The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-02-11

1t was three months before she recover,
ed; and then 1t was spring, and the flow
ers were blooming on the lawn before the
house and in the old-fashiOned garden al
the back. Marx Browning was coming
that day-the first day Ada came from
the sick room, and she sat at the window
| waiting.
He came at last, and she ran out or
the long veranda, holding out her arms
But he shrank back with u gesture Of
| disgust, eXclaiming: 49,.
"Great Heavens, Adal where is your
beauty? there Is nothing left to know
you by, but your eyes, and they are
growing dim" =.
She turned TO Frank, who stood by her
side, and asked:
"What does he mean;. oh. what does
he mean?" IL.
Frank did not answer her; but walk
ing up 10 Mark, he clenched his hands
and cried tiercely:
SHOW dare your Why did you not
keep it all from her, as we have done
She does not know what this long sick
ness has robbed her OIL"
"Only go away, Frank, must see her
alone."
Frank went into the great roomy sum-
mer parlor and paced the floor for hours.
When he came out Ada still sat there in
the same attitude in which he left her.
"What has happened, AdaW he asked,
coming close TO her.
"He has told me, / could never be his
vile. Our engagement is broken," she
said shortly. Then rising, she cried out
why did you not lell me what l looked
like, before he Gamer 1t hos almost
killed mep'
She fed past him to her own room; and
none but herself knew the effort it cost
to Danish the love in her 1or the man who
had just spurned her..
1t is two years since Ada Waters first
met Mark Browning and the winter sea-
son is at its height in New York. Miss
Florence Arnold was celebrating her
lhi4d year in Society by q grand recep-
ton.
The guests were all there in the long,
gorgeous drawlng-ro0m and she was
standing receiving her friends when
Mark Browning, who was near her, whis-
pered:
''Who is that lady just passing, Miss
Arnold? Her face seems iaEliiar."
.Oh, that ls Ada Waters. But wait!
am SO used to calling her Ada, that for
got to say-indeed!'
He had almost run on through the crowd
to where the lady stood. He touched her
Shoulder.
ADA, my own, own darlingl". he cried.
"Mark Browning!" and her face grew
a shade paler. "Wbat are YOU here for
here at my sider
"Because | love you, Ada, and 1 have
found you again, as beautiful as when
lrst met you.
81 am as beautiful, but older and wis |
er," she answered. The girl love l gave |
10 you has all died. l was but eighteen |
hen. Now am Il woman, and nave a |
woman s heart. You must not call me |
Ada. l am Mrs. Franklin. That man
Iy the window is my husband. lie took |
ne when was marked with disease, and |
when you scorned me. His face is not |
Is handsome as your own, but his heart |
5 Il thousand times nObler.
He looked in the direction she pointed |
,ut with her tan, and saw man stand
ng there who was almost twice her age.
Then he turned, and would have spoken,
,ut she swept by him with naughty
'ow, and joining her husband was soon
ost from him among the other guests
Who filled the rooms.
When Mark Browning saw her after
he long illness, with the bloom faded
rom her face, the brightness from her
ayes, and all the soft brown hair gone, he |
aid not think it would return, and had
told her she could never be his wife. |
Now he cursed himself for the mistake
le had made.