The free press., 1895-09-05

flower that he knew bloomed for him.
| Though Tom had not made love to
Natalia-he was too honorable for
that-they had been together con-
stantly, and each knew distinctively
what was in the others heart.
II believe I'll go and tell Natalia
all, \" Tom continued to muse, "right
now, for, of course, as gentleman
and officer am bound to keep my
word, and my word is given to marry
Alice, hang it! wish I had never
been born. She, too, poor girl, may
discover that my love has somewhat
cooled. If it ever was love it never
was the same feeling 1 have for dear
little Natalia, bless her loving heart.
SO Tom went to Natalia and told
her that he was engaged and another
month would see him married.
Her delicate face whitened, but con-
trolling herself, she said
81 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: 81 love but you, Ma
talia, darling. Oh, that 1 had met
you first! My fondness for Alice was
but feeting thing, and my love for
you will last forever.
Pressing warm kisses on her lips he
held her close.
''Leave 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. 1"
Tom was touched by the simple
dignity of the young Russian girl,
whose quiet life had been spent by
the seashore 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.
'Natalia, 1 can't bear to leave you.
must have you, dearest. y
"There, 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 Natalia, whose soft brown eyes
were red with weeping, life seemed
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 it 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,
were greatly surprised.
"Natalia! Natalia" he cried, as
soon as she came into the quaint draw
ing room to receive him. "lve come
to ask 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 F.!
And am the happiest 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,