Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-04-14
LOVES S&CREFlCE.

"Y on have chosen between us, E
len Donovan, and | must abide by it
with 4 fervent wish it may prove righ
IN the end, Be assured Of this IL,
man can love you better than I ant
if Timothy Connolly only gives yor
half the affection, you will indeed bt
happy
The person speaking, was Il young
farmer His features were manly
rather than handsome. His hair dark
brown, and his face open, ingenuou:
and deeply earnestin expression. She
whom he addressed, evidently on the
same social plane, was graceful and
pretty enough to have been the daugh-
ter ofroyalty. Her hands were soft
and white, her complexion transpaE
emily fair, and her golden bair, ripping
from beneath her hat, over her dark
blue cloak, was like the hue of a glor1-
Gus sunset.
"You are very good, Edward Ho.
ran, very !" rejoined the girl sadly, as
she bent her gaze on the tip Of her lit
tie shoe, that nevously pressed the
path Of the lane in which the two had
met. 1T gives me pain to cause you
sorrow for one moment hut-but we
can't rule our nearts, and mine is given
to another
The young farmer, with deep
drawn sigh, was silent for second ;
then said, Il do not blame you Ellen ;
indeed, | do not still l love you so
tondly, that, even as it is, | think l
could be happy, did l think Timothy
Connolly would make you So"
And why should he not 2" asked
Ellen, her face flushing crimson, at the
sincerity of her accepted lover. Tim
othy is we'll spolen of by all in River,
side, except you, Edward Horan.'
1T may be true, said Edward Ho-
ran, "bnt they are only neighbors.
You, Ellen, are to be his wife and !
forget my own misery, in anxiety for
your future
The girl pouted her ruddy lips, and
partly turned away, as she rejoined
with mocking laugh, "You are sur
prsingly generous, at least, Mr.. Ho-
ran ; but let me pray you to keep
your sympathies for more worthy and
appreciative objects. Certainly, if l
feel no anxiety, no body else has a
right to do So"
Then either voluntarily, or with a
coquettish desire to revenge one lover,
for his disparagement of the other, she
sighed, tenderly, "Poor dear Timo-
thy ~
The farmer looked upon her in mute
agony. The distress depicted on his
features was indescribable. His sun
Drowned face grew dark with the eff.
forts he made to be calm-to restrain
the wild outburst Of affection in his
heart !; for few men ever love, as he
loved Ellen Donovan.
ELLEN" be said, after a moments
pause, ''of course, all | say Of Connolly,
will be pat down to hatred of a rival
who has been accepted, while | have
been rejected: but since he has set
tied in Riverside, there seems to have
been bad blood between us; a strange
especially or his part +;
everything have attempted to do, he
with his handsome, contemptuous
face, and taunting manner has come
between, and striving to tbawart, no
matter what the undertaking might
be. knew you first | loved you.
How, Ellen, could | help doing SO.
lie saw my devotion, and with his us
ual envy, also wooed you, to the de-
OF my hopes. | hope he
truly loves you, and that he has not
sought your affections, simply to de-
feat me yet doubt it."
edward Horan," she said, turning
abruptly upon him, her face glowing
with passion, "if Timothy were here,
you dare not speak of him as you do !!
You malign him when he is not by );
you are silent i'll his presencel You
are a coward |"