The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-07-16
POPULAR TALES.
NIlLDRED,S LOVER.
by AMY RANDOLPH.

The wintry fires of the February sunset
were reflected from the western windows of
the old stone mansion at Towerswood; the
grove of cedars on the lawn swayed softly in
the keen blast; and Mildred Towers sat in
the window, one fair cheek resting on her
hand, almost unconscious of the flight of
time.
Mildred was handsome with royal style
of face and form. Tall, with long, aabas-
ter-like throat, and an almost naughty bal
ance of the head, the searching fire of her
dark eyes seemed to read your heart like an
open volume. You would have never deemed
it possible that Mildred Towers could fail in
love; yet it was even so.
He is gone she fi1urmured, restlessly
wringing her slender, pearl-tinted hands,
'and it will be whole month before l see
him again. My Walter! my promised hus-
band how sweet the strange words seem!
And the heress gazed out upon the deep
ming twilight, with shy, smiling eyes, and
cheek where rose-red lights of Love burned,
the signal that the fortress within had sur
rendered.
And Walter Leslie riding along the snowy
road to catch the five o'clock, through ex.
press, of what was he thinking?
Its confounded bore, reflected the hero
of Mildred Towers, dreams, as he checked
his horse to light segar he drew from a
dainty embroidered case, in his breast pocket.
"a week of such steady devotion is enough to
take the starch out Of any fellow. After all,
if l wasn't so desperately hard up, should
hardly think her forty thousand dollars worth
the trouble ....
Walter Leslie laughed as he pondered thus.
1t was a relief to set aside, even temporari.
ly, the mask he had been wearing.
AT all events, he thought, Il have got
whole months reprieve, ere | come back TO
put on the gilded chains of Benedict the
married man, and the deuce will be in it if l
don't improve the timen
So Mr.. Leslie went back to the gay ne
tropolis, and Mildred remained behind to
watch and wait, and treasured up his words
and glances, as though they had been so ma
ny precious jewels
"A letter from Aunt Verona Somervillev
Mildred opened it, and glanced eagerly along
the closely written lines. She thinks had
better come up to town myself to see about
the finishing touches of the wedding dress.
and my own Judgment would be preferable to
that OF the MODESTO. Well, perhaps she is
right. And then, added Mildred, with the
soft sparkles lighting up her eyes, Il could
surprise Walter so charmingly-my dear
Waiter! Oh, yes, I'll go to the city; but
first / must write to Aunt Verona to be sure
and not divulge single word of my secretr
There never was happier pair than Aunt
Verona and Mildred Towers, as they sat by
the red glimmer of the dressng-room fire,
drinking chocolate from tiny cups of Sevres'
china, and talking over the engagements al
ready projected for Mildred's briet stay.
~ GU are sure w alter don't know anything
about my being in town?
Quite sure, l saw him last night at the
private view of Mrs. Donnycostle's picture
gallery
Dear Walter! Is he not noble, Aunt We
roma?
'He is a very handsome young man.
Wv do you speak SO doubtfully, Aunt
Verona?' o15 ,uo,,,0,, ord
Well, my dear; 4 -, N NV ideas: but
may be bit old fashioned H. -, the wav
somehow don't just exactly llky all
Walter Leslie has of being SO devoted tu
the reigning bellies, and beauties
That's because he don't want our enoape-
ment to be generally known and commented
on.
But that doesn't make it necessary for
him to hang over them, and quote poetry TO
them, and play the devoted saint in general,
does 1t! However, you needn't look SO dis |