Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1899-05-04
"ALL'S WE'LL
THAT ENDS WE'LL. !"
ssT AM so sorry this has happened
she said with forced calmness. :"
n ~, - n - 4tn,,rht M,

were always to be friends, but you can
see that 1t is Impossible for me to mar
~. Ii is my duty to take care OF papa
and my brothers and try to take the
place of my poor mother"
Il felt from the first," said Harry sor-
rowfulIy, shat 1t was hopeless TO think |
OF you. You are too good for me-"
Don't say that, please, for like you
much more than any one know. II
ever did lo-- marry, 1t would be just
such n man as you good. clever ana
generous. But you see that 1t Is impos-
sble. don't your
He looked into her appealing eyes,
but could not answer. Nothing Is 80
sublImely tragic as beautiful girl sac
riflcing 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 man, espe-
cIally young man. needs disinterest-
ed woman to guide, to encourage, or to
check hifn, as the case may require.
Now. Harry Watson was SO fortunate
as to have a charming widow as his
confldant and friend. She was several
years his senior, and he was once much
In love with her-or thought ne was.
She had poohpoohed his proposal ana
told him that, although she thought
him fine, clever young fellow, she had
no desire to take boy to raise, and that
he mustn't talk nonsense. 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 nat
urally 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.
sYou poor boyr' said the widow In
humorous sympathy. what would be-
come OF you II 1t were not for me! But
If you obey my orders will guarantee
that you win win her"
After thinking 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 We're
discussing the subject the peerless,
self-sacrificing Esther was weeping bit
terly and almost rebelling against her
fate. It 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 ach-
ing numbness.
AS soon as the widow felt that Harry
had recovered from the first bitterness
OF his disappointment, she ordered him
to go and cal ep 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 talked to him In q
most sisterly fashion, warning him
wistfully to beware Of the wiles Of the
widow.
.'You know look on you as brother
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. Il know am de
signing. but she will find that 1t Is fol
her happiness / am doing 1t now-ant
incidentally for my own-or just the re
verse"
She OF course diagnosed the case al
one OF jealousy, and was pleased. Har
~ didn't understand the last part o
her remark, but he did not question.
"Are you going to the Madison musi
caleY" the widow asked.
"Yes. Esther and her father VIII b
there" Harry replied.
4sWell, | shall be there, too, and ma,
want you to do me a favor. VIII yoi
do itT'
Certainly"
on the night Of the musicale tn
widow was triumphantly beautifn
There was the light Of battle in be
eyes. and that with good reason, for sh
had brought her own affairs and thos
of several other people to crisis. Bu
no one could look at her perfect figur
and animated face without feeling tl1a
she could conquer the most obdurat
by her charms and have her will, Hal
~ had never seen her looking so b
witching, for he had never seen her {
thoroughly alert and aroused. Had p
ther not been present to allure and "
repel him with her lilylike sweetnei
and nobility OF soul 1t Is possible thI
old thoughts might have been arouse
But bis eyes were dwelling constant
on her pure, calm face, and she SCENE
to him more than ever unattainabl
When the evening was well advance
the widow tapped him on the should
with her fan.
az have come to ask you for that {
yor,' she said.
Il am ready to do your bidding"
Take Esther into the conseryato
and propose to her."
Il can't"
sYou must. If you do, think ! c.
promise you that you will win her
not to-night-soon afterward. But y
must propose tonight
Hope made him courageous, and
did as he was directed.
when be had found a sufficiently
tired alcOve In the conservatory, be
newed bis proposal with the STATE
beauty. But 1t was In vain.
ut cannot be- she answered. u
duty Is quite clear 10 me. and mi
sacrifice my own feelings to It, &
that to take care Of mz father In