Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-03-18
ther "But didn't know ANYTHING

ing TuiOuSA VIC b l SCAAhOu uses OuS ia
you know you said anyone could see
them, sir. They didn't know I was
there, or see me coming; and although
there wasn't anything particular in
their actions, could tell that they
understood each other. was glad of
it at first, for thought she would have
an easier time; and she was so refined
snd well educated I knew she would
make a good wife for anyone-anyone,
sir.
"But in the fall, when She went back
to New York and used to come up for
Sundays, knew something was wrong.
She used to look so white and miser-
able, it made my heart ache for her.
The story soon got about that, although
he admired Mabel and was in love with
her, he was poor, and had told her
that marriage with poor girl would
ruin his career. If it had been me,
that would have made me hate him;
but women aren't like men, and though
she tried to get over it, guess she
couldn't help loving him in spite OF
everything.
"All the time she had to keep on
working, for Mrs. Dean was feeble and
fussy; and it took a deal of money for
her, let alone the house. The night
before Christmas-last Christmas
went over to the station to bring Mabel
home. I'd sort of got in the way Of it,
sir; and when she got off the train she
gave me an awful shock. Her face had
been getting whittier and winter all the
fall. but that night it was sort OF gray
it was CHASTITY; and her eyes looked
like two big live Goals. She tried to
appear bright and natural at first; but
1 saw what an effort she made to talk,
so I kept pretty quiet myself, and I
could see it was a relief to her. When
we stopped at the gate hated to let
her go into the house without word;
and so, just to pass the compliments
Of the season and hearten her up bit,
( said:
"'Good night, and a merry Christmas,
Miss Mabel
"My God! sir, she turned round and
looked toward me minute; and then
she began to laugh. I can hear that
laugh now-I shall never forget it; and
then she says:
"'Merry Christmas? Merry Christ
mas? Merry Christmas, did you say?
Ha! ha! ha!' And she went off laugh
ing again, louder than ever. She was
in Mysteries, sir.
eve got her into the house, and
got the doctor there, and that was the
beginning of the end. She just grew
weaker and weaker all this spring and
summer, and dropped away and died.
It wasn't any particular disease, sir;
only that life was too hard for her.
TOO fine organism the doctor called it.
eve found a paper in her bag that
night that said in it that Mr.. Kehew
was engaged to be married.
II guess that finished her off. Poor
girl! Well, she hasn't got to suffer any
more Here we are, sir"
"Hawkins," said his young master,
warmly, 81 want you to fixthings so Mrs.
Dean will stay therein that house,
as long as she lives-will you? I'd rath-
err she didn't know did it. You'd bet
ter go there and board, and take two or
three rooms or something, and pay
enough, so she'll be perfectly comfort
able. You can fix it. Lord! to think OF
that sutfering-and I did not know.
IF anything else happens, you are
to let me know instantly. They haven't
wanted for anything, have they? Is
there anything I can send now"
''Oh, no, sir, took good care of
that" answered the agent, huskily.
"But there is one thing. sir, if I may
be so bold. Miss Mabel loved flowers.
I don't think I ever saw anybody quite
so fond of 'em in my life; and she liked
lilacs better than any other kind.
know in the spring she would always
get all the house would hold-especially
white ones-and she always carried
sprig or wore one tucked in her dress.
She said they were the sweetest things
in the world. Now, to-day l was in the
greenh ouses to see that they were all
right. and William said you'd ordered
him to force some white ones. He
didn't have very good luck, sir; but
there's quite lot, and"
''Come along" interrupted the young
man, eagerly; and. with few hurried
WOIuS pushing w lIe SlOup u 9SA'
ants gathered to greet him, he has
tened to the gardener.
In few moments they stood before
the beautiful punches of blossoms, and
with nervous fingers the master
plucked spray after spray of the deli
cate white flower. Hawkins and the
gardener went off in search Of bas-
kets. and he was quite alone for few
minutes.
GLOW could he-how could he? The
miserable cad!" was his inward exc1a-
nation. as he thought of the rich wild
ow Kehew had married. Not that he
had ever fancied the artist especially
in love with her-and then he stopped
abruptly, his brows knitting with
complex train of thought.
To be sure no girl would die of love
for him; but was he not thinking of
marrying without love? or at least the
kind of love he had vaguely dreamed
of and idealized?