The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-07-30

DV uuuciotauu yOu, l. nuYe worked IOr
you faithfully, and you have paid me honor
ably, and 1 would rather die than deceive
you in any way. III have faults they are
under my control, and, if have been weak,
L shall find way to be strong. l know nv
duty, sir, and my proper sphere. 1 thank
you for honoring me with your gracious no.
tice. Trust me that it is not in vain.'
With sad, humble motion of her beauti-
ful head, she turned away-so meek, yet so
stately, that the old editor felt strangely
young about the heart, in spite of his frosty
head.
You are good girl, he said, giving her
a singularly tender glance. that seemed to
take in face, form and manner, at single
lifting OF the shaggy brows. You are q
good, truthful girl-give me your hand.'
Calmly she laid her small hand in his
white palm, saying, simply: 1T is an honest
hand, sir, aud the labor that soils it is no
disgrace.
Not bit, not bit, he replied kindly
slightly pressing the dainty fingers: then he
dropped it, and muttering a half audible she
will do abruptly left the room.
AS soon as the door closed on his stout
form, said TO Alice, Let us take him at his
word and 60 home.
She assented, and we were soon out in the
pleasant sunshine. Steep, dusty, editorial
stairs. creaking presses, and jarring engines
were left behind, and we were free.
After long silence, Alice began: L am
going to leave. the Office, Mary. You must
know how unhappy l am here. I shall die
if remain. 1t is torture to me. Indeed,
must 60 away
DO you love Allen S. SO much, so
deeply, that he has power, present or absent
to make our life wretched? / thought true,
love was trusting, sanguine, and ennobling.
1t has made you restless, dissatisfied and re-
bellious,' said, quietly.
Mary, we are not equals. Oh, if Allen
was only poor-poor as THEN life and love
might mean something! You see my folly
but do not censure me too harshly. / love
him; you know it-and | am not ashamed to
confess it-but it is hopeless, oh, so utterly
hopeless! Why, he has never breathed a
word Of love to me; yet think that-that
he would, if the gulf were not so wide. Oh,
] am miserable, and can only hide somewhere
until grow strong again!
But what of him? ! think he loves you
NOW
DO you, indeed' she cried, smiling radi-
antly. 'Oh, do you really think SO? But,
what matters it, after alp she added, the
Did you not comprehend his fathers motive
in seeking me to-day? saw and felt it too
plainly. Heaven help me! Mr.. s. is
rich and ambitious for his only son. Oh,
we'll he knows that have nothing but my
poor beauty and faithful heart to offer in ex-
change for the wealth and honor of his child's
proud name! Perhaps he fancies both dan
gerous means to lure his son away. Fancy
HIS son sacrificed for poor girls hearth
They say some men give all for beauty; l
wonder if it is true?'
True! fddlesticks! I interrupted, impa-
tiently. You must have poor opinion of
men. | have not, thank Heaven! They are,
generally speaking, good, and love and care
for some of us deal better than we deserve.
1t is their place to have the money, and ours
the beauty and amiability of the matrimoni-
al partnership. Some women delight in ex-
alting their lovers to the Skies and depreci-
ating themselves to the earth. Now it seems
to me that, if you love him rightly, you will
drop this question of ofstation at once and for
ever. What matters it on which side the
money is, if you both get the benefit of it?--
Your birth is as good as his; to be sure you
cannot drum rheumatic tunes from tortured
piano, and you have never waltzed about the
room with half dozen strange mems arms
around your waist in one evening; but you
can-or at least you did, until lately-talk,
think, and act sensibly; and if Mr.. Allen is
o man worth the minister's fee-which l am
confident he is-he will value you the more
for what you do not know. If all the fine
ladies of America end Europe that he has
met has failed to win him; if he has chosen
you, after seeing the world-remember he is
not boy in years and experience-and you
love him, why, in the name of Cupid, take
him..
There-you have it. There is no romance
about me, l assure you, but hope there is
fair share of common sense in my compost
tion; SO, pray you, don't be goose.
But his father, Mary? You forget
ooh, never mind his father! read that
grim old parent of his very differently. l
suppose it is because am not in
love with his wonderful son. Mr.. s. is
peculiar and abrupt, but l like his face i'm
mensely. In spite of his gruffness, venture
there is good, old heart beating under his
ample vest. have faith in human nature.
1t is not half SO bad as most people like to
paint it. Cruel fathers are seldom found
outside of novels only; there do parents -four
ish in vivid splendor Why should our edi-
tor covet rich wife for Allen? No doubt
DuI ue poeses bOlHe CuTlOSily dS we'll as eyes,
and merely wished to take a look at you;
and, on the whole, fancy that he was very
we'll pleased with little Alice Lee. So /
urge you to trust the old mans heart; it has
been young once, and is tender yet
Alice grvely listened to all this, but still
adhered to her first resolve of going away;
and mentally decided that she would not
put her resolution into execution.
lu NJ foil l..
Alice presented herself before the senior edi-
tors awful tribunal. She found him secure
ly fortified behind huge pile of exchanges,
armed with large pair OF sissors, gloomy
looking inkstand, and formidable array of
heavy pens. A forbidding pair of gold-rimed
spectacles were astride his nose, imparting
altogether very grave and not-to.be-disturb-
ed air, that was in perfect keeping with his
editorial duties.
'AhG he cried, peering at his shrinking
visitor through the shining glasses. We'll,
Miss?'
You desired to speak with me, sir; and
am here, replied Alice to his mystifying