Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-07-30

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Olaf came I did not myself know what
an awful degradation was implied in
my promise to marry MI. Falck. 1t
would have made me hard and wicked,
father. 1t would have made me hate all
the world If, having learned what it is
to love. ! had been compelled to waste
in misery the precious years which
might have been given to happiness"
The pastor nodded slowly to himself
q il c~onceding each point that she made,
while he stroked her disheveled hair and
murmured compassionately:
Poor child, poor child"
Mr.. Brnn in the meanwhile, with a
vague sense Of being de trop, had seated
himself in an easy chair and lighted a
cigarette. Though he was relieved of
anxiety he was a trifle annoyed ut the
turn things had taken. He admired this
girl, to be sure; nay, he was in love
with her and might in time have made
up his mind to marry her. But, truth
to toll, he did not quite relish the idea
Of having his hand forced, as it were,
and being irretricvably committed to IN
engagement which, though contemplate
ed, had not been definitely down on his
programme. Yet "a there was no help
for it he would have to stand by his ac-
tions and reap the consequences Of his
folly. He had been in similar situations
before and d~exterously extricated him
seh. But then his heart had been but
little concerned, and the ladies in ques-
ton had been what meteorites are te
planets in comparison with this beauti.
ful valkyrie Of q girl, who seemed as
far above all the pettiness which he had
been wont 20 regard as feminine "a the
eagles flight ia above the flutter of the
sparrowsL He did not doubt that he
loved her as sincerely as he was capable
OF loving anybody. But he still regret.
ted In an unconfessed way the case Of
his conquest and nursed in q mood Of
sentimental discomfort a dim notion
that an artist must have no mistress but
his art, and that If by any unlucky
chance he had acquired another his first
allegiance 70 the muse yet remains un
impaired.
He was aroused from this improbable
reverie by the pastors voice.
MAY / ask you, Mr.. Brun," he was
saying, what your plans are for tho fu
ture?"
well, MI. PASTOR" the enginee,
answered, clearing his throat, 81 con
fess ! have no very definite plans a,
present except to abandon engineering
and take up art as soon as I have reach
ed my majority. which will be in an
other month"
"Then you have. properly speaking,
no ~profeesion?"
"Well-that is to say-as yet no final
professionalism ! mean to abide by.
But / have my art, to which / mean to
devote my life e. 0 o as ! am my own
master.
But that will require q long appren-
ticeship. will IL not?"
well, yes. to be sure; it requires,
properly speaking, all ones life as an
apprenticeship"
The pastor. who was not given to
subtfetiea, accepted this. statement in q
Pickwickiaa sense Though he sympa-
thised with his danghter, he congratu-
lated himself that he had not committed
hiinself to approval Of this quixotic en-
gagement
"As / understand it, then, Mi.
Brun," ho said. rising and seizing the
~candlastink, .'you have betrothed your
salt 70 my daughter without consulting
Asripa.en1n or troubling yourself to OBJ
tain thef a~ppeovall"
"But, father. yoa know, Olaf didn't
know"
"Huah, child. ! wish to know IL Nj.
Brun THINKS his conduct honorable.
\ with your perturbation. Nj. Pastor"