The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-04-18

YOU and your house it would never have
come about, Now can't you follow the
example Z shan't say what 1 once
thought about you, but do know some
body, and L wish you would come up and
let me give you away"
Isabel let the letters fall. So this,
then, was the end and he had never
loved her-never and that last night
she had so nearly betrayed herself Oh,
how she loved him that night, and long
ed that he would but speak That
night, and always-for years and years
at least ! And he had never loved her
all the time In the full, deep misery
of the knowledge there was to her but
the one consolation that she had not be-
trayed herself-that her secret was and
ever should be her own. She disciplined
her heart for that night wrote two let
ters of reply and congratulation lin
which, however, she could not force her
self to mention Frank Rowan's name) I;
and announced that she was soon about
to leave Florida for some other climate,
she was not yet certain where. When
she had sealed these letters she felt as if
she had signed her farewell to life and
hope and all that would have made life
worth the having. She left Florida in a
few DAYS, and crossed the ocean to
Europe, and for whole year was utter
ly lost to the friends who gathered I'M
der the roof of her old home.
III.
Twelve months had passed away, and
at the door of the old home stood Isa-
bel once again. She had grown weary
of her life in Europe, and she now be-
lieved herself cured of her idle love. So
she had returned to her own country
and driven partly by friendship for Mrs.
Alsager, partly by nameless impulse,
she went to the old house. She stood
for moment at the little side gate so
familiar to her. then opened it and went
in
1t was "a beautiful evening of early
summer, and the grass and the garden
looked friendly and winning to the eyes
of poor lonely Isabel. Their very friend
illness overpowered her, and she had to
stop for moment in order to get the
tear-drops out of her eyes. As she
stood she saw two figures seated on q
bench under tree, young man and
young woman. She knew Alice's fair
hair and graceful figure, although the
girls face was turned away and her
heart beat with cruel pang as she saw
the dark curls of the young man. His
face too she could not see but nobody
could fail to perceive at glance that
these two were young married pair
Isabel determined to crush weakness
that seemed shameful and selfish to her
She soOuM go up and frankly offer her
congratulations. But suddenly the
| -, H. l., -
face, and it was not the face of Frank
Rowan 1t was like him-that is
somewhat like-but it was not he Alice
now was nesting in his arms. Surely
this must be her husband, yet as surely
it is not Frank Rowan!
Isabel felt the blood mount to her
forehead, and her eyes grew dim and the
tears seemed to flicker and become en-
veloped in mist. She had not been
seen by the young married pair. and she
avoided them and fastened to the house
The door stood open, and, unseen by any
one, she entered the old familiar room
where the piano used to stand. A piano
was there still, and the folding-deor
were nearly closed. Isabel was about
to ring the bell in order to make her
presence known, when she heard two
voices in the adjoining room and she
could not move from where she stood
the sounds and words had a fascination
for her. She seemed to have no choice
left she could only stand and listen.
: "My poor Frank" said the voice oi
Mrs. Alasger, "I am so grieved about
you and about her ! But, you foolish
boy, why didn't you speak out in time =
81 don't know-I hadn't the courage
and even if / had, what would have
been the use? She never could have
loved me know it."
1t was the voice of Frank Rowan
, which spoke thus
How would your brother have got
, his wife if he hadn't at least given Alice
, chance for accepting him Z Do yor
think she could have proposed fol
him Z"
"Eustace is better fellow than an
every way and then Alice was alway,
near-and you were SO kind But i
| was different with as mean with m
and now l have lost her forever"
Frank" said Mrs. Alsager, speaking
: in very grave tone, "do you know,
| always suspected that in her heart Isa
bel Germaine loved you z"
"Oh, Mrs. .Alsager, don't torture m,
) for nothing. 1t can not be- If it wer,
, so, why should she have gone away il
r such manner left us without worc
to let us know where even friendly
, line might reach her Z"
| THAT very thing is one of my rea
: sons can't tell why, but 1 have Otter
, thought we were not clear enough il
, explaining about Alices marriage.
: took it for granted that your father haC
explained everything, he took it fo
, granted that / explained, and we neithe
) of us did; and 1 fear we made sal
3 blunder of it"
> ."But what could that have had to d,
: with her sudden disappearance 2"
: Don't you understand !? Can't yol
> guess 2"
, II don't understand / can't guess.
} "Suppose she thought it was you, anC
not Eustace, that was to marry Alice !?
5 There was sudden sound as if Franl
l had sprung to his feet, and he ex
1 claimed,
"Oh, Mrs. Alsager, if could only be
r lieve in that, would search the who'll
world for her until found her And
7 would bring her back or kill myself be
3 fore her eyes! What is life to me with
. out her 2"
Isabel could endure no more. A sud
Q den inspiration seized her. She turne,
| to the piano and played few hurried
5 and tremulous bars of the old and fam
| iliar farewell air which he knew SO well