Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-02-23

many would be so generous. But how
will you write to him."
"Yes, will WRITE"
Sand at once, ere Laura discovers hi
falsehOOd? There are paper AID ink
Oh! Mabel, relieve mothers anxiety
and dismiss him now, that may pos
the note at once-this very hour"
With the same apathetic composure
sat down and wrute as she desired,
few words-ouly few (yet, oh! how
fraught with bitter SORROW J telling hin
that wished him to forget all th:lt hat
passed between us, and thIt thought i
hest for US to not meet again, as my de
Termination was unalterable.
Then gave the note to Mrs. Wilton
that she might see that 1 had really sem
him from me.
Months passed on, and there came nc
word or sign from Stacy Percival.
heard from Laura occasionaily-nots sc
frequently as at first, for sIudiously
suffered our correspondence to droop
and finally it died entirely away.
Spring and summer passed by, and
the leaves began to fall and rustic on the
ground. dead and scar as nv own sor
rowing heart.
tried 20 forget, TO be as l had been
ere | had dreamed my brief love dream
and in the sight of the world sue
ceeded, but good Aunt Martha shook
her head and sighed, as she looked upon
me, though she wisely refrained from
questioning.
One bright day received an invita-
tion 10 the wedding of Laura Wilton
and Stacy Pcrciyal.
did not 20, though l had long
thought TO do 50, and thus prove to him
that had not suffered: hut had over
rated my strength, aid in tears OF agony
| passed the hours until | knew that he
| loved was the husband o. another, and
then, not till then, realized that hope
had not deserted me, for only then did
it fold its wings and lie down and die.
Several years passed slowly on. Aunt
Martha had gone to sleep in The church,
yard, and /, for the second time an
orphan, was left alone in the gloomy old
mansion.
One day visitor was announced, and
| entered the parlor TO meet Stacy Per-
cival.
Mabel" he commenced abruptly,
after one long, earnest look into my
downcast face; ''MaDel, have to tell
you tale of suffering, and sorrow, and
wrong. Let me tell you of it all calmly
and coherently, if | can, Mabel, that
note you sent met made me Il broken,
stricken man. TO be east off by one
loved, and told that she had discovered
she loved another more than met was
almost my death blow. Do not start
aud look iucreduloIs, Mabel. Here is
the note, look AT it, But for that all
would have been well, for I would have
sought you, aud the clouds would have
been swept awry. Listen, Mabel. l
know that you did not write that note,
that you never saw il. Ii was Mrs.
Wilton, my aunt, who wrote il.
Laura, As you know, died more than
year ago, and from the hour of her
death, her mothers health rapidly de-
clined, until scarce one month since,
She too, passed from earth.
Lying there on her death bed, she told
me how she had seen the love which
was growing up between us, aud it hav-
ing been her cherished desire that |
should marry Laura, because of my
wealth, she resolved TO separate US.
When | returned to the city after our
sweet interview, told her, as in duty
bound, of the compact we entered into.
She gave her warm approval, but de-
sired me to keep it a secret from Laura;
why, she did not explain. Then she
went down to RavenswoOd and told you
that she had discovered our secret, and
that her child would die il you did not
give me up. She wrought up your sem
sitive heart until you wrote this, the
true note, from which she modelled the
false. She was ever an adept in copying
the handwriting of others. Her object
was to prevent my seeking an explana-
ton, and in this she was but 100 sue
cessful.
| Travelled for several months, and
when / returned my aunt told me that
Laura loved me, that if | wished TO pre-
serve her life 1 must at least feign the
love 1 did not feel, and make her my
wife in pity for her weakness. AT first
| resisted: then yielded; the future had
no joys for me, but if l could make
Laura happy, would at least be of some
use in the world. But, oh, Mabe! there,
too, was falsehood and wrong, for my
dying aunt confessed that while her
child loved me as brother, she desired
no closer relationship, aud all her
mothers influence wa> needed to induce
her to give my suit favorable answer.
All. Mabel how much sorrow would
have been spared US had been a poor
man.
Sand now my darling have told yOu
this, free man, to ask you again to be
my wife, to share happy future with
me. Will you come to me, Mabel?"
He opened wide his arms, and II
laid my head peacefully on his noble
breast, my heart full to overlooking with
and love, and. scarce able
to realize that after the storm had come
sunshine, after many SORROWS, joy.