The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-09-28

OtuSI ulHlusb IIOU CuluuuOus ue ue'
parted upon tour through Europe; and
while away false report Of his marriage
to a foreign belle was circulated. Laura
ut first laughed at 1t, then listened to II,
then believed Il; and, stricken by anguish,
and overcome by tho estimation Of her
family, was married, without love, to u
man old enough TO DO her father. Sir
Rupert returned from abroad still faithful
to her, and was confronted, upon his
arrival, by the news Of her marriage. He
refused to believe It; he was wild In his
denials and disbelief but when his old
friend Hayes, with sad look upon his
handsome face, attempting to speak to
him, broke down, and could only wiring
his hand, he knew that It was too true
Then his wrath arose, and, with q face
as white and set as the face Of corpse,
no called upon the bride. He had Ia.
tended 70 be pitiless and stern with her,
but one look at her pale, anguish stricken
iace-one glance from her eyes, which
spoke unutterAble sadness and woe
broke down his resolution, and tho strong
man wept like o child. Her agony
was pitilul 10 zee. She begged his
forgiveness; she knelt at his feet and i'm.
plored his pardon; she offered to fly with
him to the uttermost parts Of the earth
to leave nameiand reputationlbehlnd her,
and cleavet to him, but he gently put her
from him, and said No.
lie loved as few men love, and, with q
wondrous nobility OF soul, and q power
born Of this true love, he refused toallow
q breath OF scandal to sullY her fair fame;
and, with passionate kiss Of rCnuncia.
ton, he left her, and went out into the
world-alone.
All this had taken place years before,
and since that time they had met as
friends only. Their love had never chang.
ed, and it was only when their eyes met
that the hungry look lett them and they
became bright. Laura acknowledged the
wonderful purity OF q love which could
voluntarily put away Joy tor the sake OF
honor, and she loved him the more for
this nobility Of soul. In Mrs. Vanderdeck.
ems eyes his sins were as nothing COM
pared with the beauty of this act. Albert
Hayes, alone Of all the men, knew of the
sore, heavy heart his friend carried; and
he was quick to resent sneer or insult
directed against him. And this is why
Mrs. Hoffman, that night, at Mrs. Wien
SAINTS grand ball, said so gratefully: ~
thank you, Mr.. Hayes"
As she spoke, Avery entered the room.
He had been more than usually reckless
that day. 1t was the anniversary of his
return home, and the old longing had
come buck upon him stronger than ever.
The hopeless, weary look was more plain.
ly visible upon his face, and Mrs. Wander.
decken with difficulty stifed sob as she
returned his salutatiOn.
"My poor, poor boyl" she said.
ut isnothing," Unanswered; lam used
to it. Is Laura here this EVENING""
"Yes," replied Mrs. Vanderdecken;"
there she stands talking to Mr. Hayes"
Sir Rupert looked across the room and
saw her. His eyelids trembled, and
something suspiciously like tear fell
upon his cOatsleeve as he turned again TO
to Mrs. Vanderdecken, and said in a tone
OF voice so utterly weary and hopeless
that it startled her:
at is five years tonight! must speak
with her"
"Five years So 1t is" said Mrs. Van.
derdecken;" show long time"
thine p he answered; "it has seemed
eternityp Then, with a powerful effort,
he mastered his emotion, and moved
across the room with careless ease. Hayes
saw him coming and stepped quietly
aside, and the lovers were left alone.
Laura !" said Author in low, tender
voice.
She had not seen him enter, and the
surprise was too great. She started; gave
him one long, passionate look; then her
eyes dropped, and she grew pale as
death.
Laura" said he, "yoars have passed
since last spoke words of love or of
myself 10 you. Ihave tried to be faithful
to my;part, and you have nobly done
your duty. It has seemed an eternity. Of
torment 10 me; and have seen how hard,
how terribly hard, it mas been upon you,
my darling"
His low, sweet voice fingered cares.
ingly upon these last words, and sent a
thrill OF love, hope, and despair through
the heart of his listener. She saw again
the cold, pale face of her lover, five years
before; she heard again his passionate re.
proaches; she saw him kneeling at her
feet, the tears streaming from his eyes;
then she saw him erect, nobly refusing
the sacrifice Of hersel! she had offered 10
make; and the room swan before her and
began to grow dark. And suddenly an
ominous silence fell upon all. Sir Rupert
noticed tho sudden stiffness, and the
glance turned upon them; and with a
whisper that was all love, he recalled her
10 the present, and saved her from faint.
ing. While they had been standing there,
unheedtul Of everything but their love
and sorrow, messenger had arrived In
great haste, and their hostess had been
summoned from the room.
A few minutes passed; the guests look.
ed at one another in silence and forgot to
dance; then Mrs. Vanderdecken was call.
cd, and q hurried consultation took place,
A sense Of impending trouble made itself
apparent; then whisper passed around
that it was a call from the dying; the
music stopped suddenly, and the guests
knew that Mr.. Hoffman had had d para.
lytic stroke, and that there was no hope
Of his recovery. Death is a grim subject
at all times; and it was this rumor oil
death, circulating about the ballroom,
which caused the sudden silence which
Avery had noticed. What happened
aiterWard, neither he nor Laura could
ever remember distinctly. She was whis'
tied away in her carriage; and ho, lighting
o cigar, strolled down town to play away
the remainder Of the night. He had q
wonderful run Of luck and won steadily,
but found no rGleit, and at last gave it up;
and, with tho relentless spirit Of unrest
pursuing him, walked the streets until
the day dawned. Then, thoroughly worn
ont and Mretchch he WENT TO his rnnma