The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-06-12
| sa-plant, and a faint color came to her

~. L KNOW you GU" waltz
But here
He should have appreciated the
maidenly delicacy visible in that blush
1.-The WOmanlY purity OF the love which
shone In the soft uplifted eyes-but he
did not. His nature was too coarse for
that.
And the next moment they were
whirling away in the dizzy dance, his
arm clasped about her waist, her flush.
ed cheek resting upon his shoulder,
his moustache sweeping her hair. They
we're both splendid walters, and most
of the dancers paused to observe their
movements. This evening and thence.
after, they were constant partners in
the waltz.
was protracted to several weeks. His
engagement to Alice was not publicly
known; and 1 now more than once
overheard remarks upon his devotion
to Marion Moore, and OF how well
suited they were to each other.'
Alice, when do you expect to be mar
ried p once asked.
Il do not know. AS soon as Mr., Lud>
low can afford it,
IF he can afford to spend weeks at a
hotel, away from his business, and IN
riding, and such expensive amuse.
ments, he can afford home of his own,
1 should think 1 answered, with some
asperity.
Alice was silent.
Has he never proposed or fixed a
time for your marriage p continued.
| He has said nothing definite upon
the subject, only that we must wait I'M
til his means are such as to enable US
to live In more comfort than We could
at present.
From this time had my suspicious
OF Mr.. Francis Ludlow. 1 doubted
whether he really loved Alice, or really
desired that she should become his
wife. fancied that he had been all
these -four years. amusing himself,
gratifying his selfishness by appropria-
ting this lovely girl as his own, yet with
no intention of ultimately marrying
her, should he meantime change his
mind or find more advantageous
match. Alice was poor; and could
perceive good portion OF worldliness
| in the nature of Mr.. Francis Ludlow
DO you really love him, Alice?'
asked, one day, when her engagement
had been incidentally alluded to be-
tween US.
She looked reproachfuly at me.
If did not, should be now engaged
! to him?'
'But-excuse me, AliCe-he seems to
me so different from the man l should
fancy your husband
'Idon't know she answered Thought
fully. Il was only sixteen when first
met and loved him. and 1 have loved
him ever since. What was at first a
girls fancy has grown and deepened
into a woman's love-
Yes-that, no doubt, was the secret of
1t. He had been her first, as 1 was sure,
knowing her as did, he would be her
last love. Not from any excellent or
loveable qualities of his own, but from
the depth and devotion of the girls own
nature, and the affection, robing its
idol in everything desirable.
So sat, looking half-pityingly, half
admiringly upon my cousin. and vague
ly wondering whether Il should ever
experience such feeling. lIwas only
eighteen at that time:
i wonder what it is like said, half
laughing and half in earnest, this
woman's love of which we hear and
read so much. Does 1t resemble any
other of our feminine affections, Alice?
Can you describe to me just how you
feel toward Mr.. Ludlow 2
She had been leaning her arm on the
window sill looking dreamily out upon
the rose-tinted sunset sky. But at my
Question she turned slowly, her face
full of IA sweet seriousness, her large
eyes gazing into mine with an earnest
light, shining LUMINOSITY through tears.
JOSIE she said, slowly, there is no
expression for woman's love. Some
times my heart aches with its fullness
with all the bnrthen of love that l
bear him-and then can only bow my
head in silent prayer that God may
bless MINDLESS him now and forever
She covered her face with her hands,
and 1 saw that her bosom heaved and
transparent rosy glow flushed all her
brow and neck.
'Alice,' I said, slowly, suppose he
were to prove false to you-tO cease to
love you-what would you do?'
The flush faded suddenly away, as
she answered, almost in whisper
Il should die!'
A few days after this, Mr.. Ludlow
left MS, and returned to NJ. And
shortly thereafter, our little party broke
up-each OF us girls departing to her
own home.
Alice wrote to me frequently. At
first she always mentioned Mr.. Lud-
low, but by degrees his name ceased to
occur in her letters. And when I en-
quired where he was, and whether their
wedding day had yet been fixed, she
replied that he had been absent some
weeks, and that nothing had as yet
been decided in regard to their marri
ge.
A long silence followed on the part OF
Alice. But at length, in June. 1 res
ceived a brief note from her, begging
me to come to her Immediately. A
postscript from Aunt Dorothy second
ed the request; adding that Alice was
far from we'll.
Three days thereafter was at Aunt
Dorothy's little old fashioned pictures
que farm house, near NJ.
AS Alice came to the hall. door to
meet me, I was struck with the Gx-
treme pallor and fragility of her ap-
pearauce. She bent to kiss me, not i'm
pulsively as formerly, but with a long,
tender kiss, and the faint shadow of |
smile on her lip.
lam 30 grateful that you have come,
Josie. did so want to see you.'
But you are Ill, Alice. How changed |
you are y l could not help exclaiming.
Am I2' she said, lisllessly.
You have been sick p
mo; not sick. But come upstairs. |
You look tired with your journey, and |
must rest awhile.'
did not dare question her. 1 knew |
instinctively what had happened. 1t
was not until had been a whole week |
with her that the name of Francis Lud-
low was mentioned between us.
Where is Mr.. Ludlow now, Alice p
She turned TO me with face the sud.
den agony OF which cannot forget.
Dear Josie-don't ask me. 1 thought
I could bear 1t, but I cannot-I cnnn0tu
And 1 saw that her slight frame was
quivering all over with the keen an
guish within.
From others 1 soon learned that Alice
could not tell me. Mr.. Ludlow was
shortly to be married to Miss Marion
Moore, the belle and heiress. A great
match for him, they said, If only it
came to be a match; but Miss Moore
was such a f1irt There was no trusting
In her 'eugagements.'
Alice faded slowly-becoming each |