know the truth, Manning's face
would tell the story Of his rejection,
AMI {. few hours misconstructiOn
could harm no one. But late that
night when she stood in her own
pretty room, she felt vaguely dissatis-
fed with herself; she could not put
the feeling from her.
II have not acted honestly" she
said aloud. 81 should have answered
him; it was not kind to put him of
it may lead him to hope, he may have
misunderstood me-" She was silent a
moment, then went on contritely:
"And l do like him. File is the kindest,
truest friend, but love-" She rose
and crossed the 0
When she came back she carried a
photograph, a mans cold clever face
the face of one who knew the world
and perhaps was not on the best terms
with it.
"But for you.'' she said, gazing into
the unresponsive eyes, Il had loved
that other man; If you had not shown
me so clearly that / was dear to you,
T might still care for him, for he loves
me dearly; but it is too late now-too
late to talk Of what might have been.'
She stopped and laid her lips on the
pictures.
= y = .
The next morning she was idline
over her fire, when the man brought
up a bunch of heartease and a card;
"Mr. Manning's condiments. ma'am