The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-07-21

|
| made my choice"
but your choice was to remain with your
uncle"
Yes, dear, / remained here. Arnold
Halcombe, the noblest man I ever knew, did
not make my duty harder by anger at his
dismissal. Very sadly he admitted the me-
cessity OF the case, and left me. Even then
| he would have corresponded with me, have
held himself bound, but that ] would not
permit. My uncle's life was not in danger
and | would not let Arnold waste the best
years of his manhood without wife or home,
50 we bade each other farewell, and few
months later | heard that my lover had Join
ed party of men going to Australia"
"And have you never heard of him
since ?"
Never My uncle lived six years.
When was most desolate, after his death. I
found YOU"
Marjorie" " whispered, "did Arnold Hal
combe ever marry?"
81 never knew, dear"
but you-do you still love him?"
"Yes, dear, | shall love him while live!"
she told me no more of her heart history
then, but talked of Stephen, of our love, of
her entire sympathy in our future. think
she must have written to him, for in the
evening he come again, and we were be-
trothed.
l knew that Stephen must return to his
business in few days, but he promised to
return in months time.
"Stephen,"I said, "tell me again about
your Cousins offer"
"Why, do you want to go to Australia ?"
he cried in amazement.
"No, but want to know something about
your cousin"
"There is but little to tell. When was
mere boy he went to Australia, poor man.
He invested very small capital in sheep,
hiring his farm. BY degrees he increased
his stock, bought the farm, and became an
enormously wealthy man. About six months
ago he came to London, intending to re-
main here. But he wishes still to retain
some of his Australian possessions, and is
looking for an agent, to whom he offers far
greater advantages than those he enioved
himself. When he first proposed to me to
go,l thought as | think now, that preferred
to pursue the business | have here, and grow
rich slowly, than to exile myself perhaps for
years. But had you persisted in what you
| said this morning, thinl, tomorrow
should have accepted my cousins offer"
SIS your cousin married ?"
"No. indeed And yet he is as free from
bachelor eccentricites as | am. He had
some disappointment in his youth, and it
never soured or imbittered him. He is a
splendid fellow, one of the handsomest men
| ever saw, and asnoble as he is lne-looking
But why are you interested about him ?"
81 will tell you when you come again. In
the meantime, will you use your influence to
persuade him to come with your"
"Here ?"
Yes, here. Bring him with you. Make
any excuse you like, only bring him !"
but do not understand" began Steph-
en-.
Never mind, l have promised to tell you
then"
81 will bring him, if he will come"
l was sure he would come 1t was hard
to carry secret hidden from Mariorie's
loving eyes for an entire month but lortu-
nately, We were soon engrossed in wedding
preParations-tor Marjorie, remembering
her own broken love-dream, had consented
and won my consent to Stephen 5 wish to be
married in January.
So we spent the late October and early
November days in stitching busily upon the
tinery that every bride wishes to take to her
new home.
When the day came, all my nervous
anxiety about our preparations was attri-
buted to my desire to have Stephen pleased;
but, strange as it may seem,I was not think
ing of stephen, He was to come on the
train due at half-past eleven, and the car
riage was sent to the station to meet him.
| was dressed early, and fused about
Marjorie till even her quiet gentleness was
reused to opposition,
"Why, child, it is absurd" she said as |
dragged my Iavorite of all her dresses from
the wardrobe. 81 shall look like goose in
that in the morniug"
"lut we will have no chance to dress
again" urged, "and this is so becoming"
| had pulled her hair down, aud was
twining the magnificent raven lengths into
the most becoming coiflure my skill could
campass. In the glossy braids | twisted a
half wreath of fine leaves with the scarlet
blossoms hal taken from the conservatory.
The dress Marjorie would not wear, but she
chose heavy black silk, with trimmings of
thread lace, and let me put scarlet bow up.
on the fine lace at the throat, and coral ear
rings in the small white ears.
81 look like ilamingo /" she protested.
"You look like queen !" / persisted.
The folds of rich silk trailing upon the
ground suited well her tail, noble figure, and
her face was always the most beautiful one