Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-12-23


lege reputation and sundry college
poems, essays and such like stuff. He
soon found his level, in subordinate
position in large publishing estab-
lishment.
He began low and won his way, by
his increasing adaptability, to a high
position. But it was long and ardu-
Gus struggle on small means and with
the most exhausting labor. The mar
rage day seemed to recede. until he
began to look upon it as almost hope
less.
BY this time his sphere was so far
removed from that of Lisette that she
no longer influenced him. Seth Allen
had the entree to the very highest cir
cles of the metropolis-the elite of in
tclllgence and culture. Here he met
ladies whose conversation and social
prestige quite eclipsed the simpler
gifts OF poor Lisette. Alas for her gen.
tie heart, forsaken and despised!
With Lisette the one fixed idea of
years had been her marriage with her
early lover. She had borne much neg
lect with really excuses; she loved i'm
slngly and purely, and had never
doubted. And so, when he wrote that
cold, selfish letter, which was evident
~ intended to be so candid and so RAJ
tlonal in all its details, in which he
acknowledged that he no longer loved
her as he once did, but was ready to
fulfill his engagement, because his
honor was pledged, although the shock
OF it we'll nigh killed her, she was dis
enchanted. There was a night Of tears
ana desperate heart-break; morn
ing that brought wiser thoughts with
much womanly pride, that dictated the
words that alone he deserved, you
are free" and helped her to collect,
with untrembling hands, every me-
mento of his dead love, to be returned
with that fateful missive.
A great shadow fell on her life, but
few observed it. And after very long
time it passed away, leaving only
tender, reproachful memory of the
youth she had loved, and working
entire forgetfulness of the man who
had injured her.
Years passed away, score of them,
after this time of parting Seth Allen
had long been very famous man.
Men spoke his name with a sort of
awe, SO high was he lifted up above
the masses of his kind. Then, at the
very acme Of his fame, disease smote
him fearfully. Not in that wasting,
burning form in which death soon
comes and welcomely to close the
scene of suffering but in that insidious
sapping of the springs of life, that loss
of mental and bodily vigor that is too
apt to follow life of intense and in
cessant labor, such as Seth's had been.
So smitten, and beyond the mendoza
ments of the pharmacopia, Seth was
forced to yield to the mandates of his
physicians, and seek rest and absolute
quiet.
He was homeless and without ties.
It was but natural that he should find
his thoughts even turning toward the
woman he had so long forgotten, the
woman who he once hoped would have
created home for him, and bound
all his life and energies in the sweet
influence OF her love.
He had nothing to do, he was able
to do nothing, he was permitted to do
nothing, at least in his favorite pur-
suits. And that was the reason, prob
ably, why he bethought himself of a
quiet journey to the long-deserted
scenes of his collegiate labors and
successes.
If he did think of Lisette at all,
and do not doubt that he did, it was
as the same sweet, patient, simple girl
who had given him all her heart and
waited for him in good faith so long.
He was famous man now and had