The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-02-01


overcome.
"Ah! if / DARED tb hope that" she
inurmured, kissing her child, "I could
bear anything. 1 shall soon know my
fate. Oh ! how shall live till to-mor-
row"
Her endurance was not Exercised SO
ling that very evening Mr.. Lorimer
arrived Unexpectedly by late train.
The day had been wet and chilly, and
Isabel had ordered fire i'm her dressing
room, over which she and were sitting
in melancholy mood, wearied Of the
fruitless yet incessant discussion of
chances, at the time of his arrival. Isa-
bel sprang up on hearing thb s6hha of
his voice III tht Hall. "What shall 1
do?" she exclaimed, clasping in her
hands. 81 am so afraid of injuring my
cause by over-precipitancy, so afraid of
being nderstood-repulsed. How
shall pursuade him that 1 love him ?"
MY darling, it seems tp me 1t has be-
toiiie very easy task"
We heard his voice approaching in
the direction of our room. "On no ac-
count disturb your Mistress" he was
saying TO Isabel's maid; "she had no
idee ! should return tonight"
Isabel threw open tic door; ind stood
smiling in the entrance, her dress, fig
ure and lovely face touched with char
ming illumination from the blazing pine
logs. thought what charming, in
viting vision she must appear to be har-
raised, wearied Wanderer coming in
from the dark night.
Mr.. Lorimer stopped abruptly, he
did not advance towards her. She had
not spoken; but though l could not see
the expression Of her face, the light fell
upon his, and showed lie the intent,
searching gaze.
"Maurice dare ! give you n welcome ?"
She sprang forward and threw her
ARMS aroufd lis neck. Is 1t Possible
that can put her from him without a
moments return of the old love-an in
) voluntary response to the thrilling en-
: brace? Yes, he frees hiriiself gently
; but ctllly, and taking her by the hand,
, leads her back without II word into the
room. He has her now in the full blaze
. of the freight, and he still ltcerz his
, hold of her hand-his sCtiifity Of her
face, How altered has lis own become;
: how pale and worn When he spoke
5 1T length, the mingled restraint and an
, guish of his voice made my heart ache.
l "You have not received my letter this
/ morning, Isabel? You are always {
a careless student of the newspaper? You
J., do not kntw?'
t "IIere is y1iir letter tltrs lis the
. newspaper. am sorry Maurce-I hh
? deeply sorry. 1 love wealth, as yor
+ know; / dread poverty; but if it wai
:, the only price at which your faith il
me could be bought, / am glad wo ar,
e poor. l have not alwaye loved you
/, but | love you now; l have not don,
h my duty hitherto-I will try and do i
|, now. Believe me-help men
), He turned from her and covered hi
II face with his hand.
:, "jt is wonan's grrerosityl" j,
d said ''the srNs passion fUr self-:ncri
IL ticeln
# at is a w6man's passion, wife
love-" She answered, raising her glow
ing face. "Nlaurice, is it for me t
l. plead?" She made as if she would hav
knelt before him, and threw her arm
I, around his knees.
lie / waited Just one half moment to rs
l. sure nysplf with an Old Woman's Iov
ie Of demonstration, that she did nc
'e plead in vain. | saw him raise her il
y his arms, saw the passionate kiss tina
&c sealed the renewed troth, and indis
tinctly heard, rs / fitted away throug
l. the dim corridor. the tones OF his vote
N tremulous with niofe than Il lovers fel
ir VOr.
N Three mouths later, Mr.. and Mr.
Lorimtr sailed for Montreal, where til
III former had Il brother established rs
mCrchant There were not many tea7
er shed by either, for in that time the
g love and mutual dependence had grow
s. so strong and intimate that no griC
III seemed intolerable which they share
" together. hi tile arrangement of h
affairs he had been actuated but by OF
u moti.e-tO satisfy every claim as far
10 the most scrupulOus honor dictate
even to the last fraction of his estat
u, Three hundred II year had been atliX'
OF to Isabel by marriagc-settlcmcn b
W by some legal inadvcrtency, the det
ny proved invalid, and her little fortul
Ill went in the general wreck. Mr.. LoI
~ mer regretted the loss, but / know l.
uu bel was glad of it. Her last words,
'n- we parted on the deck of the vess
III were to mel "We slidll not come ba
ne to Old England again." she said gail
oie still we have grown rich enough to b
us back Morton Leas; so don't fail to
us know when it is in the market"
~ This was said ten years ago, and E(
" my old heart beats with the hope of 81
ing them once nOre To-day recciN
~ my periodical letter from Montreal, a
49,. what says Isabel 1--WE are comi
'',o home, Aunt Sarah, to realize my prol
= ecy. Morton Ieas is IN the mark
~ though you have kept a treacherous
aeo lence nay, it is doubtless our own
",,, ready. Tell my father that Naur
- says there shall be no delay in maxi
o.u Il rigorous entail Of the estate; and h
''' proud shall you and | be, my beloN
launtemvthcr, to watch our boy tiSi
SIS his l;itr over his inulienable acres.