Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-03-11
(g.Y T. a. CONAN DOYLE

s'on' oHe cdHIlOl UuI De nattered.'
Quite so. tell him that it is the most
practical compliment which man can
| pay to a woman. He is little shy, but
when he sets himself to do it he will do
1t. He Is very much in love with her, I
assure you. These little lively people al
| ways do attract the slow and heavy
ones, which is natures device for the
| neutralizing of bores. But they are all
going in. I think if you will allow me
| that I will just take the opportunity
to tell him that, so far as you know,
there is no positive obstacle in the
way"
LAS far as know" Clara repeated,
as the widow moved away to where the
players were grouped round the net, or
sauntering slowly towards the house.
She rose to follow her, but her head was
In Whirl with new thoughts, and she
sat down again. Which would be best for
Ida. Harold or Charles? She thought it
over with as much solicitude as moth
er who plans for her only child. Harold
mad seemed to her to be in many ways
the noblest and the best young man
Whom she had known. If ever she was to
love man it would be such a man as
that But she must not think of herself.
She had reason to believe that both
these men loved her sister. Which would
be the best for her? But perhaps the
matter was already decided. She could
not forget the scrap of conversation
which she had heard the night before,
nor the secret which her sister had re-
fused to confide to her. If Ida would
not tell her, there was but one person
who could. She raised her eyes. and
there was Harold Denver standing be-
fore her.
you were lost in your thoughts.
pleasant ones"
ooh, was planning" said she, rising.
''It seems rather a waste Of time as a
rule, for things have way of working
themselves out just as you least ex-
pect."
"What were you planning, them"
1.-THE future"
"WhOse?"
ooh, my own and Ida's"
"And was included in your joint fu-
tures?'
II hope all our friends were included
Don't go in said he, as she began
to move slowly towards the house. Il
wanted to have a word. Let us stroll up
and down the lawn. Perhaps you are
cold. IF YOU are l could bring you out
shawl"
"Oh, no. I am not cold.'
Il was speaking 20 your sister Ida
last night" She noticed that there was
slight culver in his voice, and, glanc-
ing up at his dark, clear-cut face, she
hot no
that it was settled, and that he had
come to ask her for her sisters hand.
"She is charming girl" said he, aft
er pause.
Indeed she isl cried Clara warmly.
'And no one who has not lived with
her and known her intimately can tell
how charming and good she is. She is
like sunbeam in the house."
mo one who was not good could be
so absolutely happy as she seems to be.
Heavens last gift, 1 think, is a mind
so pure and spirit SO high that it is
liable even to see what is impure and
evil in the world around us. For as
long as we can see it, how can we be
truly happy?"
"She has deeper side, also. She does
not turn it to the world, and it is not
natural that she should, for she is very
young. But she thinks, and has asrira-
lions Of her own"
You cannot admire her more than
I do. Indeed, Miss Walker, I only ask
to be brought into nearer relationship
with her, and to feel that there is
permanent bond between u.s.
1t had come at last. For moment
her heart was numbed within her, and
then flood of sisterly love carried all
before it. Down with the dark thought
which would still try to raise its UNI
hallowed head! She turned to Harold
with sparkling eyes and words Of pleas
ure upon her lips.
IT should wish to be near and dear to
both of you," said he, as he took her
hand. II should wish Ida to be my SIS
ter and you my wife,
She said nothing. She only stood
at him with parted lips and
great, dark, questioning eyes. The lawn
had vanished away, the sloping gard
ems, the brick villas, the darkening sky
with half pale moon beginning to show
over the chimney tops. All was gone
and she was only conscious of a dark
earnest, pleading face, and Of voice,
far away, disconnected from herself,
the voice OF man telling a woman how
he loved her. He was unhappy, said the
voice, his life was void; he had come
to the parting Of the ways, here lay hap
piness and honor, and all that was high |
and noble: there lay the soul-killing
round, the lonely life, the base pursuit |
Of money, the sordid. selfish aims. He |
needed but the hand of the woman that |
he loved to lead him into the better |
path. And how he loved her his life |
would show. He loved her for her
sweetness. for her womanliness. for |
1er strength. He had need of her. Would |
,he come to him? And then of a sud-
len as she listened it came home to her |
hat the man was Harold Denver. and !
hat she was the woman, and that all |
Gods work was very beautiful-the
,reen sward beneath her feet. the rust
ing leaves. the long orange slashes in
he western sky. She spoke; she scarce
,new what the broken words were.
,ut she saw the light Of JOY shine out !
~, his fncn and her hand was still in