The Grit-advocate., 1902-10-10

l want you always to remember that
my love will never change, and SO long
as breathe l will come to you at the
slightest sign you may make"
My Lady looked at the flushed and
earnest young face before her with
mixture of admiration and pity. BE
lieve me, Percy" she said, seriously,
Il appreciate the honor you have done
me and l appreciate your earnestness
and honesty; but it cannot be. l would
do you great injustice II l accepted
the offer you make me. l could give
only husks. God knows I am tired OF
it all, but | see TO way but to go on
and endure it as best may. II have
encouraged you in any way to believe
it could be different pray forgive me.
l have always like you the more be.
cause Of your splendid earnestness and
enthusiasm. But, believe me, l have
had the most experience, and you will
live to thank your lucky stars that l
send you tway."
My Lady really was tired of it all.
and she proved it effectually by de-
serting the fashionable resorts at the
very height of the season and fleeing
into the far west, where she found a
change Of scene at least. on farm
consisting of wooded hills and half
cleared praires. The house was not
built for summer boarders and was
rough affair suited to the most impera-
tive needs of the hardy yoemen who
were trying to conquer the wilderness.
They could not understand why she
wanted to stay there when she could
have all the luxuries OF civilization at
her command for the asking, but the
price she offered was SO princely that
they were glad to give her the best
they had and ask no questions. And
she partially forgot her ennui watch.
ing these plodding, hard-working toll
ing pioneers in their ceaseless toll and
selfsacrifice
Always a close observer and always
analytical. My Lady became intensely
interested in the life about her. True
it was hard and benumbing; true it
was narrow and discouraging; true it
seemed hopeless and pitiful, but they
we're so brave and accomplishing that
she marveled.
1t was a mere struggle for the most
obvious elements of existence-coars-
est Of food. and sparsest; the barest
roof over their heads; the most scanty
raiment-and their eyes were ever set
on the time when the farm would be
, paid for; that was the goal, the end.
the haven. After that they thought
no more. All would be easy then.
And In the midst of all the poverty
and the waiting and the toll, thread
Of romance ran. Her practiced eye
saw it at once John, the sturdy blue
eyed son of the owner of the next
clearing. eyed with longing glancss
Mary, the buxom daughter Of the
house where My Lady occupied the
best of the poor apartments. And My
Lady was not long In observing that
Mary flushed under his covetous gaze
and ever and anon made him sign.
One day My Lady in a shady nook
! looking out over the fields and up into
the monotonous sky and trying to read
betimes, when the sound Of voices in
the adjoining field aroused her. 1t was
John and Mary. They had met as he
was taking the horses in after a hard
day at the plow and Mary was on the
| way home from driving the cows to
new pasture.
Mary" he said earnestly looking
into her face, you look SO tired. girl"
81 am. John" she replied wearily.
l.. e. LII ha-