, 1865-03-31
Ethel's Mistake.
BY EDA MAYYILLE.

Alone in the bright, cheerful little room, with
its heavy lace curtains its velvet carpets, its fan
cy rugs its vases and pictures, and birds, and
plants sat Ethel Carlton. Beautiful Ethel with
orange blossoms in her shining, golden hair, the
rich folds of snowy satin falling around her
matchless fo: o:m-Ethel in all the paraphernalia
of bride Below the sound Of merry voices
rang out, yet silently she sat, tears trembling
upon her eyeids and look Of sorrow upon her
Young face In her hand she held a letter. The
chirography was plain, and the boldstrok bore
evidence that it had been written in faith and
oo.ele,~4- tl.~t-,s sl.e..s5i.t ef +ho trouble il
wonld cause had crossed the brain ofthe happy
writer.
In her childhood Ethel had known Frank
Eaton, a brave, brown-h haired lad, with roguish
black eyes. thatalways softened at herapproach
Together they had rambled through the breezy
woods and rested upon the hills; together they
culled the first blossoms of spring and when in
the golden fruits hung low upon the branches,
together they had filed their tiny baskets as
they trudged homeward from the country school
Very early in life had Ethel learned the sweet
lesson that sooner or later come to all. She
knew. almost before the hilarty of childhood
had given way to the sweet serenity of woman
hood that in her heart was already enshrined
one whom neither time nor absence could dis
place Before her fifteenth summer, Frank was
sent away to school She remembers now, sit
ting there, how handsome he looked when he
bade her goodbye, his heart elate with bound
ing hope and she remembers too how lonely
and desolate the long spring months seemed to
her, and how she would creep away to the haunts
they had frequented and weep for the absent
one, wondering why it was that no letter came
to cheer her solitude.
At last, after a years absence, there came a
whisper from his friends that Franks health was
failing-that he was scarcely able to pursue his
studies; and then for long time all was silent
Ethel heard nothing, pride would not let her in
quire concerning him. She knew not ifhe lived
If he did or not what mattered it to herr She
was forgotten.
Four years went by, and to the quiet home of
Ethel there came a stranger proud, noble,
handsome man Nor was itany wonder that, as
weeks ripened into months, and his visits be-
came frequent, that Ethel should become inter
ested She was lonely; his brilliant ideas and
fascinating manners pleased her; besides he was
very attentive, and knew well the little GARY
nothings" so sweet to the ear Of woman-the
words which say so little, yet mean so much.
Yet when he asked her to be his wife, the del
icate nature revolted, knowing as she did that
her heart and hand could not both be given.
But serious reflection oyercame the feeling
Pride came to the rescue Frank had never told
her that he loved her; and for years she had
known nothing of him; he had forgotten her,
while she mourned him as deeply as at first
She put by such childishness; she would be wo-
man, and her heart could never again throb
the quicker for words of love, it would be no
reason that she should consign another to the
wretched life she led. That Henry Thorne, her
suitor, loved she never for moment doubt
ed; and as she listened to his low impassioned
pleadings she placed her hand in his and told
him that she would be his wife.
And now the day had come for the nuptals
But alas that morning she had received letter
from the truant-a letter from the boy lover;
telling her that he would be home soon; that his
health was quite recovered, his studies compile
ted; and then followed a resume Of the hours
they had spent together, Of the artless happiness
of their early years, long lingering assurances of
unfailng affection, full and earnest declaration
of love and proposal for her hand.
For while her senses whirled in a confusion
of Joy; then the past and presnt rose before her;
she remembered it was her bridal day, the day
that she must take upon herself the terrible sin
of perjury; that she must utter vows to which
her bleeding heart gave no response. Like a
terrible phantom the form of her affiancedlover
seemed to rise between her and happiness; butat
last she remembered all his softly whispered as
surances of affections; his truthful earnest man
ner; and then she thought of the long years of
Frank cruel silence and she doubted if the
words traced upon the page before her were the
promptings Of heart that beat alone for her;
doubted while she loved.
The hour had arrived for the ceremony. Ethel
arose as Henry Thorne entered her apartment
she looked into his eyes and gazed long upon
the classic, handsome face, then her own fea-
lures settling into an expression ofstern resolve
she said mentally,
"Itis myduty and will try to loveyou, " and