The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-11-01

A wOMAN'S LIFE.
81 n L NkKKDirs


CHAPTER ~
He WAS an acquaintance once, saiO
Ella to herself, repeating Mauds words
There is some mystery here he Is !. dis
carded sultor, perhaps. Who knows but
this man may be Of use so me yet lie
IS half way in love with me, anu If | 4,
not mistake, his cha -acter is revengeful il
SO. he will BE g!ai OF an opportunity to
get even sith my lady, Maud" +"
As thesa thoughts flashed through her
mind, gleam of triumph sh"ne IN the
dark eyes. and bowing to Maud, she hast
ily left the room that she might think over
some plan for the ruin Of Maud's happl-
ness
Early the next morning porter Il nui
the hotel took note To Mr.. Melton. re-
questlng him To call on Miss Nelson At his
earliest cony ulence. A long, private con
versation was the result of the request.
and AS the young man met Maud on the
stairs, as he was leaving the hotel, Il,
bowed 50 politely, and smiled So pleasantly
that she was sure he had repented him ui
his evil threats and forgiven her for any
imaginary wrong at her hands.
During Maud's stay at the hotel, Mr..
tions to Miss Nelson being undivided but
to Maud he was kind and painfully polite
all thoughts Of the past seemed to have
faded from his mind That he was deeply
in love with Ella, no one could doubt, and
George went SO far as to offer his cungrat-
ulations to Mr. Melton. A flush passed
swiftly over his face. and simply thanking
him, he turned away.
II was the last night of our party stay
in the college town. The next morning
George Lyle, Mr. Nelson and Ella would
take the steamer for the Old country, and
Mr. Lyls's party would return to then
home
George and Maud were having last
conversation in the parlor, aud Ella had
gone for a promenade with Mr.. Melton.
Maud was very sad a weight of coming
evil seemed to be upon her.
IL do not feel as if | shall ever see you
again, she said to George.
''Not see me Maud, what do you
mean If | live | will assuredly come
back to you
Eyes, | know You think so now but
cannot help thinking | am bidding You
good bye for good and aye.
"Iou are sad at this parting, and ] wish
ia never thought Of going. But | do
really think it will be a great thing fuI
me. Two years will soon pass away, and
then | will return to you, darling. only
ask, let me find you the same true girl you
have always been Promise me you viii
not Forget me and marry some one else.
Marry some one else, she echoed.
How little you know me. If | do not
marry you, Maud Hinton will be upon
my tombstone. Take care that y0u dc
not change, George Among the beauty
and rank Of the old world you may forget
the country girl you left behind you"
Hush do not speak SO, he said il
husky tones MY love for You has be,
come a part Of my being. could not for
get you if / would"
and talking announced the return Of Ells
/ Nelson and her companion.
Goodbye, my little darling" sais
George, catching Maud in his arms. Don
let sad thoughts FIND place in your mind
but only trust me aid all will be well.
shall write to you every week, and you q,
the same We must not wait for replies
to our letters, for shall be travelling anC
they will necessarily be irregular. Prom
ise me to write, whether you hear from m,
or not, will you r.
Yes, | will and George don't sta,
over two years. Remember how We vii
miss you, and come back as soon as yoI
can +"
Il will, dearest you know | will. One
more, goodbye" He kissed her again an,
again, and left the rom by one door a
Miss Nelson entered at another.
II thought Mr. Lyle was here" sal,
she gaily, approaching Maud.
He has gone" she replied, in tremblin,
tones.
Crying Poor little thing Why h
will not be away very long" said tn
beauty, putting her arms around Maud
''He will come back, and then you vii
have him with you for life
Maud was sobbing bitterly her hea'
upon Elias shoulder-and did not see tn
fendish smile on the willy woman's face
81 must bid you goodbye tonight, too
as we leave by day in the morning." sal
Ella.
"Will you not write to me sometimes
Maud have taken great liking 70
you, and don't like to give you up alto
gether."
eyes, / will write, if you wish it,"
'Thank you, dear and now good bye.
With Q Judas kiss upon the lips Of tn
trusting girl, she was gone.
"Apd Mr. Joe has a grudge agains
George, also, has he r. said she, as sh
reached her room. 80 much the beate
for me. Wonder what he will say, though
when marry George Used to laugh a
him. Ha ha ha A very laughabl
object he was, too, Ill warrant And sh
has promised to write TO me, too. So faI
my plan Is working well" With littl
sigh Of joy, she retired.
Joe Melton accompanied the traveller
to the depot the next day, and had littl
private conversation with Ella. Her las
words, when she bade him goodbye, were
Remember, they are to hear nothing fror
each other not one word. | trust thi
matter to you. Be faithful and you sha
have your reward.
He touched his hat and said, II will se
to it-yoc need not fear"
Mr. and Mira Lyle, with Maud, n
turned home the same day. They did nc
expect to hear from George for some week.
Thew did not But montha paaaed bv an