The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-05

dow, wfsk Bunch 81 v{oiets that one
of the girls had brought mesinsa glass,
the soft breeze that came floating over
the chimney-pots and sooty roofs watt.
ed to me the scent of the humble little
blossoms, and my eyes became full of
tears for an instant the busy work.
room had passed away, and I was down
home by the riverside listening to
dear Jack, as she asked me to be his
wife. y v.t g 80" :@s8'
Only q month only month my
pulse seemed to beat and as it hap.
pened were busy upon large wedding
order, and was stitching away at the
white skirt intended for the bride.
tried so hard to bear it, but l could
not-the rush of feeling was too great.
Another month, and he was to have
fetched me to be his wife, and [ had
not had an answer to my last two fond
and loving letters. /" 49, go.
AS said, tried hard to bear it, but
l could not, and sitting a sob, I hur-
ried out of the work-roo:n to reach my
attic, threw myself upon my knees by
the bed, |burying my face in my
hands, [ sobbed as if my heart would
break. -
For terrible thought would come
now, fight against it as would-s'Jack
has grown tired of waiting and has
married another
| fought 50 hard with the dislOyal
thought, it would come, and was Sob
bling passionately, when I felt a soft
arm steal around my neck, a tender
cheek laid to mine, and | found my
poor tear-dewed face drawn down up
on the bosom of Mary Sanders, who had
stolen out of the work-room and come
to try and comfort me.
''Pray, pray, don't fret, my darling,"
she whispered. madame will be so
cross. Those wedding things must be
done by tonight, and they want you
to help try them on
I don't know how I got through that
day and night: but I believe I
performed such duties as were ex-
pected of me mechanically, or us if I
had been in a dream, and that night
[ lay wakeful and weary, with aching
eyes and heart, thinking of that dread.
ful idea that was trying to force itself
upon me.
WAITED till the three years had ex-
pired, and then with what anguish of
heart, no words can tell, | wrote to
Jack again-my fourth letter-begging
him, imploring him, to answer me, if
but to tell me he was weary of his
promise and wished to be set free; and
then, making a super-human effort
over myself, waited, waited month
by month for an answer, though I
knew it was at least six months before
one could come.
[ had given up expecting one in the
interim, and was too proud to send
to his relatives-distant ones, whom
I had never seen, and who had proba-
bly, never heard of me. The thought
had taken root now, and grown into a
feeling of certainty, but | waited for
my answer.
Three months-six months-nine
months passed away, and hope was
dead in my heart. They said I had
grown much older and care worn, Mad
anne said worked too hard, and the
sharp business woman became quite
motherly in her attentions to me.
But would not take any change, for
work was like balm to me; it blunted
my thoughts; and knowing that l was
daily growing pale aid thin I still
waited.
| knew the girls used to whisper to-
gether about me and think me strange.
madame, who had more than once
sought my confidence; and 50 twelve
months passed away-four years since
Jack had left me.
1t was not to day, but very nearly
to the time when he had parted from
me, and it was almost two years since
l had heard from him. I was trying
hard to grow patient and contented
with my lot, for Nine. Granger had
gradually taken to me, and trusted me,
making me more and more her right
hand when one glorious spring morning
when | was coming out of the break
fast-room to go upstairs to work, she
called me into her little snug.
gerry, where she sat as a rule and at
tended to her customers letters, for
.ouo LOU oil cAGoASlVc clientele, anu
carried on business in a large private
mansion in Welbeck street.
''Grace, my DEAR" she said, taking
me in her arms and kissing me, 1T
worries me to see you look so i'll. Now
what do you say to, a fortnight in the
country p
A fortnight in the country and at
her busiest time, with the London sea.
son coming on.
l thought of that, and them, as
glanced round atythe flowers and in