The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1876-03-31

which had sustained her these weary |
months was utterly qucnchcd. lie
had never care,l for her, she whispered,
bitterly, and there was nothing lcit |
for her but the same weary. aimlcss.
iutolerablc life she had endured -
ling. She had deceived herselfin these
bright. brief days forever gone by. IL
was only friends brave. hopeful
words, that hal given her such hope
and courage; and in return. she had
given all the wealth &c young hearts
first love. Cla-pinc her hands in sud-
cen agony the slip Of paper fell from
her trembling fingers. As she s,cop-
ed to regain IL, her glance fell upon
her own name, written IN q hsndwri-
ting she knew hut too well; and with
cut stopping to think, she unh'ile,l the
paper aud read a, follows:
Il do love her, Nellie. as never
expect ~ love sgsit; but ! dare not
trust my lies happiness In the band.
OF unc 50 utterly frivolous aud self,h.
I hal almost said hearlless. II gives
me keen pain to write this, but the
truth standc betore me. and | must
face and bear it. There has been n
time when | thought she might prove
different; that the slumbering better
nature in her soul would waken to
new life; but the experience of the
past year has proved my hopes false.
On every hand I hear Of her vanity
and folly. her sel6shness and had
heartedness. I am going away. and
in the new life opening before me, |
shall try To drive the memory Of Lena
Lyuell from MY mind"
! Pleasant words fer u loving, sensi-
tive heart To sca..! But in extreme
cases harsh remedies are needed, and
Nellie Alton never did wiser deed
than when. unwittingly. she placed
that slip Of torn paper in her friends
hand.
After the first glow Of Indignation
had subsilcd, Lena was conscious 81 II
faint thrill Of joy mineling with the
keen pain G,rlm Gray's words hal
caused. He had cared for her. then.
after all; it was her own hind that
had dashed the cup # joy from her
lips. II she had only been true Ia
herself how much pain she might have
been spared; and the old child.look
came back into Lena's face. and the
tears rose in her eyes a. she prayed ST.
lently. "Gud f,rgive me. and help me
to be better womanl'
TAe coveted bracelet had Inst its
charm. She Wa. in no mood fr tri.
flies. Turning down a side street. she
walked on, and beuc,th the wind
stirred trees, until the slanting rays of
TIE afternoon sun rouscl he from her
revery. She was on the outskirts Of
the village. and right befbrc her stood
II little house, gray and Imprinted. at
whose window young girl sat before
her easel. Mrs. Altons description
had been ~ vivid that Lena hal M
difficulty in recognizing in this young
artist a. the heroine Of her friends
s,ory. Opportunities fr doins god
hal passed by her one by ore. anim.
proved in the ollen days; here was
one. and she would not neglect il; and
IN II moment more, she was introduc-
ing herself to the young artist, and,
NIL her old-time pride forgotten, chat
ting with her like anol'l friend, win
ming her confidence, and devi.irg
means Ia assist her without wounding
her pride.
There wac an irresistible charm.
abou, Lila Barton's manner. She
was 50 thoroughly in earnest in the
pursuit of her life work, so wrapped
up in the interests of the dear ones f,r
VIII ,se sake she labnre,l, that Lena be-
came deeply interested in her. and
when he AZ last took her departure.
the roll of bills was transferred To the
artists hands. and Lena became the
happy r'ssessor Of one Of her finest
paintings.
Waking home in the lafe afternoon,
Lena was conscious of strange sense
# scli.sati,f,ctinn. and almost con-
tcntmcnt. For the first time in years.
she hal experienced the ,y of ma
king another happy, and the gooi
work 81 begun she had M inient,on oi
leaving unfinished. Before she retired
for the night, she had written a long
letter II AN aunt in the city. whose
kind interest she felt determined to
awaken in behalf of her prOteye.
A reply sShn came. Auat Ruth
would he glad of II companion, aud