The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-10-29
amidst sorrow and waiting for her loss.

hAA
~ sieht of tho autograph, snd the re.
membrancs Of tho mourning ! then wore
for the father who had died only nine
months previously, brought the tears in.
to my eyes. How lonely and desolatc
should have felt in the world but for one
sweet hope!
1t had been my dear fathers will, Ut
tered upon his death.bed to M, and often
in his lifetime to Hugh, that we should
marry each other, Hugh taking the name
of Brandon. there being no male heir in
the family. But did he love me with
anything more than cousinly or brotherly
love! That was the question with which
| I tormcnted myself from day to day. To
be Hugh's wife would be for me happiness
supreme but for him!
After an absence from England Of two
years, he was to return that very night,
and the question upon which my future
happiness depended would then be an.
| swered.
How slowly the hours dragged on
Twilight came; yet still with beating
heart kept my watch at the window.
At last I heard the sound Of wheels com.
ing up tho long avenue, and, first like a
shadow in the dim distance, and then
clearer and clearer, saw my hero once
again.
He was driving himself; and, as the
dog cart stopped ct the door, he looked
eagerly and hurriedly at all the windows.
But I had hidden behind the curtains "A
sudden At Of shyness had come over me-
Though longed to run down an greet
him, yet determined would not 90
until I was sent for. In few moments
the summons came.
miss Nina, the major has arrived, and
il asking for you"
Very demurely l walked down the
broad staircase, though my heart was
dancing with delight. uc should no,
think me giddy child, I thought.
could hear his voice in the library
and supposed him to be talking to my
aunt.
The door was little way open, and ]
VAS about to enter, when the thought
struck me that l would take peep al
him first; wished to see whether he
was much altered.
He was standing by the window, and
his tall figure and handsome face stood
out clearly against the light; but, to my
great establishment, it was not my aunt
to whom he was talking IN that low. ia.
miliar tone.
1t was Pauline. She whom l had sup
posed to be total stranger to my cousin
was standing close to him. her hand upon
his arm, her face raised to his with al
expression Of earnest cntreaty. l heard
her last words-''I have never ceased ia
love you.'
In the hewilderment of the moment
the thought rushed into my mind-''It
cannot 30 real! am dreaming and shall
wake in = moment; it is certainly q
dream" Blu: my aunt's hand placed on
my shoulder reused me to the reality.
In another moment Pauline came forth
smiling, showing all her fine white teeth.
'Nina, ma belle, Major Gordon and ]
have met before, in Paris. Is this not a
pleasant coincidence p
Mechanically took the hand he held
out to me with so much seeming warmth
and eagcrness: but, when he would have
drawn me to him, and kissed me, rs of
old, I drew back coldly, and with as
much dignity Us my seventeen years
could assume.
| I could not be content with Hugh
country love; therefore for the future he
must treat me as woman, not as child.
He only smiled in an amused manner,
and then, turning to my aunt, began to
converse with her. Beyond him I could
see Pauline's dark eyes with laughing
triumph in them. I could not mistake
her expression. No doubt she was think.
ing how favo:ably her welcome must have
contrasted with mine.
| My heart seemed bursting with griel
and indignation. I could not remain a
moment longer in their presence; so l
stole quietly from the library and up in.
to the old oak room, where such a little
time before I had been watching for him
with so much joy and pride, and there
wept long and bitterly.
die not notice how dark it was grow
ing until light suddenly streamed into
the room, and Pauline entered with a
lamp in her hand. She started with gen.
| uine establishment as she saw me sitting
by the window.
"Why, Nina alone, and CT, ing
What is the matter, child :"
l raised my eyes, red with weeping, in.
oienantly 10 ner lace.
'Paulinc, you are = deccitful, bad
woman; but I have found out your
secret. You could not help knowing
Hugh, and loving him, before you knew
me but Why have you deceived nc all
this time! Why did you let me 60 on
hoping-hoping!'' But here l broke
down, for tears choked my utterance.
"bion Dieu'' tscreamed Pauline, her
eyes flashing, and her voice shrill with
passion. "How did you know it! You
have broken open my desk! You have
read my letters!''
"Nothing Of the Sort replied ''bu:
l saw this interview between you and the
major. and heard you confess that you
loved him.
"Well, and what then = asked Pauline,
with an evident relief which l could not
understand. ':Major Gordon is free to
love where he chooses, suppose! Am
to be blamed because he chooses to
follow the teaching Of his own heart,
rather than carry out the arbitrary and
Eercenary plan Of deceased relative p
With this cruel taunt she left me.
And so my golden dream had vanished
Oh, If he had only loved some one noblcr
and worthier than myself, I could then
have borne it-but Pauline, whom knew
to DO mean, vain, untruthfal! In nv
bitter disappointment I was becoming
uncharitable again: yet, in my heart,
believed that I did not judge her un'
justly.
One thing I determined unon: thew