The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-05-26

tog, ther one evening" Somebody was
announced t. speak in Music Hall
wouldn't Ralph 60 down? 1t was still
early when they took their seats, and
there were few people in Slowly up the
aisle came lady and gentleman. Ralph
/ looked up to see bis Eta but who was
lthis, with his .bronzed, handsome face
and foreign air
Captain Tiieston, as hve!" said
Marks, g didn't know he had arrived
you know him 30
No" said Ralph, shortly,
"Ah, thought you did; but he has
been abroad two years. What beauRi
full. girl that Miss Stuart isl haven't
lseen her equal in the city this season.
She looks happy to get back her knight
ferant Well, Tileston is lucky dogr
What do you mean ?" said Ralph,
with an agitation he could scarcely con
ceal.
why don't you know? They have
been engaged three years. Capt. Tiles
ton went with Frank Evans to Spring
| field, and met this girl here-Franks
cousin, you know. 1t was all up with
him from the first time he saw her.-The
day was fixed for their wedding, but
Tleston had q severe hemorrhage Of the
lungs. and the doctors said noching
/ would save him but travel He looks
we'll enough now"
" You know all his, Charley? It's no
mere rumor?" Ralph's hand was on his
friends arm.
"Know it?" Charl Y stared, "Yop
don't want me to take my oath on it, do
you? By Jove, Ralph, body would
suppose you were personally intereste ed y
| Poor Ralph the chance shot recel He'd
him to his senses. He sank back again
in his seat, essaying a faint reflection OF
! Charley's quIzzical smile. He sat
through the hour TOO utterly stunned toI
realize anything beyond u vague, terrible
sense Of loss-onlv knowing the lecture
over by the tumult of applause that burst
forth, and the noise Of the audience
rising to go out Once IN the street, il
was an unexpected relief that Marks
launched out into animated criticism oil
the speaker'e opinions, too eager himsclfI
TO notice the abstraction of his Iestener.
Before the dawn Of the morning tina,
| followed that sleeplAss night, the first
ltumultuous surges of grief had passed. |
and Ralph looked his trouble in the face |
resolved to bear it like the brave fellow
that he was. He did not reproach Eta
now, though the temptation had been
u sore one at first doubtless she supposed
the fact Of her engagement too widely
known to have had thought of caution;
Eonly a foolish blindness could have made
him mistake the kindness, which her
noble heart toward all alike, for some
thing more personal and tender Then
how could she know how he had loved
her? TIe had never told her 80, he
thought, bitterly, although in those few
months she had grown to be so much a
part of all his life, that as yet he was too
weak to think of the desoate years that
seemed to stretch endlessly before him
without her. Life was made up of
moments-he could bear them, one by
one, TILL may be, strength would come
with endurance.
Flint, senior, was waiting for him as
| he went in.
"a few minutes conversation, II you
please, Mr.. Field" he said.
! Ralph followed him to the Office.
What new leaf in his book of fate would
be turned tins time?
| Mr. Flint was man of few words,
and the expression of warm commenda-
ton with which he grasped Ralph's
hand, and drew him into chair beside
him, meant very much, coming from him.
| There had been letters by the last nights
steamer-the Paris agency was vacant
some one must go on Immediately. There
was no one who he could trust more
implicitly than Mr.. Field-no one of
whose success he should feel more proud.
Would Mr. Field take the places
Poor Ralphs cheek flushed for one
moment, with a glow of honest pride :;
then, with a bitter pang, came the
thought, How much this would have
been worth to me yesterday ; but to day
81 am very grateful for the honor you
pay me, Mr.. Flint" he said III have
tried to do my duty will try still
thank you'll will go" s3a3
And SO it was settled AaH
Busy in his room that night with pre-
parations for his journey, Ralph took
from his desk little packet, touching it
tenderly and sadly, as one might gather
a flower off grave. The pretty hand
kerchief, withered rose or two--that
was all. Was he less manly that a few
tears fell silently drops that could
bring back no fresh bloom to the faded
blossoms Turning with sudden impulse,
he took pen and paper 1t was little
letter, the last wall of dying hope:
ETA My Eta, had thought to
say, but the time for that has gone by.
God forgive me if L should write need
less word to pain the truest heart that
lever beat. love you too truly not toll
rejoice that you are happy, and l would |
not have one sad thought of me come In
to cloud your perfect sunlight I heard |
last night, for the first time, of your en-
gagement to Can't Tileston. Nav God