Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-09-01

ask the sacrifice Of her, and only said.
mo, no. We must wait. You forget
you will have to begin life all over again
should only drag you down-hold YOU
back. 1 will never consent TO do that.
will wait years and years rather than
do that"
As he caught her to his heart her own
tears fell like rain; but presently driving
her eyes and moving her face beyond
the reach Of his lips, she said, 5ravely.
We must part nov. Better so. II
see you again it will only weaken ne
both; and what I ask you to do is right.
wise and the best and only thing left for
you to do. You must write 10 me. Lee
and | will answer all your letters"
"Ah, ma belle, ma belle" he inter
rupted her, what guarantee have | that
you will be true me-that you will not
forget me-
What guaranteed" she drew herself
up proudly. you have my word-my
promise"
With gil his faults, there was not a
wish in her heart that was untrue to
him. The possibility of her ever being
untaithful to him could not cross her
mind. She knew he had DESTROYED ut.
terly the most beautiful illusion of her
hte. She knew it would be never again
the bright, glad, shadowless existence of
heretofore; but she had no word OF re
proach for him, no thought OF treachery
toward him.
"Ahf he muttered, jealousy, IF you
loved me al | want you to, this parting
would be impossible. You would 20
with me into poverty, exile-anything-
rather than say goodbye"
1T is because | love you,r she said
firmly, I'm the highest, best sense of the
word, that ! will not consent to do what
you ask. | will not SO drag vow down.
Father would justly refuse, under such
circumstances, to help, and | should
only be killing your whole future. |
simply ask you to be true to the best in
you. Being true to yourself, you are
also true to me- And now 20, else |
shall no longer be capable Of deciding
what is best for either Of u.s."
And so they parted.
Years passed, during which Julie re.
ceived occasional letters, at irst his.
tories Of struggles, privations and hard.
ships endured for her sake; then, later,
more cheerful and encouraging news,
coupled with promises, ~ssura and
good, strong resolutions, which she 40
cepted gratefully and hopefully. From
time to time, as his prospects bright.
ened, she would remind him Of his still
u%ncanceled obligations, aud question
him as to what he was doing in that
direction. No answer ever came to her
queries. At last she wrote: "In add
ton to words / want fruits. What are
you saving2 What are you deing to re-
deem the past2 Your success is worth
notbing-it can only prove fataI-if it
does not prompt you to do your duty"
Not replying to this, q silence fell be.
tween them. Julie learned, through
friends who knew him in the city where
be had made his new home, what he had
not been brave enough to tell her him.
self-that, intoxicated with success, be
was leading the old gay, careless, easy
life Of extravaganza and pleasure. he
"R7 MI eho ond u1u DtGu hcuOOl-
ing herself slowly to learn.
Another year PASSED. She received a
letter full Of reproaches for her silence
and forgetfulness, and announcing at
the same time his approaching mar
riage with a lady Of great wealth and
beauty, and releasing Julie from her
promises.
And so the dream ended. Whether
our heroine ever loved a~gain-wbat
wore her after experiences-we cannot
say. We only know that she is still
Julie Mortimer; hat men call her cold
and women think her proud, and that
only among her most intimate acquaint-
ances and her family is she truly under
stood. With them only does she relax
and show herself the true, warm-hearted
woman. And if the shadow of the past
still pursuss her none suspect it, aud
least Of all herself. She thinks she has
lived it down, but because of it lie no
longer means love aud happiness, but
duty and work, yet she is content.