The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1864-01-23
HILDRED HAYNE:
THE OLD LOVE REVIVED

nnored havn1. sat alone in her quiet
.-...r. 1t was late in November, and a
great wood fire blazsd on the hearth,
lighting up the remotest corner Of tho
apartnent with aruddy glare. The warm
light fell full over the lonely woman, re-
elining in the wide easy hair, and brought
out with vivid distinotne,s every line and
curve of her motionless figure.
Miss Hayne had probably seen thirty
years of life, though the silver threads en-
her temples gave you the impressien that
she WAS older She was slight and tall,
with deep gray eyes, abundant brown hair
put plainly back from her forehead, we'll
cut, clearly defined features, and a mouth
which had once been sweet and womanly,
but now its expression was cold and hard
The crisson lips shut tightly, and there
was stael-like determination about them,
at variance with the tender light in tbs
dOwncass eyes, and thoughtful curve Of
the fair brow. Looking in her face, you
knew that all Miss Haynes life had not
passed a. quietly as tho days she was now
living. The existence of her girlhood wa.
q thing entirely discovered from the press
eat, looking back upon it, she could scarce
ly realize that she was the same gay girl
who, SIX years ago, had made the Rcd
Rock farm house vocal with the music Of
her laughter.
For SIX years she had been a recluss -
Her only companions at the fars. were
the sturdy hired man ana his practical
who, under her supervision, M anaged tine
farm work. She had received no compa-
ny-gene none abroad she had buried
the world and its interests: and a little
removed from the turmoil Of the city, Sue
r; rz.lt ,,sl- -, Il II 4
her. Neighkors never ran in Of an eve
ming, for an hours chat with her; the
very dogs trotted past her gate without
stopping to utter friendly bark. Yet
Miss Hayne was uukind 10 no living crea
,ure She was only supremacy indifferent;
Positive III temper would have made her
more popular than this strange. passion
less apathy. through the ice OF which
nothing could penetrate.
Al twenty two. Hiidred IIavne was the
acknowledged belle Of her vcinity--the
liselie.,, gayest girl for miles and usiles
around 10 her personal grace and beauty
she united charms of naind and heart far
absvs the common order Sensitive. ign
spirited, centiding and aiiectonate, she
won the love Of Paul Lancdstsr-the only
.on AID heir of Judge Lancaster, at :he
hall and with the cor .eUt OF Ill concern
ed they were bstrsthsd.
Mr. Lancaster wa. haadsoAe we'll eGu.
Gated. engaging in bis manners. and sef'-
ui.tcG Never in bis life had a single wish
Of his been allowed 10 die uugratisied lie
knew nothlug OF d,sappointments, nothing
, Q! selfsacrIfce ne was nobi" and seuer-
ou., bet impulsiVe almost reckless
They had been engaged a year when
there came to For:land--ihe city OF NJ
/. -. =
j slant relative Of Psuis mother Isabel
CORTLAND WAS beautiful and fascinating.
AID vas nuc! in the society of the Lam
casters There IS 10 need Of eniareing on
the subject; it was but . repetition Of the
. Old toIy-ths first lave was valueless be-
side the second Alrnos; before he WAS
I conscious OF his pe-fidy, Paul Lancaster
avored his passion for the fair stranger,
( and heard the words from her lips which
/ made lie for him an Eden.
Like fash OF lightning from 4 cloud
less sky came the knowledge to lii!dred
that her lover Was hers no longer. She
+ aid not weep. nOr rave-shs heard 1T with
a white face aud nerves like steel her ow u
+ heart was 40 true and loyal. that it was
with difficulty she could undsrsiaLd such
! di.hol or IN the man she loved. She did
rot ceasure him fer loving another better
than herself. and remembering how be
had Kept ner i ignorance ot tho change
in his feelings, she was cold and unfcr-
giving and vhes she sent Paul free from,
her presence, il was with the command
never to show his face to her again as lor z
as the both should live.
From that time Hildred was an altered
being She did not pine, nor NOPE. but
her youth seemed dead She went
7 =, 4
hard and calculating in her disposition
and shut out all love from her heart
When her parentc died, within . few
month. OF each other leaving her all alohs
in the world, but for her liits sister Mary
she refused TO break up the old establish
nient at Red Rock farm, IS her friends ad
vised. but lived there still, taking ali the
responsibility Of the large farm on -hel
slender shoulder.
Mary, beautiful. golden>haired Mary
was her solace-the only thing she seemed
to love; to her, she was tender, devotce
and self sacrificing. The sole tie tha
bound Ilildred Hayne to humanity Ever
this was rent away. malignant fever
swept over the vicinity Of Red Rock farm
and Mary was among the first saiitten.--
Three dreadful days OF dumb agony Il
Iildred passed. ard on :he morning O
the f,urth, she held her dear sister III he,
arms, And when they buried the sve.
girl, Uildreds human love was laid TO res
in her grave Theuceforth. for the dark
eyed lonely woman at Red Rock, tn
world held not not a solitary charm.
Only once since her banishment OF hin
had she seen Paul Lancaster. The da.
her sister was buried, he had thrown
snow drop into the grave and, as he turn
ed away. they two met face toiacs. Their
Is = wild. inPloripg. passions'eir tende
look in his eyes, stony immovable ieoi
} in hers, and not = word spoken. He un
derstood her.
He went away into the world shortl,
afterward the Hall passed out OF tn
, hands Of his father who moved to a dis
= tant State, and IIldred knew nothn:
, more of the family. No Oae ever mention
J ed them to her. she made Ae inquiries
: she said to herself that she did not care t
know.
! Life passed on monotonously enough
She hardly noted the change of seasons
except as agricultural interests compells
her to dc SO. She took little thought c
, Tomorrow, she never looked forward ;
va. doubtful even if she realized the pres
I ent. She might have interested herse
! in the poor, but she did not; she CAV
t nothiag to beggar., set in 40 sanctuary
aud lived life hidden from the view @
: all ...- ...-. ,..s-
That November night, Ilildred FOR th
frat time in many years, was looking owe
her past life. Somehow her heart fei
+ softer, there were tender memories
!, wo-k; the spirit OF mercy pleaded wit
u iron breasted iustice; she almost felt tina
J, she could forgive Paul Lancaster all h
y had made her suffer. A rap at the COO
srou.rd her. She waited, expecting oil
o Franci. or his wife to answer the call, bu
evidently they did aot hear, and taking u
n the lamp, she went herself The air va
: thick with snow. and On the door step, h