The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-09-27

What would you say II told you
had ence leyed a girl better than ! do
your I asked.
That's not true" she said sharply.
I've knowR you all your life, and you
could not hide such thing from your
mother and me. You are only laughing
at me, Martin"
Heaven knows I'm not laughing"
answered solemnly, ITS no laughing
matter Julia, there ls girl love bet
ter than you, even now"
The color and the smile faded out Of
her face, leaving Il ashy pale. Her lips
parted once or twice, but her voice failed
her, Thea she broke out into a short
hyatsrIoal laugh.
you are talking nonsense, dear Mar
tin" she gasped, "you ought nett | am
net very strong. Tell me 1t IL a joke"
Il cannot" replied, painfully and
soryVWtully; sit Is the truth. though |
would almost rather face death than own
Il. ! love ysu dearly, Julia: but love
ANOTHER woman better"
There was dead silence in the room af-
ter those words. could not hear Julia
breathe or move, and could not look at
her. Ny eyes were turned towards the
window and the islands across the sea,
purple and hazy IN tho distance
Leave meP she said. after very
loEg atillnessl go away. Martin"
II cannot leave you alons," ! exclaim-
cd; mo, viii not. Julia. Let me tell
you more: let me explain II all. You
ought to know everything now"
"Ge away!" she repeated, in nechan-
lcRl way.
hegltatsd still, seeing her white and
trembling, with her eyes CLASSY and fixed.
But she motioned me from her towards
the door. and her pale lips parted again
to reiterate her command.
How | crossed that room do not
know; but the moment after had closed
the door heard the key turn in the lock.
dared not quit the house and leave her
alone In such a state; and | longed ar
IDENTIFY to hear the clocks chime hve, and
the sound of Johannas coach wheels on
the roughly paved street.
That was one Of the longest half hours
In my life. | stood at the street door
watching and waiting, and nodding to
people who passed by, and who simper-
ed at me In the most Inane fashion.
The fools! called them to myself. At
length Johanna turned the corner, and
her pony carriage came rattling cheer
fully over the large round stones. L ran
to meet her.
For heavens sake 90 to Juliag'
cried. II have told her."
"And what does she sayr asked Jo-
hanna.
Not a word, not syllable" | replied,
Except to bid me 80 away. She has
locked herself into the drawing ROOM"
Then you had better go away alto
gether," she said, "and leave me to deal
with her. Don't come in, and then can
say you are not here"
A friend Of mine lived In the opposite
house, and though l knew he was not at
home, | knocked at his door and asked
permission to rest for a while.
The windows looked into the street,
and there sat watching the door of cur
new house. for Johanna and Julia to
come out. At length Julia appeared. her
face completely hidden behind veil. Jo-
hanna helped her into the low carriage,
as If she had been an Invalid Then they
drove off, and were soon out of my sight.
By this time our dinner hour was near,
and | knew my mother would be looking
out for US both. | was thankful to find
at the table visitor, one Of my fathers
patients, widow, with a high color,
loud voice and bolsterous spirits, who
kept up rattle Of conversation with
DR.. Dobree. My mother glanced anx-
iously at me, but she could say little.
"Where Is Julia" she had inquired, as
we sat down to dinner without her.
Julia" | said absentIy; "ohl she is
gone to the Vale, with Johanna Carey"
"Wil she come back to-night?" asked
my mother
mot tonight" said aloud; but to my
self | added. nor for many nights to
come; never, most probably, whilst am
under this roof. We have been building
our house upon the sand, and the foods
have come, and the winds have blown,
and the house has fallen; but my mother
knows nothing Of the catastrophe yet"
She read trouble In my fare, as clearly
as one sees thunder cloud in the sky,
and she could not rest till she had faith
omed It. I went up into my own room,
where | should be alone to think over
things. I heard her tapping lightly at
the door. She was not In the habit Of
leaving her guests, and | was surprised
and perplexed at seeing her.
hYnur fa thar and Mrs Mun.av 80
having a game of chess" she said. I'VE
can be alone together half an hour. And
now tell me what is the matter? There
Is something going wrong with you"
She sank down weariedly into a chair,
and | knelt down beside her. 1t was
almost harder to tell her than to tell
Julia; but 1t was worse than useless to
put off the evil moment
Mother, ! am not going to marry my
,ousiA, for l love somebody else, and
.old Julia 30 this afternoon. 1t is broken
of for good now"
She gave me no answer, and looked
up into her dear face In alarm. II had
grown rigid, and q peculiar blue tinge of
pallor was spreading over 1t. Her head
lad fallen back against the chair. II
was several minutes before she breathed
freely and naturally. Then she did not
ook at me, but lifted up her eyes to the
pale evening sky, and her lips quIvered
With agitation.
Martin, 1t will be the death of me"
The said; and few tears stole down her
,heeks, which | wiped away.
"It shall not be the death Of you,"
exclaimed. IF Julia Is willing to marry
ne, knowing the whole truth. | am ready
10 marry her for your sake, mother. /
would do anything for your sake. Bat
Johanna said she ought to be told, and l
.hilk Il was right myself"
Who is II, who can 1t be that you
over
Mother" | said. "I wish had told
Fou before. but l did not know that l |
owed the girl as do till saw her yes
.erdsy in Sark."
That grip she cried. zone Of the
Ollivisrsl Oh, Martin. you must marry |
n your own class"
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