The true northerner., 1899-08-16
AND ALL ENDED WELL.

~ am so sorry this has happened"
she said with forced calmness. II like
you much, and thought we were al
ways TO be friends, but you san see
that ii is impossible for me to marry.
1t is my duty to take care of papa and
my brothers and try to take the place
of my poor mother"
II felt from the first" said Harry
sorrowfully, that 1t was hopeless 10
think of you. You are too good for
me-"
Don't say that, please, for l Ike
you much more than any one | know.
If | ever did lo-marry, it would be
just such man as you-good, clever.
and generous. But you see that it is
impossible. don't youY"
He looked into her appealing eyes,
but could not answer. Nothing Is so
sublimely tragic as a beautiful girl
sacrificing herself to a mistaken sense
of duty, and she appeared so sublime
to him that he couldn't help thinking
her in the right.
In affairs of the heart a man. es-
pecially young man, needs disin-
terested woman TO guide, TO encourage,
or to check him, as the case may re-
quire Now, Harry Watson was so
| fortunate as to have a charming widow
as his contidant and friend. She was
several years his senior, and he was
once much in love with her-or thought
he was. She had poohoohed his pro-
posal and told him that, although she
thought him a fine, clever young fel-
low, she had no desire to take a boy
to raise, and that he mustn't talk non
sense. OF course, he was tragic and
went out West to hunt for grizzlies,
hoping to be masticated by one, but
he presently came TO his senses and
returned to the city. He was natural
ly rather shame-faced when he met
the widow, but she was so jolly that
he soon forgot his previous absurdity,
and they became fast friends.
You poor boy!" said the widow in
humorous sympathy. What would
become of you If it were not for me?
But if you obey my orders | will guar
antee that you will win her"
After talking the whole matter over
Harry felt comforted, and he felt sure
that the clever widow was going TO do
all in her power to help him. But he
did not imagine that while they were
discussing the subject the peerless,
self-sacrihcing Esther was weeping
bitterly, and almost rebelling against
her fate. 1t was only by magnifying
her duty TO an appalling grimness that
she finally recovered her composure
and soothed the pain at her heart to
an aching numbness.
AS soon as the widow felt that Har-
ry had recovered from the first bit
terness of his disappointment, she or
dered him TO go and call on Esther He
obeyed and few such calls restored
to some extent their old relationship,
and they could talk more like brother
and sister And one evening she talk
ed TO him In n most sisterly fashion,
warning him wistfully to beware of
the wileS of the widow
"You know look on you as a broth
er and should not like TO see one Of
my brothers as much in her company
as you are. OF course she is nice, but
people say she is so designing"
THE little MINK" said the widow
when she heard of it. II know | am
designing, but she will find that it is
for her happiness l am doing il now
and incidentally for my own-or just
the reverse"
She, of course. diagnosed the case as
one of jealousy, and was pleased.
Harry didn't understand the last part
of her remark, but he did not ques-
tion.
Are you going to the Madison mus
icale?" the widow asked.
"Yes. Esther and-her father will be
there" Harry replied.
''Well, | shall be there, too, and |
may want you to do me a favor. Will
you do it,"
Certainly"
On the night of the musicale the
widow was triumphantly beautiful.
There was the light of battle in her
eyes, and that with good reason, for
she had brought her own affairs and
those of several other people to a
crisis. But no one could look at her
perfect figure and animated face with
out feeling that she could conquer the
most obdurate by her charms and have
her will. Harry had never seen her
= looking so bewitching, for he had new
er seen her so thoroughly alert and
: aroused. But his eyes were dwelling
constantly on her pure, calm face, and
she seemed to him more than ever un-
5 attainable. When the evening was
well advanced, the widow tapped him
J on the shoulder with her fan.
Il have come to ask you for that
: favor" she said.
Il am ready to do your bidding"
Take Esther into the conservatory
and propose to her"
II can't"
you must. If you do, l think car
promise you that you will win her-ii