The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-25
VOLUME 3.


we had been thrown so constantly TO-
gerher?
A quick step close By startled me from
the painful reverie, and raised nv eyes
to meet the earnest, searching gaze oi
Stacy Percival.
mabel :" he exclaimed passionately
IL have something that had meant Ia
have told you a week ago, bnt my ann,
hurried me away 10 the city 40 Suddenly
that had no chance to speak to you
alone, and then business compelled me
to hasten to the West. Mabel, have
travelled night and day that might re-
tnrn to you, and ell you that love
you, and want you for my own-all my
own. Mabel, dear, dear Mabel. why do
YOU turn from me! Spe"k to me, Mabel.
speak to mel Not a word? Then ] have
offended you. Forgive me. ! was fool
to think you could love one like me-"
He turned and walked away, and !
gazed after him with a longing, fast
throbbing heart, that would not let me
call him back. ! strove to speak, but
my tonRne seemed paralyzed.
Suddenly he retraced his steps, his
face white and stern.
MABEL, oh! Mabel, do you know
what you are doiDg-driving me To des
peration and despair? Mabel, Mabel,
why did you let me have hope? Yon
must have seen that each passing day
was making me love you more and more,
and yet did not check me. You permit
ted me to Ihink-oh Mabel !"
His voice died away in a deep drawn
moan, and sinking down beside ME, his
head dropped on my knee.
found my voice then. The sight OF
his suffering broke the spell which held
me silent.
"Stacy, dear Stacy" whispered, "do
not erieve so. You are wrong. IL"
He lifted his head. and never was hu-
man countenance more radiant with joy,
for the truth which my lips had refused
to utter was unmistakably written on
my tell tale face.
With n glad, triumphant cry, he
caught me in his arms.
my own, my own, all mine, Mabel, is
it not 80? My wife, my treasure! Oh!
my darling, dom deserve such happi-
ness as this"
How long We sat there beneath the
trees know not, nor when the interview
would have terminated, had not the
voice of my aunt, snmmoning me to the
house, broke in upon our sweet converse
STACY" said /, as he bade me good
bye, "are you sure Mrs. Wilton and
Lanra will approve?"
He looked down at me with a startled
expression, and his cheeks flushed.
"Why, yes; why should they not? Ny
aunt has always liked you, and Laura il
your dear friend. OF course they will
approve. But what if they should not.
and he pressed me to his eide with 8
wild energy. "What care we, my darl
| ing? They cannot separate us, who love
so dearly; we are free agents. And now
good bye, my pet. I mus, hasten to th'
city and report my return"
He walked hastily away, and ! looked
after him until his tall figure became
lost in the distance. Then ] went back
into the house, my heart filled with
mingled emotions of joy, and bewilder
I n 4.
the feeling that such happiness could
not endure, but must he the precursor o.
coming misfortune.
Strange how the shadows of the future
will sometimes cross our hearts and
darken them, even in the midst Of the
MONDAY OF joy!
The next day l received letter from
Stacy. Business wonld deiain him from
me several days. wrote in reply, as ht
desired, and with his second letter I'VE,
distant from it'll came = note from Mrs
Wilton, requesting me to meet her al
her country house, half a mile distant
on the following day.
WhaS NhC rbtohkC
conld import, ! proceeded with not q
little trepidation, to Ravenswood, and
found Mrs. Wilton awaiting me.
She seemed greatly agitated. and al
luded at once to the object of her visit
miss Mabel, ! have left the city, se
cretly and hurriedly, to ask you wheth
er you think it is the part of friend
to steal from another that which she
most values? Tell me, truly, is such an
act honorable, or like friend?"
"No-no-certaiDly not W stammer
ed, while my heart grew cold. for
dreaded what was to come
"Yet you have done this" she wen
on, in a hard, ringing voice; "you have
professed to be Laura's friendi Yor
have tried to take from her the heart o
one who has taught her to love him
who has told her that she, and nom
other should be hia wife. In short
Miss Markoe, you have beguiled an en-
gagged man into whispering love dittie
in your ears, and forsaking one to whom
he Is bound by every tie of honor and
humanity Do you hear, girl' He i
faithless, dishonorable man, and bu
that Laura would die of broken hear,
you might have him in welcome. Oh
Mabel Mabel ~ she added, her voic
changing to one of pleading, with start
ling rapidity, "have pity on your friend
have mercy on me! do not kill my child
Stacy has whispered of love to her 70
years past. She has twined her affec
tions around him, until, to lose hin
now, frail, weak girl that she is, wonl'
be her death blow. Oh! Mabel Civ
him up; send him from you, and h
will return to Laura. Be just, b
generous, and Heaven will reward tn
deedp
She knelt to me-she, that white
haired mother-wrirging her hands il
7 l:ztoraH atom