Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-03-27

o a time at least
$ The next time that Fannie Thornton
: came over to Vandyke's, she was no
particularly embarrassed. A womal
can faint when she sees wild hors
i running away with friend, withou
that meaning anything particular, can
she? Perhaps you think that actio,
ought to have determined Rob Mere
dith's course. 1t didn't. Or, at any
rate, no immediate consequence fol.
D lowed. .... a. ..... -. ..i
One evening Frank Vincent made {
confession to Robert Meredith.
81 love Fannie Thornton, and have
, told her so,' getting through with it all
quickly
Shall 1 congratulate yeu?" Rob
asked, quite calmly.
"No;" Frank returned. "She re-
jeeted me. But still have slight hope,
for she did not say that she did not love
mer
Robert expressed his sorrow. Per-
haps it was only sorrow for his friends
pain, and not that he had been rejected.
That may sound paradoxical-but it isn't
| assure you. l....s..... .,---..,r
At last Robert Meredith concluded
that he would try to force denouce-
ment. Probably neither Miss Thorn
ton nor Miss Warburton would answer
yes to his asking. Still there would be
nothing wrong in attempting to discov-
er whether either loved him truly. If his
experiment did no good, it could do no
harm. And his idea was certainly not
an entirely new one. '
Rob went to Gerald Vandyke and en-
listed him in his cause. That gentle
man was perfectly willing to do all in
his power for Rob. But he said -t
"Dash it, mani what's your object?"
And Rob told him. --...
Soon it was noised about among the
guests that Mr.. Robert Meredith had
lost his fortune, through some rascality
of his business agent. Vandyke knew
all about it. Mr.. Meredith had given
him the facts in the case. OF course
everybody believed the story. Rob
seemed to be taking his misfortunes
calmly enough.
And when Fannie Thornton heard all
this she grew very pale. A day later,
however, Frank Vincent said TO Rob-
Congratulate me, for Fannie made
me happy. She has recalled her decis-
ion, and has promised to be mine. was
not in despair at all, for she merer said
that she did not lore me-"
Are lovers ever blind? ta
Robert Meredith did congratulate |
him. Then when Frank left him, he |
sought the conservatory. He could be
alone there, and he wanted to think.
Yes; the words that he had said to
Frank Vincent were sincere ones. He /
did not care if Fannie Thornton did
not love him. Searching his heart, he
discovered the truth. Now he loved
Ellie Warburton sincerely, passionate
ly, with all his heart. s..4sf..e. IL |
Dear reader, the workings of love are
very mysterious. How long this had
been i cannot say. Mayhap it might
have been that while he had heard of
Fannie Thornton's engagement with
something like Indifference, that that
had turned the current of his love in
favor of Ellie Warburton. Perhaps, if
Frank Vincent's affair had been with
Ellie, the change in the other direction
might have Just been as great. However
these are merely my conjectures. Take
them for whatever they may be worth
As it was, Bob Meredith now told him
self that he had all along hoped that
Ellie Warburton would stand his test.
One thing is certain, he would not now
hear of her Indifference to him, if such
a thing shoul be,with carelessness with
out pain. Far from it, His whole
hearted love for her might not be an
hour old, but it was none the less genu
inc nor strong for that. ..ia5l
But could she love him? n'E
His heart sank as he asked himself
that question. A great fear seized him,
and he scarcely dared hope. Accord
ing to the fashion of romsneers, Fannie
should have been the one to love him.
She did not, and how much less of a
was there that Ellie did?
And then he regretted what he had
done. Oh, if he could win Ellie, even
with her knowing that he was rich, he
would be satisfied. . .-. .....s.
"What a fool l have been to throw
away single chance" he murmured.
But it was not too late to remedy what
he had donel No not too late! He
would consult yandyke would make it
all right again. 81 r- .y--1 ar
There came 4 light step. Another
person had entered the conservatory.
Bob's head was bent on his hands, but
on looking up, beheld Ellie Warburton.
"Mr. Meredith, have heard that you
had lost all your fortune" she cried,
while deeper tinge of crimson than US
ual dyed her cheeks. "And l am come
to say that ] am very sorry
Rob rose to his feet with his eyes
cleaning. .- .-
'sAre you % he asked.
"Indeed, am very sorry"
Rob's heart thrObbed. He loved this
girl and why not speak now? His love
was foremost in his mind at that Instant
and out the words came:
"Ellie, darling, l love you."
Deeper still grew the flush on her
cheek. She began to tremble, and Bob
seized her hand. a.. q.
"Ellie, can you, do you love me? he
cried.
He got his answer Immediately.
eyes, Robert love you."
"Even fortuneles as | am?" he ex-
in delight.
Even fortunelesss as you are, ,'she re-
peated. 81 have enough for both.
Dear reader, lovers are lovers, the
world over. Let us leave these two to
themselves. HIowever,you may be very
certain that Ellie was not n bit sorry
when it was made known to her in what
A wicked manner her Rob and General
Vandyke had been deceiving every :
body.
And again Fannie Thornton paled
when she heard that Rob Meredith and