Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-11-04
Yes"
Well. then, are You engaged :"

81 am."
"Tben"-giving her little. petulant
ought to be happy.n
I'l tell you about il. Faith said
Esther. about year age received q
letter OF thanks from gentleman for
poem had written. 1t was One letter
correspondence grew out of ii. He is
himself an author. We exchanged photo.
graphs, personal histories, etc. At last be
asked me to marry him. / had Just lost
my little sis,er--the last relative / had Iiy>
ing--and was recklessly wretched. So /
promised to marry him. He sent me this
ring. He is coming north this fall, and
am to see him for the first time"
What is his name ?"
81 do not know. Ae writes over the
signature of Bromley" have always call.
ed him that. He calls me .Marearet,-my
non, de plume"
What a romance But what If Won
don't like him. Esther?'
why, be won't force me to marry him
CT course but ] hope may like him. i
hope 1say alsse him would rive tbs
world il could, hut it doesn't seem as If
l ever should love anyone again. l think
my heart has persisted, and Iies stone dead. ,
Nonsense. Esther! know IFS worth
q dozen dead hearts yet. wish you would
show me his picture"
Esther opened drawer in the toilet
bureau at her eide, and banded Faith a
miniature case from one of the drawers
Faith opened it and uttered an exclama.
ton.
1t was beautiful face--fair, and frank.
and earnest--spiritually clear, the un beard.
ed mouth sweet as q cLild's, but with an
unchildlike frmness.
Do you think him handsome 7" said
Esther.
"Oh, yes !"
Faith closed the case.
Esther. how did you happen to come
here?"
"Oh, it was the merest chancel Ivapt-
ed board in the country-a frieod told me
Thorpe was pleasant place, so obtained
board here and came am glad did. Yov
have done me world Of good, FAITH
81 am afraid you won't stay long after
you see this man. When is be coming %
=" In about month"
How earelessly you say it."
Foolish little puss. you'd be all excite
ment, wouldn't you 7"
p" OF course should, and I'm out of all
patience with you that you are not !"
Dear Faith, would give the world if
cared but don't, one joi."
Faiths brother came the next day, and
Esther missed her friend until late in the
evening. Then Faith knocked at her door
as che was undressingl
told Low that lady occupied his
room, and he said he would use another
while be stayed. He may go back sooD."
" Your brother, you mean"
" Yes, you'll like him, Esther. He's q
dear fellow"
What is his name ?"
Louis. Isn't it splendid night? /
shan't go to bed these TWO hours. But if
you're going good night"
There" said Esther, few hot tears
starting to her eyes, now Faith will for
get ME in her happiness at being in her
brothers society, and shall fall back into
darkness"
She would have observed it if there had
been any cause for jealousy, but abe could
find none. Faith went everywhere with
her brother, but she made Esther 90 soo.-
Louis Kay was very courteous and agreea
Die, but whether It proceeded from the
heart, or whether Mr.. Ray made point of
bong polite to ladies always, Esther could
not tell until she became acquainted with
his true, generous nature. He was very
handsome, with pale, clear cut face, the
lower part shaded by silky dark beard.
He impressed Esther with sense of true
refinement. She could not believe but
that he was truly pure and good. A glance
OF his clear, grey eye would set her right
uuhoD sha uoroA kba ~. a.,fo
She respected him more than any man she
had ever known in her life.
The three went riding, driving, excur-
sloning, and botanizing together. They
chatted and played at chess and back gam
mon at home. One day Louis knocked at
Esther's door and asked leave to get one OF
books from the library-case. He unlock ed
the glass door and stood looking the vol
ume over. AS Esther sat looking at him
her portfolio on her lap and her hands
locked loosely upon it. il occurred to her
that she could love Louis Ray with all her
soul. The idea startled her a little. She
thought it almost sacrilege. She looked al
his pure. calm, self-reliant face, till hel
heart ached. Oh, if be cared for her, if he
loved her, she might yet be saved
do you like my room, Miss Esther p
he said, suddenly.
Yes. very much. / have wondered i
you arranged its appointments"
Have your" with a quick SMILE
"Then / wondered that you didn't form ar
idea Of me, and make me the hero Of 9
story"
"Who should have had for heroinel'
yourself of course. You are the occu.
pant of the ROOM"
1T is not too late 70 plan such q romano,
now. can make rs good hero IF you as
could of any ideal l might plan"
"Can you?"
eyes," said Esther speaking dreamily.-
81 would make such story as this:
would make the heroine q writer like my
self would make her misanthropical
silent, with the fire Of her youth all dead
l would make you q man having faith il
! life that no experience could dim. W,
should meet. You would love me, HeaveI
knows for what, and / should find tn
sweetness of life again."
He crossed the carpet noislessly, and
came to her side.
will you write that story, Esther, I"
II think will"
And if you do, which part will it pleas
you most to write 2"
The end-O the end!'
Why
Don't say you don't know" he said
with strange light in his eyes.
She made no reply.
How much of that story have yol
livedP
She glanced up proudly" She might a
well have tried to look the sun out of coun
tensucs
The first part" she said, meekly.
"And will you live the rest, Esther, 70
my sake"
=" He put out his hands.
She put her own in them and looked ul
into his face.
My Saviour !"
Won now. in truth. my Margare =
folding her to his breast.
"Louisw
"You have called me Bromley hereto
fore"