The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-06-07

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oNo 1t Is no joking matter"
'sl,fuce Harper a married man !"
ayes, and has beeu for half dozen
years, myself saw the Knot tied that
made him BeDedick"
"You, Charlcyp
In her dmazcmeul, Mrs. Clendcuning
had nothing bat exclamatious
II don't suppose there Is soul 10
this city who ever heard Of Il, though.
II was long time ago; before eyer
saw yonr face, my darling, Bruce was
young fellow then. just out Of his mi.
nority. and he and were great eronios,
rs we've been ever since.
eve were both in Boston that winter
Ibis folks lived there, you see, and his
uuclc had just died 10 Coba aud bf
great fortune, 80 hcwas quite lion.
"There was a woman in society that
season who took all hearts BY stofm-a
queen Of hearts II ever there was one.
4 young widow she was, just from Mon.
trcal. Her husband had died M there
IN Canada a year before, aud she had
come home TO his fathers family They
we're among tho best, aud she was O star,
followed and worshippcd by half the
city, Not to be bohia1hand. Bruce fol.
loaci and worshipped too.
"iic has been abrosd since aud hns
seen many lovely women, no doubt but
| have never in my life seen as perfect.
IS beautiful woman as that black eyed
cnehautross. Constance licnoir ion
needn't fush up pet At MY saying that.
Yon and Chrislins are both pretty wo.
men but compared with Mu Bcpoir
your good looks would pale ike a rush
light In Tho blaze VI . noonday sun
sIlut with all her beauty ibh Mrs.
lIcnoir was not worthy TO b. named in
the same breath with either Of you, or
with any good woman None nf "a
knew Il then. though Bruce was be.
witehed. rs indeed plcniyo others were
for tha, natter; and thiak she inicB.
del rfuu the iifti 20 mako bim marty
her Al such an angel aa she waa 20
all outward tocnling--but it va fallen
angel
Bruce fm ID il all out before hc bad
been hes hurhaud three dayt--ihe
whole shameful story uf her life ia Mon.
,rcaE There was Disgrace aud -iuiapy
10 it--thine. to makes wuman's chccks
iiuslc puly ta hear IT, And hcr family
knew IL aH "a indeed they coalj not
hclp bot DO. They lad given the iu.
ilucucc Of ,hcir name and position o.
shield hor nbi.i sac could make 80 sl.
yantagraua settlement. Even ia tho
matter Of her age hr had bccu deceived
ius she was eight years the oldest
Bruce llarpera rage thea was some
thing that dont carc % zee the ike
OF again q. long ss ! live He cursed
her aud those vto had aided hor With
curses that ring 80 my cars sometimes
10 this day. Aud thea he lcii her,
lie would not lito With her, even for
Day he did MOI apply for a divorce
and hc forbade her ever 20 take his
nanie. l think she wis afraid to dieo
hey him 10 this, for she has never as
sumcd his name But the tic between
them was legally binding and remains
uabrakcn. ~ laB, she Is bis wife, aud
be il a married msu"
Mrs.. Cleudcuniug drew long breath
"lt soands Ike story out Of nov.
el e. aud then, woman.likc, Poor Chris
tine r.
An the next day Poor Christine
watched for souic one who did mol come
--snma Que who, al unknown TO her
was Fighting, alonu IN his room, with
doors boltcd fact, the herccst battle Of
his life.
There are some victories that are sad
der ,han defeats. Bruce Harper felt as
IL this was one Of them But as an
honorable nan, there was but one course
loft open TO him--and honor meant
something ghere Christine Frost WAS
concerned
He stopped in at Doctor Cleuden-
niugs thut evening on his way up the
street. Mrs Lydia was out, aud he
left message for her ToDoctor Char
ley he said
II gm going abroad again ! came
TO say goodbye"
Charley Clendenning made answer
God bless you, Bruce Harper wher-
ever you may go. Aud Christine Frosty'
looking him steadily in the face
IL shall see her tonight for the last
time"
"NIy friend, trembled for you--and
another. But you're a good man and
true, Bruce, as you always we're"
SIN trying TO be--in this case. But
] find il hard, hard.
They kissed each other like two wo-
men--thesc men who had been close
friends for so many years. Then Bruce
Harper went away.
AT Mr., Frost's he found Christine
waiting for him He knew she would
be, aud yet, knowing it was for the last
time, it gave him pang to look at her
as she stood there with her soft brown
hair blown all about her face, and in
the tender eyes a look that no other
woman's had ever worn for him. As
he watched her the thought came 10
him. as it had comemany time before,
how blessed he would be with a house
Of his own and Christine always to well
come him.
The picture had always a subtle
charm for the homeless, solitary man
homeless amid so many pleasant homes
solitary, with hundred friends about
him. 1t was a home of his own that
he wanted--aud Christine. Might the
picture not become reality, spite OF
all? Might he not persuade her to so
81 lt 9l; a.,, n;rhf2 TTa nnuld