The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1907-06-14
her arms round hi. neck. and whispered

her arms round his neck, and Whispered
to him, "Oh, Louis, Louis, how l wish
l could teach you to see Charles with
my eyes,"
He felt her tears on his cheek as she
spoke, and tried to reassure her.
you shall teach me, Rose-you Shall
indeed. Come, come. We must keep up
our spirits, or how are you to look your
best Tomorrow"
He unclasped her arms, and led her
gently to a chair. At the same mo-
ment, there was a knock at the door,
and Roses maid appeared, anxious to
consult her mistress on some of the
preparations for the wedding ceremony.
NO interruption could have been more
welcome just at hat time. 1t obliged
Rose to think of present trffes, and it
gave her brother an excuse for retir-
ing to his study.
He sat down by his desk, doubling
and h~eavy-hearted, and placed the let
ter from the Academy of Sciences open
before him.
Passing over all the complimentary
expressions which it contained, his eye
rested only on these lines at the end:
During the first three years of your
professorship, o will be required to
reside in or near Paris nine months out
OF the year, for the purpose of deliy-
ertng lectures and experimenting ex-
perlments from time TO time in the la
Doratorles.' The letter in which these
lines occurred offered him such a DO
sition as in his modest self-distrust he
had never dreamed of before; the lines
themselves contained the promise Of
such vast facilities for carrying on his
%favorite experiments as he could never
hope to command in his own little
study, with his own limited means:
yet, there he now sat, doubling
whether he should accept or reject the
tempting honors and advantages that
were offered to him-doubting for his
sisters sake,
Nine months of the year in Paris"
he said to himself, sadly, and Rose Is
to pass her married life at Lyons. Oh!
If | could clear my heart of it's dread
on her account-if | could free my mind
of its ~forebodings for her future-how
gladly | would answer this letter by
accepting the trust it offers met"
He paused for a few minutes and re-
hected. The thoughts that we're in him
marked their ominous course In the
growing paleness of his cheek, in the
dimness that stole over his eyes. "If
this cleaving distrust from which
free myself should be in very
truth the mute prophecy of evil to
come-to come, know not when-if 1t |
be SO (Which God forbid, how soon she
may want a friend, a protector near at |
hand, a ready refuge in the time of her
Where shall she her find pro-
lection or refuge? With that passionate
woman? With her husbands kindred
md friends?"
He shuddered as the thought crossed
his mind, and opening a blank sheet of
paper, dipped his per in the ink. BE
all to her, Louis, that I have been" he
nurmured to himself, repeating his
last words, and beginning the
letter while he uttered them. 1t was
completed. 1t expressed, in the
most respectful terms, his gratitude for
he offer made to him. and his inabil-
ty to accept it, in of do
circumstances which it was
leedless to explain. The letter was d.
'ected, sealed; it only remained for him
o place it in the post-bag lying near
1t hand. At this last decisive act he
lesitated. He had told Lomaque. and
he had firmly believed himself. that he
ad conquered all ambitions for his
sisters sake. He knew now, for the
lrst time, that he had only lulled them
o rest-he knew that the letter from
Paris had aroused them. His answer
vas written, his hand was on the post
'ag, and at that moment the whole
'truggle had to be risked over again
isked when he was most unfit for St,
lie was not a man under any ordinary
circumstances to procrastinate. but he
,rocrastinated now.
Night brings counsel; 1 will wait
Ill Tomorrow" he said to himself. and
tut the letter Of refusal in his pocket
md hastily quilted the laboratory.