The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-01-19
THE NoBLER LOVE.

twenty years ago. Colonel Shlrle,
was a man of about forty; fair-hair
ed, handsome, middle,aged Englisl
gentleman-a man who you might rs
sumo never uttered a fine sentiment i,
his life, even in his love-making, ane
never did mean thing. His wifi;
was year or two younger, and was
handsome, with pale face and darl
brown eyes. There was somewha
worn or wasted look about her fea
lures, which made her seem as if sh,
bore her years less lightly than he
husband, although his hair was AHEAD,
growing gray, while hers was as pure
ly brown and glossy as it could hay.
been in the days of her maidenhood
Some letters were lying on the Ia
table when Colonel Shirley and hi,
wife entered the breakfast room. On,
of the letters was addressed to Mrs
Shirley, and bore the postmark of tn,
United States.
"a letter for you, Alice" said hel
husband; land from America. Hay.
you any friends there?"
No, dear; at least l don't remem-
Der any"
He handed her the letter. TIL,
handwriting was strange to her. She
opened the envelope, and found tha
it contained two letters, one opened
one sealed. AS she saw the writing
on the letter, her face flushed and hel
hands trembled. She read both, and
her eyes filled with tears. Colonel
Shirley was deep in his own CORES
pondence.
Arthur, DEAR" said his wife, appeal
ing for his attention, "please read
those" and she laid the two letters
before him, one above the other.
The first he glanced at was from an
old-fashioned, second-class boarding
house in Canal street. New York. and
merely informing Mrs. Shirley that Al
Englishman who had been living
there but short time, and who was
now dead, had written letter short.
ly before his death which ne desired
to have forwarded 10 her. He wished
that it should not be sent until after
his death, and that 1t should be ac.
companied by an intimation that be
was no more.
The other letter ran thus:
Il am dying, Alice-dying; and my
mind is miserable about my poor lit
tie child. A kind family out in the
West are now taking care of her for
me: but they cannot make her their
child Will you have her, Alice, and
make her your daughter-for the sake
of old remembrances, and as sign
that you have forgiven me? l hear
that you are rich, and that your hus-
band is high-minded, generous man;
and perhaps he Will not refuse this
burden. | have suffered deeply, as
you know. Ny other children-two
are dead. She, their mother, has
long since left me, and gone to shame.
l can tell you no more of her. That
my daughter may never come to know
OF her existence is my prayer. You
will do this, Alice, l know, and have
my thanks in anticipation. Ah, God,
how noble and good you always were!
AS | write. all the past comes back on
me and love you-so much that ]
thank Heaven you found stronger
arm and stronger heart than mine to
lean on. If you will grant me this
last favor, write or send to" land
then followed an address in Western
State) my daughter is five years
old. Her name is Rachel Alice; but
l wish the first name to be dropped
and to have her called by the second
name-your own name. My graft
tude already to Colonel Shirley. TIC
yourself eternal thanks and blessing.
and good-by."
The letter was signed, "HESR1
JOHN LEWIS"
Colonel Shirley had known the
story ofthis man. Henry John Levi.
was once handsome, brilliant, gen
erous, weak-minded, impulsive young
fellow, who was in love with Alice
Shirley, then a girl, and whom she
deeply loved. They were engaged
She had overlooked a good many de
fects in his character because of hel
love for him. He went with his regi
ment to India. (he was in the army,
and there fell madly in love with al
actress and singer who had come out
from England on theatrical ant
money-making expedition. This wo
man obtained immense control owe
him; and the upshot was that her loy
er, whose return she was expecting
every week, was married to the ac
tress. His career then went steadil,
downward He left the army; h,
became wild and reckless; his wife
conduct and manner kept him in per
petual misery and doubt. At last sh
left him altogether, in company witt
an officer who, brilliant like Lewis
himself, and now, like him, brok
down, had taken to the stage as pro
fession, and was going to Europe
Lewis took his little daughter, tn
only child left to him, and made hi
way somehow to the United States
hoping to recover health, characte
and fortune there, in which attempt
as we know, he broke down and died
All the early part of this story Co
Shirley had known. When he fell i
love with the woman now his wifi
and urged her to marry him, she toll
him the story of her life, and tol
him too that the full feryor of her a
feetion had been given to the wea
and worthless man who deserted he
Shirley honored her for her cando
and found no fault with her early loy.
He still asked her to give him whs
affection she could; and she yielde
at last, and they were married. The
had now had many years of quie
happy life, but they had no childrel
/ Colonel Shirley read the letter, an