The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1873-08-17
Written for the Sunday IIernld.l
MlLDRED'S FATE.
CHAPTER /.
by NJ. II. NJ.

CHAPTER i.
"And this Is your final answer Nil
dred?r The speaker was tall, hand
some man, of Internationally, wit
dark blue eyes, and curling brown hal
that shaded a brow of almost feminin
fairness. CATER allowing me to toll OF
for four long years in the hope of win
ming you at last, you tell me, now, tina
you have been mistaken in your feel
ings, and are not ready to marry. lol
surely never loved me, or you coulC
not have changed as you have"
eyes, I did love you once, Harold,
answered soft, well-cultivated voice
"but that was years ago, when | wa'
nothing but chiId-mere boy anC
girl romance" and Mildred Living
stone laughed low, affected laugh, as
she twiGled diamond ring around hel
slender finger. az really 10 not care
in that way for you now, and think
am right to tell you so, but do Hike
you very much as friend, and shall
be really veXed if you do not stay for
my party tomorrow evening"" She
looked up into his face as she conclud-
cd, and met his calm, truthful eyes, be-
fore which her own fell in some confu-
sion as he replied
"Thank you; do not care to stay
my mission here has been fruitloss; |
Shall return on the early train to-mor-
row morning, and shall say goodbye
tonight
"Have you my letters with you?"
she inquired, 81 must ask you to re-
turn them, and, if you wish, | will
send you yours"
"You shall have them in the morn
ing" he said coldly, and rising from
his chair beside her, he bowed his fare
well, and turned away, without even
clasping the hand he had pressed so
often and so fondly.
ooh dear !" sighed Mildred, ~ am
glad it is overn and she went to her
luxurious apartment, and began try
: ing the effect of anew set of diamonds,
purchased for her adornment, by her
uncle, with whom see lived
Six years before, she and Harold
Ethridge were childish lovers. Living
in adjacent houses, they had played
together in the sweet innocent days Of
childhood, and had plighted boy and
girl faith when he grew old enough
to leave his home and earn a name
and fortune in distant city. His par
ents were just able to give their only
son an education, fitting him for bust
ness, leaving nothing in the way of
capital from the proceeds of their lit
lie farm while her widowed mother,
who lived in small cottage near the
public road, was their nearest noighbor,
>and supported herself and little daugh-
ter by her needle and the sale of bo-
quets to the many passers-by who
stopped to admire the pretty flowers in
front of the cottage.
About six months after Harold Eth
ridge left home, Mrs. Livingstone sick
ened and died suddenly, leaving Mil
dred, who was nearly fifteen, entirely
alone in the world.
Harold's mother took the young girl
home with her from her mothers flu
neral, and lavished upon her all the
loving sympathy of her generous heart.
She had been living at the farmhouse
several months, when Harold visited
his home and found her fast ripening
into lovely woman, whose soft eyes
and delicate complexion gave promise
of exceeding beauty. They parted on
lis return to the city, firmly pledged
to each other, and she became the
lodestone of his life, to which all his
finer, higher senses Involuntary
turned.
He worked with renewed ardor and
stroye Increasingly 70 make himself
every way worthy OF the gentle heart
so sacredly pledged to him. Long, low
ing letters came to him every week,
and in return he wrote her pages Of
imprisoned worship, telling her all
his hopes and plans, but suppressing
any mention Of his trials, that he
might not wound even the sympathics
of the gentle girl who loved him.
A year passed and Fannie Ethridge
received letter, written in strange
hand, inquiring for the orphan daugh-
ter the widow Livingstone, saying