Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-11-24
Found In a Flower.

Excuse ms, but you were speaking Of
| Of"
"Young Graham's unfortunate affair with hi,
employers daughter
"Oh, yes, very sad; but the woman, as usual
gets more than her share Of the blame?''
| 'Ah? But you know her, | believe. Thel
she was not as heartless as the world call
her."
| 81 think not. He was presumptous she
proud, very proud; and was fatally mistaEen h
the character Of her regard. She was n friend
but his folly made even that impossible long
| err
| "Love and friendship, Miss Van Decken
| how may one judge between them?o.
His quick glance and flushing face wsre not
seen, for her eyes wera cast down. How could
she know that In this way the reserved Rus
sell Dayton put hisIate 10 the touch2
The tone was ca I'm enough; and lest she
| en- carelessly
"lntuitively; Of course, Mr.. DAYTON but it 4.
always best to remain on the safe side of any-
thing"
Just little pause between them, which be
was FIRST to break.
al am sorry to make my adieus so early In
the eveniny Miss Van Decken. | musi say
soou pye, also' Tor it VIII be many months be-
lore see you again, If ever. | am going
home! en
"Home!,
"ro my mother. Her health Is falling rapid
ly; but have only lately decided in which al.
roction my duty lay"
"Ah, had forgotten. You have been among
nss long that 1t seems strange 10 locate youT
nome 80 far away. We shall miss YOU, MIR.
Day ton, and many besides myself will hope for
your reun { New YORK"
"ThaDk you. The year hasa spent ia Tie
city has been pleasant one. The hospitality
extended to me by your father and Yourself
VIII always be gratefully remembered.
Officer"
easily, have no doabt."
"And you 60"
"As soon as complete my arrangements
WIN you give me this in token of your good
wishes? take them for granted, you see.s
lie touched, as he spoke half-bown rose,
which with others caught up the lace drapcry Of
her rich dress. She detached and gave ii TO
him, saying:
"Aly very best wishes for oue of nv best
friends" ' 'e''
commonplace words quiet, even tones of
voice; courteous handshake; an ordinarily
parting marked by the polish and ease of per-
feet good breeding; that was all; and yet Lou
lisa Van Decken learned IN those few mo.
ments, past all doubling, that the man to whom
she so quietly said "Good-bye" was taking her
Lies hope and happiness.
he went, with her words ringing through his
brain, set TO the mad music from the adjoining
ballroom.
"The safe side-the safe side" and to them
ne added sentence OF his own--She has saved
me from myself. God BILE, ,s her forever"
80 Two lives touched. If they could h ave
known. And separated to meet againa
IL.
Colonel oiiphent waited inpatently for the
iady' nut his impatience was moilfed, as,
standing on one side, he caught the words of ron,
versaton, and discovered that the Young man
he SO cordially and nnreasonably disliked was
not likely to cross his path again.
Miss Van Decken, escorted by the Co.ozel.
moved through the rooms.
81 wonder 1t she cares for hin'n question.
ed one OF the guests.
The Colonel also, who had puzzled over the
matter for much longer time, had resolved TO
have the answer that very night, and so ii came
about that Miss Van Decken was reused from
her painful abstraction by the tones other low
er's voice, as, alone with her al last, he uttered
the words which had so long irembled on his
lips.
81 have no love to give you, Colonel Oil
phant."
"rhen will ask for nothing but your ac-
ceptance of nine.n
She shook her head.
"t Is your fathers wish, he urged; do not
uisaPpoint us both. Give me the right to love
you. VIII trust TO time and circumstance fer
Its return"
There was long sobbing breath, and with
tns scaIre-ntteTed words, "For his sake then,n
she suffered her strangely accepted suitor 10
| take the hand which made HIN shlver as he
touched t--as ifit had been ice
"how well Miss Van Decl:en looks tonight
/ commented one.
/ "She is beautiful" came from another
what happy woman"
| The lady spoken Of caught the last two words
whom they referred.
"a happy woman" She pitied herself to think
they could never again apply to her; and yet
she had dreamed Of happiness once.
| Ill.
Society was correct In the prophecy that the
party given by the Van Dickens would be-
the finest affair of the season. 1t was really a
great success.
"Lucky Van Decken."
Fortunate Miss Van Decken,''
Oh most wise world.
I The news Of the lady's engagement to the
commanding colonel oliphant confirmed the
opinion.
"To be sure he is old enough to be her faith
er, and they do say he has u fearful temper;
but then he Is so fine looking and belongs to
sucha good family. Besides she will have
money enough for both" And so, for once,
wealth did not form one of the ingred tents In
what Mrs. Grundy considered ga splendid
match"
But three months after the splendid match,
which was consistent with ths splendid ,
wedding" came one Of those fearful crashes on
Wall street, so disastrous as to become histori-
cal, and "lncky old Van Deckeu" was thereat-
ter spoken of without The prefix of the first adj
"Well If he married ber for money, he has
just been come up with; but they do say he
abuses her shockingly. and what she endures
nobody knows. 1t Is fortunate her father didr u