Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-09-24

dear. Don't make It too hard Tor me to
be honest with you. I tell you l have
had the conceit knocked out Of me since
I came to this blasted country. I am not
half the man I took myself to be. I've
been weak a. q rag. I have consorted
with the swine until now my money is
gone, and even the swine are beginning
to get tired Of me. / had the luck to
fall in with a lot Of Norwegian bum
mers-ex-students and ex-oficers and
ex-everything else-who flattered me,
borrowed money Of me and threw me
YER when they had squeezed me dry.
They were cultivated people from Chris.
tiania, enormously proud Of their gen.
tility and their learned education and
scornfully superior to America and all
things American. They are the worst
company any man can get into this side
of hell. Well, I've done with them, but
/ am nc more the man I was-if ever I
was anything to brag of, which I often
doubt. Let's not blink the fact that I
was awfully %conceited, and that you,
dear, by your love and admiration made
me O K. It was a dastardly thing I
did when I stole you away from that
clerical ass Falck, who, dull though he
as Luther's catechism, was at least
an honest man."
She had listened in painful surprise
to his self arraignment, being deeply
touched in spite q his whimsical exag-
hu thu Snnkn re IoC,,osn vrvkcol,
trembled audibly through his light dis
There was the old winning way.
the reckless grace which had won her
unguarded heart In the days Of old, and
even in his self abasement there were a
charming animation and fancy which
could only mea genius Instead Of
making her ave the consciousness
that he needed her, that without her all
his brilliant gifts would be lost to him.
self and humanity, only added urgency
to her resolution. Full of divine pity
she sat. tr~emulously eager to defend
him against his own accusations. But
he gave her no chance, being determin-
ed to make a clean breast Of all his de-
~lirquencies while the mood vas upon
him. II she took him then with her eyes
open, it was her own lookout, not his.
But when he accused himself of having
stolen her from Falck her honest pride
rose in revolt, and she could keep silent
no longer.
"No, you did not steal me-" she said
with grave insistence. II am not II
who can be stolen. It was not your
fault that ! loved you. 1t came over me
80 suddenly-the first time we sang to-
gether. I could not tell how or why. 1t
is easy to talk of truth and fidelity. Fa-
Their has told me all that. But there is
something that is higher than the mere
keeping Of q promise. No woman has
any right to sacrifice her life to o prom
Use, especially as she would harm rather
than hnefit the man who would be
willing 20 accept her sacrifice"
Don't, for Gods sake, fancy / am
trying to wriggle out Of an obligation"
cried Olaf, fancying that he detected in
her face rather than her words some
such suspicion. "It is you I want to
save. not myself. If I can make myself
presentable. I will c~heerfully lead you
to the altar this very day and call my
self q very lucky dog in the bargain.
But let me tell you once more-and !
will never allude to the subject again
let me tell you that you will regret TAX
ing me at my word. I may be a worth
less fellow, but I have not sunk so low
as to take advantage Of your beautiful
trust in mt. By Jove, it's enough to
make a man Of me again, seeing You sit
there with your glorious, big, honest
eyes gazing down into my very soul. II
is q phyllis an awful pity, dear-that
you did not bestow that noble soul Of
yours upon a worthier fellow"
He talked on in this strain for 10 o,
Is minutes, rather to acquit his own
conscience than because he expected te
influence her action. But, for all that,
there was q note Of sincerity in his plea,
strangely blended though it was with
an inherent flippancy and vanity.
Remembering Hattie, who was prom
enading on the dilapidated sidewalk,
Hulda rose to take her leave after hav'
ing made an appointment to meet hin
again in the afternoon.
"Ono thing more, dear" he ~ejaculat
ed with a dubious face. 'tIt may not b.
m important matter. but perhaps i
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