The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1897-08-19

ana shadowlike. They only began to
sake form when knew Alice Temple.
have called her pretty, but think, it
was the intelligence expressed in her
eyes that one noticed most, or perhaps
the swift smile that came to her lips
when she spoke. -
waited silently. Presently johnson
went on with his story:
"We were engaged. There was moth
ing to wait for. / could afford to
marry and Alice had little money,
not much, and was glad of it. Ishould
not have wished to be one of those at
whom the world points as man who,
by marrying, has done we'll for him
self
My dear friend" exclaimed, ''no
one could ever imagine you hunting
after money. am afraid you have un-
dervalued it all your life and will keep
up the habit to the end"
johnson smiled.
Perhaps there is something in what
you say, perhaps have been an in
cautious, oversanguine fellow, but then
have always realized that if money
opens all doors in this world it certain
~ won't open us the door of heaven.
However, am drifting away from
what meant to tell you-what that
dead face of girl seems to force me to
speak of tonight. Alice and were, as
have said, engaged, the wedding day
fixed. We were visiting at the country
house of one of her relatives that glori-
GUS month of August. One day went
up to London, returning late in the
evening. In all the years that have
passed have never forgotten that even.
ing. I can see now in memory the
moonlight falling on the trees, its glare
for at the full of the moon it is
cold, hard glare which falls on every
thing, or SO it seems to neon the
white gravel of the avenue leading to
the house. Even as the old butler
opened the door I saw there was some
thing the matter-a little crowd of
panic stricken faces, and then some one
caught my arm and tried to pull me
away-tried, but failed, for I fought
and struggled to shake off the grasp. I
knew at once something had happened
to Alice Temple.
He paused SO long that at last asked
what came next. He started at the
sound of my voice.
81 forgot was telling you about it,"
he said. cit seemed as though were
going over it all by myself. often do,
though it happened SO long ago. What
was it? Oh, 'one of those boating acct
Il 20, oc cAV xx,ba fhox, low
down daily paper, complaining of the
scarcity of news. Alice had been boat
ing. There was an upset; no one hurt
of all the party except-well, they had
just brought her in. and as fought
myself free of my well meaning friend
it was on the white, still face and long,
drenched hair of my dead love that my
eyes rested. have never forgotten that
sight, never forgotten her in all the
years of days and nights which have
gone by since then. Strange have never
talked of it? But, then, we never do
talk of what we feel most deeply. Yet
tonight that poor girl dare say she
was not a very good girl, but heaven Is
more merciful than man and takes ac-
count of all the despair and misery
which go. before self destructibn-re-
minded me of Alice, who was to have
been my wife, of the happiness want
ed, yet was refused, and it has un-
manned me for bit. By and by shall
feel better. Perhaps, who knows, in
some future existence our disappoint-
ments will all be made up to US. At
any rate that is one Of my pet beliefs. .
"You think that in some future you
and Alice Temple will be together?" I
asked rather skeptically.
81 don't put things into form and
shape. simply believe that I, and all
who have failed in this world, shall
have happiness Now let us talk no
more of it, for here comes dinner"
As dear old Johnson bowed his head
to say grace, for he reyerently observed
the practices taught him in his child
hood, his voice trembled, and when he
looked up again and raised the cover of
the little soup tureen for the prelimi-
nary duties of hospitality saw, and pre-
tended not to see, that there were tears
shining in hia ovoS -Eychanoo