Middletown transcript., 1871-03-25

vain appeal TO her, he quietly Ieft the
ncighborhood, and We heard that he had
removed TO the west Lucy was too much
enrnpturcd with her new lover to feel any
remorse or regrets at the departure Of the
old. llc was her escort on all our plea
sure trips. and the rest Of us began 10
look upon them as destined for each other.
As the summer months wancd, how
ever, aud my heart was growing resigned
to its sorrow, saw that be was gradually
becoming less infatuated with Lucy, and
to my great surprise, he began to hover
around my footsteps again. My pride
was weaker than my love, and | only too
gladly accepted his transferred attentions,
forgetting. in my joy. the pain might
be innicting upon another. At last he
became my constant attendant. and one
lovely moonlight night, as VIC rambled
through the Grange, be told me the old
old story. When spoke Of Lucy, he
said he admired her beauty, but had never
thought of her as a wife. With many
solemn declarations Of the most intense
affection for me. he drew from mo an ac-
knowledgemcnt Of my passion He told
me he was going south in day or two to
see his mother and prepare her to receive
his bride.
" When / return in the spring. shall
bring you testimonials to provo that I am
no imposter." he added lsuel.agly, "and
then 1 shall ask your father ior year hand
and expect you to name en- early dsy for
our wedding"
l was loath TO have him 60. so he prom
ised to come back in December, and to
correspond with me while gone. October
and November dragged YEARLY along,
despite the frequent letters that reached
me from Philip, assuring me of his ur-
dying devotion, and Of his mothers Gag
nercss to see me.
In the meantime, things went on quite
pleasantly at home--wth some at least
Harry and BERTHE were progressing iuely,
and Fannic's Irritation with Charlie threat.
encd to prove serioni. My heart was
swelling with love and joy, and my lips
we're ever ready to break forth into song.
excepting when l.ucy's pale face was near
10 haunt me with its cold, stormy. re-
proachful look Poor girl, how calm she
was under her great sorrow But could
see with pain that her life was slowly.
surely cbbing away She had loved w;,a
all the strength Of her being; loved as
one eau love but once in lifetime loved
with devotion that is painful to see in
any OF ear,h's creatures. But every fibre,
every tcndrcl Of that affection that had
clung with such close tenaci,y to It's idol,
had been cruelty, ru,hlcssly torn twaY,
aud there she lay mil,ed. dropping flow
cr, every sensitive organ quiyering with
agony. Had her life been suddenly crush
ed out, ii would not have seemed half so
pitiful as 10 have left her bruised and
manglcd, waiting, longing for death Yes,
in her anguish. know she would have
welcomed death gladly. She began to
plead = heart-aehc" quite often when a
pleasure trip was named, and We were
obliged to make up the party without her
| found her sitting alone one day in her
own room. which she seemed to love bet
ter than the Grange. where all was mirih
and joy, found her looking SO weary and
desolnte. tha, | went to her and throwing
my aims around her neck, with brave
eslor, sail
Lucy, you love Phillip. dom, you
Say that YOU do, and | will resign all
claims 10 him at once Ills ring burns
my fngers when see you looking so sad
= M, lleen, you must do nothing of
the kind 1t is not your fault that he
loves you best. Aud you could not help
loving him any more than | Yes, | did
love him can tell you. his bcthrothed,
aud mr dearest friend, but could not
breathe it to any ono else. not even to my
poor mother, who is SO alarmed nhou, my
sudden i'll health, but drcamci not of the
cause # it. Don't rcproach yourself.
Helen, | will soon get o.er it. Ny hear,
already feels lighter since you have shared
its secret"
She looked up half smilingly into my
face, and | felt relieved to find her SO
cheerful She even offered To 20 home
with me- After that she mingled more
freely wit US, and seemed her old self
again.
December came at last. and no one
welcomed il more warmly than l. On the
9Th Of the month cousin Edgar belmont
came home from college to spend his va
cation with US. His father had lcft him
1t the Grange ten years before, and gone
TO the East Indies. where be was accumu-
lating an immense fortune. Edgar was a
good match for Fannie in mischief, and
was on the best Of terms with her. He
was only eighteen. SO Charlie had no
cause for jcalonsly. Philip was expected
on the 18th, and We were all busy making
for grand party that was to
be given in honor of his arrival. The
day before tho party, | was In the pantry
picking over some currants. when Edgar
came in and sat down beside me. Aitcr
playing with the fruit moment. and
moving nervously in his chair. be said
quietly: Helen. have you ever heard
Mr.. Dunbar spcak Of Walter Newell, my
most intimate college friend p
Occasionally. Whys" asked with
some curiosity.
Mr.. Dunbar left y COLLEGE a rear