The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-10

ell, HarWoOd tells me painful
thing in connection with him. She says
her husband tells her it is the neighbor-
hood talk now. 1T seemsgtheresis very
lovely young girl, a gardeners daughter,
Cora Smith by name, whom Breeze has
been very attentive to for some months.
The girls father says she is betrothed 70
him. At all events he has been a most
ardent lover, for, year or more, and
now, without word, or any apparent
cause, he has deserted her. Has not been
near her for two months, and the girl is
very ill-calling for him constantly. but
he does not go near her. 1t is thought
she will die. She is poor, frail, childish
thing, and never knew what it was to suf-
fer before. 1t is very sad. What
heartless villain he must be-
My heart seemed to die within me. A
rush of emotion, shame, anger, grief, mis-
placed love, and wounded pride fought
together in my breast. Oh! how mean
the man was whom had placed above
Rollin Weatherbee in my hearts affcc.
;ion.: How despised him from that mo-
mcnt. Then began to think it might
not be so-there might be some mistake.
II will 60 to him tonight" l thought,
''and I shall know
l did 60, when the shadows of the
eloaming settled down over the earth.
found him waiting for me. He held out
his arms, but stood aloof.
go to Cora Smith, said. "She is
entitled to your caresses-she wants
them Il do not
needed no further proof Of his guilt.
HIS face turned crimson from brow to
chin-and then pale as death. "What
do you know Of her2' he cried, hoarsely,
Nv no has been telling you lies!''
"No one,' | answered. "Your face is
proof of the truth of all I have heard.
Twill make this our last meeting. My
eyes are opened>in time, thank God. l
do not want to set them upon you again.
Do not try, to see me, for it will be use
less. I utterly despise you. Go back to
the on'y1person who believes you worthy
Of love--who is dying for you.'
l turned and. sped back to the house,
and forsstwo weeks scarcely stepped out
side its walls. / was i'll in mind and
body. My unreasoning, romantic folly,
that had called love, died suddenly, at
one blow, and knew there was only one
man thatI loved, or ever had loved, and
that one man was Rollin Weatherbee.
But myheart was filled with regrets for
my pastlolly, and fears for what mil ht
follow. But twoweeks passed by, and I
heard no word and saw nothing Of Breeze
Rogers, until that chill October night,
when my story opens.
l turned my face away. lest the sight
of those dark eyes should bring back the
old deli, ium. For at that one glance l felt
the blood leap through my veins, and a
strange glow shoot through my heart. I
thoroughly despised this man, yet he had
a power over me still. A woman who has
ever been held in mans arms, and his
kisses upon her lips, can never so learn
to despisc or forget him that the sight of
his face will not sometimes move her. AT
length rose and moved away from the
window. 4 second later something
struck the glass with sharp click.
"Whatswas that = asked mamma.
1.-THE wind hurled something against the
window pane" answered. A moment
later and it was repeated. "Why, it
sounds liketsomething thrown against the
glass; mamma said, "Tell Harwood to
see what it is, Rose.'
l got up.and went out Of the room. !
knew it was useless to resist Breeze
Rogers summons longer. l must 20 and
see what he wanted. I threw dark
cloak overAmy shoulders, and went out.
He heard the door open, and glided into
the shadows, again.
"Whatsdo you want - asked, icily,
"Why arxSy ou here? 1 told you never
to approach me again.
eyes, but you were angry then. You
have had time to think more kindly OF
me since, and came to tell you that
Cora is dead. She died last light, and
with her dying lips she forgave me what
wrong have done her. l was with her
and caught her last breath. If she could
forgive me. surely you ought. Iknow
that l did her great wrong, but re.
you do the same and come to me?''
He took step toward me, but re-
treated. 81 have nothing to forgive,'
answered, coldly. IF she whom you Sc
wronged has forgiven you, we'll and good
l owe you no i'll will, but I do not~love OF
respect you now, never cam -
''Rose!' he cried, "You are CRUEL! Oh
come to me, and fly before it is to late"
"Hush!' I said, sternly. ''All thai
wild folly is past, and forever. I.shall bt
the wife of Rollin Weatherbee next week
at this time, and far from here. The wife
of the only man ever loved. That mac
fancy l conceived from you died as sud
denly as it sprang to lie, and never car
live again. Go away now and leave me
Goodnight and good.by.'
sped back into the house, and locked
the door behind me, leaving him alone il
the darkness. I found mamma had fall
en- to sleep in her chair by the stove, ane
WAS relieved that I would thus he SHARED