St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-10-27
her, and she will ngIy granted il

/ her, and she will 'ngly granted it.
Alice" said Mrs. Stirling, one
morning, coming into her nieces room,
did yon notice the lady who beckoncd
to Easton, at the opera, last evening ~
g In pink dress ?"
Yes, with diamonds
| noticed her. She was very pret.
ty,' said Alice, checking a sigh. He
seemed pleased to go when She called
him"
That is Mary Loring, his cousin
before they went to Europe, thought
they were engaged. They would
make handsome couple, wouldn't
they ?"
VERY"
How hoarsc you are Have you
taken cold? You are pale, too. Lie
down for while you are getting
worn out with pleasure. And, with a
fond kiss, Mrs. Stirling left her niece.
Alice locked the door after her, and
then went to lie down, but she could
not keep quiet. " Engaged to another
Well, what of that ?" So her thoughts
ran. He has never made love to
me, yet, yet Il Alice, Alice. for
shame Have you given your love
unsought?" And she paced the room,
striving in vain to think of other
things. A knock at the door aroused
her.
"Mr. Stirling is in the parlor, ,ma'am."
She started ; yet it was nothing
strange; ; he was there ercry day. Yet
there was stiffness in her greeting,
an embarrassed smile upon her lips
that had never been there before.
| have called to say farewell for
week. said Easton. Il am going to
Philadelphia"
Il shall probably be at home before
you return" said Alice. 81 thought
of returning next week.
At home ! did not think of that !;
| thought you stayed till spring"
Well, it is now March. Is not
that spring?"
Il did not know you went so soon,
though. l-you will not forget me,
Alice ?"
Forget you!" And, having made
the involuntary exclamation, she
paused, crimson with confusion.
You will not feel sure you will
not. We have spent many pleasant
hours together, Alice ?"
"Ycs."
Alice, why do you turn away? J.
want to ask you something. VIII
You give me something before | 60 ?"
You will not promise. 1t is a
priceless gift, one | cannot be happy
without. ! want the greatest treas
ure yon posscss-your love. You
start and trcmble. Oh, Alice, | love
yon SO warmly? Can you not love
me! No answer ~
Alice turned her face to his, and be
read his answer there and, reader,
you and | will take a little ramblc in
the Park, to return and find them be
trothcd.
You will not go home till return"
said Easton, as he left her.
"No."
Then we can q together, and |
will ask your father to give me the
most precious thing he owns"
That's modest said gay voice,
aud Aunt Louise came into the parlor.
One glance told her that the dearest
wish Of her heart was gratificd and
she warmly congratulated the blush
ing girl and happy young man.
Why, Alice" said she, after he
had gone, what does he mean by
persuading you to stay longer? You
have said nothing about going home"
lit was what you said about
his cousin And a few happy tears
sprang into Alice's eyes as her aunt
burst into a fit Of laughing.
so my ruse succeeded. thought
you had been courting long enough,
so bothered his head about Ralph
and yours about his cousin, and you
see | have succeeded in bringing you
to the point"
Dear Ralph" said Alice, rcproach-
fully, " | have not written to him for
a month
Spring came and Alice returned to
her country home-not alone. Easton
went with her, and, when he left for
his city home, Ralph knew that the
dearest hope of his life was blighted
There was no change in his kind, gen
tie manner to the bright girl whose
happiness seemed mocking his own
despair but DR.. Holman watched
him carefully, panied to see him grow
pale and thin. Easton Sterling was
in every way worthy of Alice, and
her father, seeing how truly she loved
him, could not withhold his consent to
their union, though he was disappoint-
ed in her choice. He had hoped to
see her Ralph's wife.
In the warm summer months, when
all nature was wearing her gavcst at
tire, Alicc's first grief came to her.
Her father died suddenly of apoplcxy
Ii was a bitter blow, the more kcenly
felt from coming SO suddenly Alice
bowed under this load Of sorrow with
terrible grief 1t was to Ralph she
turned for the sympathy he so freely
gave. He had been beside her from
the moment her father was taken, and
it was supported in Ralph's arms that
he had brcathed his last. 1t was
Ralph who, silently laying aside his
sad burden, turned to the weeping
girl, to comfort her, and with many
tears added to her own, deplore the
loss of him who had been his second
| father.
When DR.. Holman's affairs were
examined, it was found that Alice was
heiress to large fortune, which had
been accumulating through all these
years Of seclusion. The cottage was
sold, and Alice went to her aunt's
home, while Ralph, bidding her an af-
/ fcctionate farewell, started to visit
the Old World. The associatious in
( his old home We're too sorrowtul for
him, and he left it.