North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-01-31

green meadow land. A step Dehlnd her
made her start and shrink guilty into the
shadow, but the step came nearer.
"Anna," said voice close beside, "why
do You wish to avoid me p
81 have no such wish," she said hastily
"Indeed You are to be interpreted by
contraries, then. But do not wonder, u
he continued bitterly" that anything
should be more agreeable to your eyes than
II. Tender hearts never like to look upon
! the misery they have caused Mr.. Miller
perhaps"
"You remind me-" she quietly interrupt
ed, ''of something have wished to say to
you. am have promised" but she
hesitated and stopped finding the COM
munication even more difficult than she
had expected.
81 can help you, perhaps" said Laurence
as she paused. "You are going to say
that you had accepted Miller, and had no
further use for re. That is the plain En-
glish, believe -
Without attempting an answer, she 81
lently held out to him ring, which he
took and ground under foot"
$50 perish the compact of which it was
a sign he said, MY ring is thrown
asi de to make room for this, and /" He
stopped abruptly. at is to be hoped you
will keep better faith with him than you
have kept with me-"
She lifted he head at that. "Thc re-
proach comes well from you, faith You
have kept yours SO truly, you have a right
to expect it of others r'
''You mean"
"Ask your own conscience what mean.
think-Alice Walsh would have no diff
Guilty in understanding me. | did not mean
to speak Of this to you,but yonr reproaches
after the part you have acted, are too
cruel"
"Anna!' exclaimed Laurence, ,snatching
her hand, "Listen to me. The part have
acted may have been foolish, may have
been wrong. l will not try to defend it
but you drove me to it, and / swearrto you
that have not had one feeling that was
false to you, or one wish with which you
were not connected. Your pride and mine
held me back, but single word from you
would have brought me to your side. |
never dreamed that you would have cast
me away so coldly, without single regret
to break the blow. Anna, you loved me
once but she could bear no more. A
sob interrupted his passionate speech, as
her head fell upon his shoulder. But soon
angry with her own weakness, she drew
herself from bis encircling arm.
Leave me-" she said, II have been bit
terly wrong-wrong throughout, thiLk.
but it shall end here. If | have betrayed
onef will not betray another. Edward
Miller must never know of this. His truth
and sincerity must respect, even though
lack them myself and he shall never know
suffering caused by me. So much, at least
l owe him. Forgive me, and try to forget
what have said to night, and all that has
been between US"
From this mood Laurence could not move
her. To all his protestations and entrea-
ties she replied only 81 must not hear you, -
and in despair at last he left her.
Left alone in the still moonlight she
closed her eyes for moment in weariness
Of the calm beauty which so cruelty con-
trasted her own agitation, and opening
them again, started to see a mans shadow
thrown across the level green. Looking
around, she beheld Edward Miller slowly
| advancing up the path from the garden. -
A glance at his face made her fear that he
knew what had passed, and waited his ap-
proach with guilty dread
Gamma" said he, 81 know all. | have
not come to reproach you, but give back
the promise it costs you so much to keep.
Nay" he continued, checking her hesita-
ting words, "for my own sake, also, dc
SO Neither my love nor my pride would
allow me to receive forced faith. Could
not you have trusted me enough" he said
clasping her trembling hand, ,"to tell me all
The pain would have been slight compared
with the lifelong misery that concealment
must cause US both. Now you, at least
can be happy"
He paused, but Anna could answer only
with tears. ut distresses me to see yor
weep he said at length, Il wish only your
happiness"
"Ah," she answered With an effort, "yor