The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-11-04

"Indeedl" said Clarence, surprised.
Then seeing that his fair visitor looked
somewhat embarrassed, he said: care
your father and sister well r.
every well thank you"
"Whsre are your brother and his
wife ?"
"My brother is not married. Have
you not heard OF Mr.. Vardelli's death,
and of the wedding that was delayed in
consequence"
81 had not heard Of it. When did
Mr.. Vardelli die -
"About one year ago."
There was pause, during which
Helen's little foot tapped the floor rest
lessly. At last she said:
"Mr. Howard that marriage will
pever take place. Do not look incred-
ulous, it is true. Gilbert knew that he
would receive the hand without the
heart, but he did not know until Mr.
Ward ELI told him on his death bed,
that Lenore had loved another. He
did not know who that other was, but
when her father told Lenore not to wed
unless she loved, my brother knew that
his hopes were crushed After the
funeral Gilbert sought an interview
with Lenore, in which she told him
that according to her fathers dying re-
quest and the dictates of her own heart,
she could not be his. They parted as
warm friends. Of what Gilbert has
suffered, / will say nothing. l have
since learned Mr.. Howard, that yOu
were the one she loved"
''She did not love me. She trifed
with my heart awhile, and then threw
it away as child will toy of which it
has tired" n......I
"Hush ! You must not speak so of
one who is innocent. Hear the rest of
my narrative, and then Judge. Iloved
Lenore dearly, and after her fathers
death did all in my power to cheer
the lonely orphan. ''Father asked her
to make her home at our house, but
she said that under the circumstances,
she could not accept his invitation.
About month ago l was spending the
evening with her, and she told me of
her love for you, and of the engagement
that had existed between you and her
self, and Of your request to break the
engagement
"Ay request e. interrupted Clarence.
eyes! Did you not write letter TO
that effect7"
"Never!" said Clarence, turning
pale. "Who could have written it I"
Not needing his question, Helen pro-
ceeded; "Lenore tried 10 forget you
but could not 1t would be unpardon-
able in me, under any other circum.
stances, to reveal the hoiest emotions
of friends heart. but ] do it to secure
her happiness. | wondered at your
casting away, thus eareleSsly, the love
my brother would give all else for. But
in few W eeks after this the mystery
was solved. was passing the door ol
VIII at used to be Mr.. Vardelli's study
Mr.. Lane, the lawyer whs was there
arranging IGNORES affairs for her, r,came
to the door and handed me q package
of letters, saying: "These letters had
never been opened | have opened
two of them. They seem to be cor
respondence between Miss Vardelli and
a Mr.. Howard Please give them to
Miss LenOre, as do not think they
relate to Mr. Vardeli's business. He
smiled as he said this, and shut the
door Instantly the truth flashed across
my mind. Mr.. Vardelli had intercepted
the letters. The note she received as
she supposed from you, was probably
written by him, as l have heard my
father say that Mr.. Yardelli could INIT
tate hand writing well. l did not give
the letters to Lenore, knowing that sh e
was sad enough any way. l have not
seen the contents of them. Mr.. How
ard, here they are." She laid them in
his extended hand, and walked to the
window and looked out. Clarence read
Lenore's letters. There were only two.
One was anxiously inqui ring if he was
sick, that he did not write, and he
glanced at his own letters. They were
written to ask the cause of her silence,
but they had never reached her. Yes,
Lenore was innocent. Then Helen
looked at him again, she noticed what
a change there was in his face. A
glad light shOne in his eyes, and smile
rested on his ha ndsome face.