The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-10-21


mos, Is YOU bcte n0ir; and Of all things, a
fashionable existence is the most dIStaSteiul.
! On, nv darling, my darling, why Is IT SOY
Why are yuG not the fresh glrl 81 II: why
\ did ever leave YOU? liu', alas wEal is the
use of ompajning? We are "Aat VIC are,
and 1t is useless 10 mourn
j And the strong man dropped back into the
char, with dry sob IN his throat.
i Her face had grown very pale, hCr eyes had
lost their mockinG expression, ana Siie seem
ed transformed from The lazy, honchaian', eX'
asperatng creature OF lew moments before,
?. who had drawled out her words with such
insuilcrabe accent. She sat upright Win
her eyes fixed before her, her hands claspcd
in her lap, and began in low, quiet tones, yet
with an underCurrent OF passion;
PRANK. YOU are not just-you are not fair.
You are bitter and say things you will some
day repent Since you have called up The
past, let me do so alSO-lcl me, perhaps, cX
! plain much that 10 you seems wrong, and
then, after you nave patiently heard me
then. if it seems to both Of us that we had
better part--why, then, we can bid each 9th
er good-by at least, with faint smile, in a
quiet untraglc manner-and-and drlit apart
| The world is large enough for both to live IN,
without bitterness. Don't interrupt me,
please let me tell my story in my own way.
/
ME Three years ago, when wc-when we
kaen each other, | was, as you say, fresh,
innocent girl Of T. You were my first love,
nv first hero; on you | poured the whole
wealth of young heart. | lived IN heaven
when you were with me, and that summer
was long dream OF delight, an idyllic poem, |
bit of Mahomers paradise. We had faults,
as you say. If was obstinate, you were i'm |
petuous, exactng, jumping hastily to con !
clusions--a fiery, uncomfortable boy; but,
with ii all, so loving, so tender! And then
we really tried to soften the asperlties in our
characters, to become like unto each other, to
understand and condone each others faults
and weaknesses, and to help each other to be
better All! we were enthusiasts in those
days; we dreamed of love in u cottage, of
Utopia in which we could live a perfect life
Well, you had to leave me- and | settled
down from romance to the prosaic business
of life, cheered only by our frequent letters.
| was very happy for while-l think re-
manned aboutthe same girl you left me-and
then-and then-yOu know my mother died"
Poor little Nellyw Was it a whisper,
He haG not moved, and she did not look at
him.
well, after those weeks Of gloom | came
to live with auntie and then began another
kind of life. She was one of the leaders IN
fashionable society, and | was forced into 1t
OF course the first year was quiet; but then !
was caught in the vortex, and at first l was
intoxicated. We went everywhere; night af
ter night spent in round Of fashionable dis.
sipatiOn; | became fashionable butterfly,
with no higher thoughts or aSpiratlons-eX
cept when | thought of you-than dresses,
Jewels, balls parties and operas. had feel
ing you would not altogether approve of ii, !
ana so said nothing in my letters. After a
while it palled upon me, and became sur
telted; but still | must keep tup-when you
have once commenced, there is no escape, no
chance TO stop. Aunt enjoyed it to the utter J
most She found the care and superinten- !
lence of the house more than she could I'M |
lertake, and still live up to the demands of
fashion So, gradually, became almost the |
ady of the house. She resigned all details !
10 me, and hence il is | am charged with all !
The care the amusement and entertainment of {,
The guests. Believe me or not, the artificial I
life has grown very wearlsome to me. But
1ue r0uls2 U0us? | have had TO live it, and il :
mas changed me, apparently great deal. {
nave never felt II so much as willie you were :
alkJng. But do not believe my mind or a
ny heart has been warped by it. You do not , |,
ike my manner, and you judge of me by my :,
superficial appearance. We meet almost as :,
trangers. Three years of absence, Just at .
he most critical period OF our lives, has mad !,
he effect of making new people of US, and we y =
iave not yet had time 10 get acquainted. We .,
hould learn again, rs we once did, to bear !,
md forbear. We have both of US expected to u
ind our old friends, and we nave both been
But shall this part us? Shall
III those old VOWS be as though unspoken!
Shall three years devotion to an ideal 90 for
laughty Have we dritted so far asunder we n
an never he reunited? Are we each to live Il
nj our destlnies alone and apart! All dear! y
What shall it be? Shall we say good by? y
AN we have no charity for each Others fail II
ngs? Has the past taught us no lesson?" Il
She paused, and then for the first time h
Doked at him. He rose and paced slowly t
cross the room "
I'm waiting, dear" she said. Il
He turned toward her; she rose, and they a
oOked in each others eyes. The next mo- c
nent she had glided across the room, and b
vas sobblng on his breast What had she p
cen IN mis- face: Pity, repentance, self-con. 3,
emnalion, hope, and, above all, great Z
earning love shining through all
My poor little girl" he tcnderly said, "
what n brute | have been-how cross, un. a
boorish, But | have been long Il
rom ladies' society and / have much to c.
earn. will yo1 forgive, and teach me? We a
vii learn charity and fOrbearance together, 81
nd we will yet have our Utopan home"
"Oh, Frank! you are too gocd-too good =
, mel"
flush, my darling" he said.
And when, an hour or SO aflerwad, the
eople returned from their ride, they found
,elly still demurcly embroidering in the .
lorning-room, while Frank nas composedly
eadlng volume OF poetry upside down.
Mrs Durahd's eyes were very sharp, and !
he cried.