The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-03-13
TIE OLD LETTERS.

go, Elsie What must I do? There
comes that odious Clifton again.
My child, refuse to see him surely
whenever he chooses to come here ?"
"Oh, nurse, you cannot understand
must submit to that mans imperti
nence."
"Indeed I cannot understand why
this should be the case, and you aston,
| ish me when you say so. have thought
that this Mr.. Cifton's calls were SO
frequent, that DIR. Reed, your betrothed
husband, might not be pleased"
"I must confde the humiliating Sc
cret to you, mamma Elsie. Years ago,
my own imprudence placed me in that
that is his ring at the door-bell. will
see him this evening, but, Elsie, this
| shall be the last interview [ will ever
grant him. Tonight I will tell you
ALL"
"My poor dearie fear some youth
| full folly is about to ripen into bitter
fruit that you cannot easily put away. "
Aud motherly old Elsie sighed deeply
as the lady followed the servant.
It was hours after. The evening had
grown into night when Sybil Bond crept
back up the stairs to her old nurse,
whom she knew would be waiting for
her. Crossing the room to the window
where Elsie sat in the shimmering light
of the full moon, she sank on the floor
at her side, burying her face in the
folds of her dress.
CAressingly smoothing the dark hair
Of her pet, Elsie watched until the
storm had spent its fury, aud only an
occasional shudder or quiver of the
slight form told the mental anguish she
was enduring.
"Tell me, dearie, what troubles you
so greatly"
"Mamma Elsie, bear with me even as
you have always borne my waywardness
since my mother placed her twelve
honrs' old babe in your arms and went
to heaven"
90, Sybil, my dear young lady, it
was precious charge, coming as it did
from my dear young mistress in her
early bereavement, as you know your
sainted mother followed her idolized
husband to his last home in one short
week after his sudden death"
"Elsie, do you remember the sum-
mer we passed at your sisters beautiful
prairie home ?"
"Full well. my dear; it was your
fifteenth summer; you were rather deli
cate, and 1 thought perhaps the country
air might be beneficial to you"
"You will remember that although
did not like going, I soon became we'll
pleased with the place, and liked stay
ing so well that did not ask to come
back to the city till fall, when I sud-
denly insisted on an immediate return"
eyes, remember"
well. nurse, it was there I met
Warren Clifton. was young. roman
tic, and easily fattered by his atten-
tions. I pronounced to his wife. After
we had returned home, had time to
think of my folly, and, after a few
months of childishly romantic CORE
spondence, wrote to him. asking to be
released from my engagement, and re-
questing that he would return all my
letters. This he refused to do"
1.-The c0wardly rascal % cried Elsie.
"I wrote again and again /; but to my
entreaties he returned the same answer.
Then I went abroad, you remember,
and met DIR. Reed. I loved him, and
promised to be his wife, hoping that
Clifton had forgotten me, or had learned
to be generous. You see how mistaken
Twas. On learning the news of my en-
gagement, that bad man came here and
threatened to show my foolish, senti-
mental letters to DR.. Reed if I do not
instantly break my engagement and
marry him."
Sybil burst into tears, and ceased
speaking, while Elsie soothingly said
"There, there, child, do not grieye 80.
He's bad man, to be sure, but you've
nothing to be really ashamed of, after
al. Tell DIR. Reed the whole story,
and he'll not be the man to Judge a
mere child har,hly." -.-..--
A look of horror appeared on SYPHILIS
pale face.
"Tell DIR. Reed You know not
what you ere talking of, Elsie. He has
told me, over and over again, that he
would marry no woman who loved an
other man. And will he not despise me
for not telling him the truth until
forced to do so? He will not under
stand that never really loved Warren
Clifton after reading those dreadful
letters. No, / cannot tell him"
depend upon it, dear child, it is the
best thing to do" argued Elsie.
No, mo- Never speak of such thing
to me again. If he must know it, l will
not he the one who tells him that which
could only cause him to sc0rn me. To-
morrow afternoon we must be ready to
go from here. In the interim, we will
catch a few hours sleep. And, nurse,
besure you arerea5y. Now goodnight" "
And, kissing her old friend affectionately,
Sybil arose, and walked slowly out of
the room.
"She shall not commit this last folly,
if I have yet. any wits about me, said
Elsie, determinedly.
She caught up light shawl, and has
tily throwing it over her head, left the
room, but paused a the stairway in
the hall, counting the strokes of the
clock.
"Twelve," she muttered.
She listened a moment, and then
passed ON down to the hall leading to
the front door. Standing on the out
side. she looked eagerly up the village
street.
"There is a dim light, and his buggy
is at the door. must hurry, or I'll be
too late" And she walked briskly up
the street.
It was eight o'clock on the following
morning, and DR.. Reed sat alone in his
Office. A thoughtful look was on his
face, as, leaning forward on the table, he