The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-05-13

r. Z
81 L just said" i don't believe | ever
should, Mr.. Wharton. And that
was all either of us said about it.
Icried a little in my own room, that
night, and / took George Gillot's little
presents, ring and locket and a red
bound hymn book, with my name on
it, from my trunk and burned them
up. Why / had kept them so long /
could not tell. And then sat down
and thought.
This was not just what had dreamt
of. Long ago, when I was a child
and had happy home, my nurse used
to tell me of fairy prince. who came
over the sea to marry young princess
and used to think that, some day,
such prince would come for me and
this good man, with his; double chin
and kind blue eyes, was not a fairy
prince, by any means. And afterward
when death took my parents and
nothing was left for the little. orphan
but to WORK for her daily bread, aild
the gaunt Miss TabbY took me into
her kitchen, there was George Gillot,
so handsome, SO winning, seeming to
love me so-and-and-and this was
not George Gillot either; but oh! a
better man-only a woman's heart is
such foolish thing that she finds it
hard to rule it. @
Well, after that night, tried to be
happy and he said to me-Mr Whar-
ton, / mean -.
"Let us be married very soon, my
dear" @
And / gave him his way. We were
to meet at the minister's one morning
and there be married. Kate May
would go with me, and DIR. Jallap, the
apothecary, with Nh. Wharton, and
meant-God knows--to make that
home as happy as woman might.
l bought no great finery for my
wedding-onIy pearl grey silk and
white bonnet and looked, Kate told
me, more like Quakeress than bride
they were 50 plain and quiet. --
We got there first--to the minis
ter's wife, who had been her Sunday
school teacher, to see her new baby
when the door opened, and in walked
tall, fair-haired man-looked at me
and stood still, with his eyes on my
face. I looked at him, and my heart
seemed to stop beating. 1t was Geo.
Gillot!
Only that I could not move would
have ran away. 1t was so terrible to
see him just then $50 altered, too.
He was thin and wan, and stopped a
little--he who had been as straight as
an arrow--and deep, deep in his eyes
1 saw look / never thought to see
there--a yearning, longing look, as
though that which he pined for was
always far away from him.
He drew his breath with little
shiyer and then came toward me and
said: # ~
is it Mamie .Ansar?"
l said: g Yes" And, I" 1 hope 1 see
you well, sir?"
That, with my heart throbbing as
though it would kill me! But women
learn to do these things-the poorest
and most ignorant can hide their heart
secrets, if they will, God be thanked
for it! -
| My aunt is dead" he said, after a
pause; "She died two years ago l
| live in the city now. / have had losses
and bad health, and the farm is mine
no longer. I did not know you ever
came here, and have known them so
well!" -
never came here before said y
am here to-day to be married"
And / was glad to say it, for ii
i would show him was heart free OF
him at least. But he turned glance
on me that made me start.
8" thought you married five years
ago." he said.
Not l." said "but it is longer
than that since you were. I've nc
doubt. as
] "I?" he said. "The thought has
never been in my mind-one woman
turned me against the rest of her sex.
The woman who Tilted me, with al
her simple. ways, as coolly as the
finest belle could -
:" grieye you've had so bad sam
: pie of us, sir" / said; "not that
!, ever thought Miss Rose Clifford one te
be constant long," a
Rose Gifford!" he cried. "Ah
[ you act well Mamie Annie! Yol
t know it was you who left me in tn,
lurch, after as much as telling me yo,
j; loved me. It's only, all right yol
should hear it on your wedding day
t you who have poisoned life for me !
/ / gave little scream.
q We looked at each other; and tn
t truth came to both of us.
: "You were not engaged to Ros
4 Clifford ?" said i.
: " / never wanted any woman for
d wife but you" he said. I've pined fo
v you these long, long years.. And sh
r did this, my Aunt Tahitha. She al
b ways wanted me to marry Rose
L curse sss.
1 Hushw cried, "do not curse he
e she is dead"
IS And he sobbed.
d "Oh, my God, how have love
it you! And how have met you, an
e have learned the truth too late"
d And he kneItd down at my feet.
It And all my pride and strength LEI
me. Had l died for it, L must hav
l. done what did. 1 bent over hir
d and kissed his pale, broad forehead
l. and his dropped cyelids, and til