The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-11-18

sWhilo Tiers life there is hope. Just ar
range your baggage and will harness the
horse, and we'll get to the station in time for
the one o'clock train.
| After that we said very little more, though
even in my agitation, could not forget as /
drove away, that light shone in the window
of Edwina's room. think that the messen-
ger had awakened her. and that, unseen by
me she watched my departure.
| My friend died before reached home, and
our house was house of mourning many
days. Such grief banishes all lighter thought.
and many cares and anxieties followed our
loss.
At last became calm enough to write to
Edwina. Our understood engagement was
not enough. Ioffered myself to her in plain
and earnest terms. lad no doubt as to the
answer. Her kiss had given me assurance Of
love.
despatched the letter and waited for re-
! ply. 1t came soon, but not in the regular
way.
One morning my friend Ralph Hay walked
into my office, fresh from his early journey by
the train. He spoke to me blunty, but kind
ly Of my loss; gave me some of those scrip
tural comforts which most good people pro-
duce on such occasions, and as lie rose to de-
part tossed me a little note.
"From lady, he said, and went away
chucklng.
| put the note upon the desk before me, and
looken at it tenderly. Her first lettcr--hers /!
1t was neat little hand. .sJohn Smith, Esq, .
was prettily flourished. The paper was fine
the monogram elegant.
at looks like a love letter. said, and cut
it open, and drew out the folded paper.
'sIIow would it begins" asked myself.
1t ran thus:
"MR. SMITH-Dcar Sir have but just
received your proposal Doubtless | ought to
be BATTERED at being chosen where so many
have, of course, offered themselves but
really, the position you proffer has no charms
for me. / am useful here and happy in my
duties, and hasten to decline with many
thanks.
al trust we shall be just as friendly, not
withstanding, and that the next time you come
to Ferndale, you win bring your wife to see
me. Very truly, EDwINA EARLE
] read that letter three times before could
believe it. 1t was the strongest answer that
man ever received to a passionate declaration
of love.
had never boosted of my conquests Why
should she ilout NE with them ! had told
/ her that she was the only woman | had ever
loved or ever should love. She had hidden
me bring my wife to see her. next time l
came.
There is very little to be said sometimes
about ones most powerful feelings suffer-
ed terribly. / was at once grieyed and angry,
astonished and dismayed. My manner was
altered. hardly knew my own face in the
glass. l did not feel like myself. | was as
though some other soul were in my body.
After while, that longing for change Of
scene which sohe teinperaments always ex-
perience after great trouble, possessed me, and
ain opportunity soon offered itself.
The firm with which was connected needed
business man in Paris. | applied for the
position and obtained it.
Hopeless love is thing to mock at, l be-
licve. No one respects or even pitics one WHO
suffers from is. Why, then, should | tell Of
the long, weary years through which lived,
doing my daily work, gaining reputation as
business man--eating, drinking and sleep
ing like any one else, yet always with neavy
burden at the heart?
could not forget her. | had striyen in
vain. knew that all my life must crush
this silent sorrow in my breast, and hide it
as might that in old age must sit SOLITARY
beside my hearth, because no other woman
could fill the place had destined for Edwina.
How many years were they? Enough To
cure most men OF any passion l knew it and
l wondered at my consistency. How could
love girl whose response to a love letter
from which she had tacitly promised her heart
was a note like that growing yellow in my
desk?
Mystery of mysteries is love. Who shall
understand it?
But one day. knew it was my birthday,
and that was thirty years odd had crossed
the barrier between youth and middle age,
and how youth had been wasted? In vain
regrets, in bitter repinings, in loneliness and
miserable dreams.
"Man' said to myself, "you are an idiot;
forget the leeting joy of your youth take
your life in your own hands. Marry. Have
a home, wife, children, like other men, Of
boyhoods folly are born such raptures as
those you feel for Edwina /; they go and revisit
the heart no more. The toys of childhood
please you no more its sweets clog upon your
taste. No more can you be a boy than a
child. Cast off this old delusion, trample it
under foot 1t has worked you evil enough
already"
arose and looked at myself in the glass,
and saw big fellow with long, light brown
beard Those were not the womanish cheeks
of Romeo. That was no pensiye youth to die
of love and lon ing
~ will go to Monsieur Durane's, and pro-
pose for the hand Of Mademosellc Rasalie, his
daughter said "She is a good young wo-
man, and pretty one. There will be no love
making required, and shall do my duty as a
husband. A bachlor old age is hidcous."
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