The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-03-22

stay. bTetcneu. but i WAS IL uypO-
critic when said 1t.
IL knew that you would say that"
simply.
"Gretchen. sit down and I'll tell you
the story of my life, as they say on the
stage" | knocked the dead ash from
my pipe and stuffed the bowl with
fresh weed lit 1t and blew a cloud
of smoke into the air. do you see
that. Gretchen"
Eyes, herr" sitting down. the space
of yard between us.
1T is pretty. very, but see how the
wind carries it about! AS it leaves my
throat IL looks like a tangible sub
stance. Reach for II, and it is gone.
That cloud Of smoke is my history"
ut disappears" said Gretchen
'And so shall | at the appointed
time. That cloud of smoke was a for
tune. | reached for 1t, and there was
nothing but the air in my hand. 1t
was woman's love. For five years
watched ii curl and waver. In it 7
saw many castles, and the castles were
fair indeed. | strove TO grasp this
love; smoke, smoke Smoke is nothing
given n color. Thus it is with our
dreams. If only we might not wakeT
Gretchen's eyes were following the
course of the languid river.
"Once there was woman | thought
| loved, but she would have none Of
1t. She said that the love | gave her
was not complete because she did not
return it, She brought forth the sub
ject of affinities and ventured to say
that some day | might meet mine.
scoffed inwardly. | have now found
what she said to be true. The love
! gave her was the bud. The rose
Gretchen" said |, rising, 81 love you.
| am not a hypocrite. | cannot parade
my regard for you under the fiimsy
guise of friendship"
Go and give the rose to her to
whom you gave the bud" said Gret-
chen. The half smile struck me as
disdainful. "You are a strange wooer."
Il am an honest one" | began
plucking at the bark of the tree. mo.
| shall let the rose wither and die on
the stem. | shall leave tomorrow,
Gretchen. | shall feel as Adam did
when he went forth from Eden. What.
ever your place in this world is, it is
far above mine. | am, in truth, pen
niless advcnturer. The gulf between
us cannot be brdged."
NO" said Gretchen, the smile leav-
ing her lips. 1.-The gulf cannot be
bridged. You are n penniless adven-
turer, and | am a fugitive from-the
law. the king or what you will. You
are a man. Man fOrgets. You have
just illustrated the fact. His memory
and his promises are like the smoke
they fade away but soon. shall be
sorry to have you go. but it is best
So"
"Do you love any one else?"
Il do not. | love no one in the sense
you mean. 1t was not written that |
should love any man."
Gretchen, who are you, and what
have you done?"
what have | done? Nothing! Who
am |? Nobodyr'
rs that the only answer you can
give?"
at is the only answer / will give"
There was something in Gretchen's
face which awed me. 1t was power
and resolution, two things man seldom
sees in womans face.
"Supposing, Gretchen. that ] should
take you in my arms and kiss your
was growing reckless because | felt
awed. which seems rather a remark
able statement. IL know you only as
a barmaid. Why notY
She never moved to go away. There
was no alarm in her eyes, though they
narrowed.
You would never forgive yourself,
would your
thought for a moment. "No. Gret-
chen, | should never forgive myself.
But | know that if ask you to let me
kiss your hand before / go you will
grant so small a favor
There" and her hand stretched to-
ward me. "And what will your kiss
mean?
THAT | love you, but also respect
you, and that | shall GO"
am softly.
1t was dismal packing | swore a
! good deal softly. Gretchen was not in
the dining room when | came down TO
! supper 1t was Just as we'll | wanted
10 be cool and collected when | made
my final adieu. After supper | lit my
pipe q RIall be buried with it, and
: went for iaunt up the road. There
was a train at 6 the next morning.
would leave on that. Why hadn't |
taken Gretchen in my arms and kissed
her? 1t would have been something 10
remember in the days to come. | was
a man and stronger she would have
been pOwerless. Perhaps it was the
color Of her eyes.
| had not gone up the highway more
.hAn 100 yards when ] saw the lonely
hgure OF man tramp,ng indirectly to.
ward me and directly toward the inn
Even i'm the dusk of twilight there was
something familiar about that stride
| Presently the man lifted up his voice
In song. The second lead" as they
say back Of the scenes. was about to
appear before the audience.