The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-07-17

believe that he had only lust lett the GesN,
lust laid aside his -lUsse, for moment ano
would soon come hach-Iaul Preston found
Miss Herbert
She was pale, the deep folds o; Grape re-.
placed the airy fabrics and light tint, she
had been wontto wear. But She was as beau.
tliul as ever,
When the papers we're found, they sat down
together and talked Of the dead, and Rosa's
tears fell last
"He was as dear as a father could have
been to me, she said, although | was only
his adopted child. How good and kind he
was to mc-to every one
After while Preston arose to 90 Rosa
hesitated, blushcd, and at las, spoke:
II shall see you again
With little time for consideration, Paul
would have answered by some polite com
mon place; now the words formed them
selves upon his lips against his will
NO, Miss Herbert, never
Never and why?'
"Do YOU not know that am only poor
clerk and you are an heiress; because want
OF gold must stand between my heart ana my
idol, because, though have learnt TO suffer,
cannot school myself 10 see you and not TO
speak There is only one hope for me, and
that is to put time and distance between US
To meet you-to speak to yoa, yet never TO
hope and win you, would drive me mad
Forgive me-and goodbye l never meantto
say so much, but the words are uttered and
cannot be taken back. Good.bye-God bless
YOU
He turned to 60, but tie Ac!rcsS .a!d Aer
hand upon his arm.
."Stop and listen TO me- she said. "Wait
here one moment
Then she glided cut Of the room, anG came
back presently with something white IN her
hand.
II am an neiress," she said Il cannot
count my gold. My estates are immense,
For that reason, should be proud, yout think ;
should desplse poverty. Perhaps those who
remember nothing but luxury may do So |
cannot. Paul Preston, l remember depth
OF poverty you know nothing OF. | have
begged my bread from door to door
The youth gazed at her in mute astonlsA'
ment.
Il came to this door a pitablc little crea,
ture, dying of want she said; and MI Her,
bert and his wife clothed md fed me, and
made me thei. child. My wealth came to
me through deed of charity. Before that,
remember only wretched cellar, blows ana
oaths, and hunger. One person only had
been kind to me, Shall l tell you OF him
One day, wandering along the streets, came
to school playing ground. Boys were there
playing at something. | watched them.
While / watched a stone glanced aside and
struck me | SUNK away 10 cry. No one
ever pltied me, why should they thea: But
for all that there was sympathy IN some one 5
heart. 4 boy amongst them left his play and
bent over me, He washed my wound and
bound it up. He took me to little shop and
fed me, and gave me purse with silver IN II.
could haye prayed for him, only no one
had taught me how. Hush don't speak yet.
The silver he gave me helped me to escape
from those who kept me to beg for them.
grew bold and ran away. | hid myself IN
the streets of New York, and when the money
was gone, begged bread at this very door.
Since that moment have never known want.
But have never forgotten my little benetac-
tor. | keep the memory of this good deed in
my heart and this handkerchief Is one OF
nay most precious relics Look Paul Preston,
your own name is upon it. You have forgot
ten the little beggar girl, but she has not tor
gotten you. She has known you ali along"
Then from the mist Of his memory arose
that school day scene-the war Of OriCkbats
in the playground; the beggar gic, with her
golden curls dabbcd in blooG. Was this a
dream, or could 1t be the very truth:
Paul Preston looked in Rosa Herbert
eyes, and read her tender remembrance OF
that hour in their sunny depths. lie read
understanding her woman's lips could not
utter unsought-he read in their depths, 81
love you
And so he told his tale more boldly and
won her for his wife.
1t is many years ago, and they are oldish
people now, with grown up sons and daugh-
tiers; but their romance is not over, and some
where in a secret drawer the matron yet
keeps the handkerchief Paul Preston bound
about the forehead Of the beggar girl, beside
the sChOol.house gate.