The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-07-10

Gus to come. StlI Inoy mes iieio anu
there by chance. Linnie did not con-
slider herself free; the clouds had
lowered around her until they COM
pletely Swallowed her. Still Gus acted
the scoundrel.
In the spring her father moved to a
town a short distance north. Linnie
crieved the first few weeks, but she
gradually grew something like her old
merry self. She became acquainted
with a gentleman, with whom she
passed many pleasant hours. She did
not forget Gus, but she grewto see how
perfdious his conduct had been. She
could hold no malice toward one she
had loved and still loved so well.
At last this gentleman proposed. She
did not give him a refusal, yet she did
not accept. She proposed to give Gus
one more chance; if he failed to profit
by it, she would then determine what
to do. She knew Tom Burton was a
man she could safely trust her future
with, but she did not love him as she
did Gus, She went to l. to make
a visit. There she heard enough to
convince her that Gus could never be
anything to her.
She went home and gave Tom Bur-
ton his answer. She frankly told him
she did not love him us she did the
other, but she respected him and might
give him in time all the love he wished
now. She told him all about Gus, how
he had deceived her, and of the love-
worship she gave him. He received
her confidence as one so noble and
good, telling her he loved her and knew
she would learn to love him in time.
Thus she was engaged the second
time. Her betrothed was good and
handsome, and she did really like him.
By some means Gus heard of this. He
was a dog inthe manger; he would not
have her himself, nor did he mean any
other should. He knew his power over
the poor girl, and SO he began his little
game. He wrote her Just such sad,
pitiful letters as he knew would touch
her tender heart. He sent her word by
every one he met-pititul supplications
to turn back to him in his wretched-
ness. Can any one wonder, loving him
as she did, and bound by honor to
| another, she went almost mad. Often
times she sat and pondered what was
she living for. In one short moment
she could find rest. What was there
in her dark, pitiful life worth living
for? Then she thought of that mother
whom she loved SO well, and who would
suffer more than she if she became a
suicide.
Time sped on. Once more they met.
If he had stepped forward and claimed
her like n man she would have gone to
him even then ; but instead he prated
of a secret that chained him SO he could
not move just yet it the matter, but if
she would wait for him he would claim
her some day. She at last read his
craven nature and saw he was deceiving
her, playing with her as a cat plays
with a mouse before destroying it.
They parted, never to meet on earth
again the same as then.
The other one, who had been so
faithful, now came forward and claimed
his bride. She told him if he would
take her as she was sho would be his
in the early winter. One week before
the wedding Gus could have stopped
all, but he did not choose to. So she
fought the battle out by herself. The
day before the wedding she sat down
and wrote to Gus, telling him the
struggle was over, and that she would
be a wife before he got her message.
She said, in conclusion eff, in after
years, you regret the bitterness you
have sown, and which you must reap,
do not lay one whit at my door. l shall
never forget you-shall always think of
you as my brother-friend. l do not
reproach you, but shall always pray
that happiness may attend you
wherever your feet may stray Good
by forever. 1t is hard to say. Only
God, who knows my heart, can tell how
hard. May God bless you. Once more
good-by forever. Your sister-friend,
Linnie."
Thus the romance of her life ended.
How he received her letter she never