The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-04-21
TOO WRETcHED TO LIVE.

Judge from the appearance of the table
where he had been writing, upon which
were scattered several sheets Of letter
paper partly written upon, had been 8
difficult one to compose.
'EheH, turning to the mantekpiece, he
lcarelessty lighted a; cigar, and strolled
out upon the beach. The sun was just
setting as he turned the corner of the
i house and both sea and sky were bathed
in u crimson splendOr; but The beauty oi
the sunset seemed lost upon the young
man tonight, tor his brow was clouded
and he appeared lost In deep and pain.
ful revere,
| just then the sound OF q woman's
| voice, singing some snatch from favor.
\ ite opera, Iell upon his ear, and seemed
to instantly Danish all but joyous
thoughts from his mind.
| "She told me to come to her room al
8, and 1t is now only half-past g" he re.
marked, glancing at his handsome gold
repeater. 81 shall have time to walk up
to the cove and back before then. My
at last consented to marry me. can
scarcely realize my good fortune yet.
How different she is from Lillian Frasier
And yet thought loved Lilly last sum-
liner well enough to ask her to be my
lwife; but after met Jessie Earle, my
love Ior Lillian all died out. l wonder il
Lily will feel badly when she receives
my letter, telling her how my feelings
have changed toward her, and asking
her 10 release me from my engagement!
Poor little girl! but then she will soon
get over IL, doubtless, and probably
marry some young farmer. uon't De-
lieve sne ever loved me very much
she was such quiet little thing" And
Jessie, and by the time he returned
home had made up his mind that it was
all Tor the best, mis- meeting beautiful
Jessie Earle and forsaking poor Lillian.
| Arthur Melville was the son OF a
wealthy and aristocratic family, and
the summer before, while out fishing, he
Ihad lodged for SIX weeks at Linden
Farm, with the Frasiers. Here his
fancy had been captiVated by the beauty
and grace of LilIan, the old peoples
grandchiid, and when he left he was en-
gagged to her.
Entering the house-for the MellVilles
we're spending the summer there-Ar-
thur proceeded at once to the EarleS'
room. and in the presence of Jessie soon
forgot the letter that was destined to
| prove so fatal to the happiness OF a loV-
ing young girPs heart.
"Grandpap
"Well, darling, what is it?'
The speakers were an old man and
{ fair young girl over whose head scarce
eighteen summers had rolled. They were
standing at tue gale OF pretty farm
house, half hidden in the vines which
clambered over it, and the old man was
just preparing to get into the carriage,
which stood waiting for him, wheu he
was interrupted by his granddaughter.
Looking down he saw a sweet, plead
ing face upturned to his; the roses had
foTsaken her cheeks lately, and OF such
q sad, wistful look had crept into the
sunny blue eyes that 1t made his heart
ache to look at her.
"What is 1T, pet?' he repeated.
Don't forget to stop at the pDst-oft flee,
grandfather; there must be letter to-
day." she answered.
'You have felt so every day, Lily, and
vet it is six weeks since you have heard
| word from that rascally lover OF yours.
| It's my opinion he's a deceitful villain.
| never did like the looks of him much,
and now tor him to treat you this way
| ., If only had him here-thaps ALL"
shaking his whip at some imaginary per-
son.
20, do not speak sol He never, never
would be false to me-his little Lily,
grandpal No, he is ill, or something has
| happened to prevent his writing. But
would stake my Lille on Arthurs truth !"
| she said, throwing back her head while
| d red flush mantled each cheek at her
| grandlather's words.
| "Well, maybe SO, Lily dear, maybe so. !"
And whipping up the horses, he started
toward The place. ..
All aay long Lily fitted about the
house, every now and then running to
| the window to see If she could catch d
| glimpse OF the returning carriage, even
! when she could not expect them ior
hours.
At last the long day drew to close,
and just as the sun was setting she saw
them coming. With the speed of a fawn
she flew down the long path to the gate,
and stood there breathless y waiting his
arrival Yes, he held something white
in his hand, and heldiit up for her to see
1t; then 1t must be a letter from Arthur,
for no one else wrote to her.
"GIve it to me-quick, grandpaw she
exclaimed. 'It is Tor me, isn't iLW
eyes, it's tor you, at last"
With cry of joy she took it, and
hugged it close to her bosom. Then.
darting away, she ran until she came to
the orchard, and at last, sinking down
under the apple-tree where Arthur had
asked her to be his bride, she took the
long locke editor letter and Kissed the
writing and the seal; then carefully
opening it, she read The following:
"FRIEND LILLY-My long silence, l
feel, demands an explanation, and SO /
| will give it to you III this short letter.
In alluding to our little iirtation Of last
summer, which we were foolish enough
to end by an engagement, l should like
to say a few words. l hope the matter
was not more serious to you than it was
to me, and so desire that you will re-
lease me from my promise to you, Lily;
it was only a passing fancy. Since
Injecting beautiful Jessie Earle, know
.f&hat real love is. L do not think that
| your feeling for me will be more en-
during than mine for you has been.
Doubtless, ere this, you have outlived
it, for 1 remember you were always
rather shy and cool inyour expression s
OF affection towards me. Hoping that
we shall always be friends, AN yours
truly, ARTHUR IL. MELVILLE"
| The young girl read this cruel letter
| through, and then she turned, and, bury
lang her face in the long grass, burst in 10
q storm Of passionate, fearless sobs,
| which shook her slender form as the
fierce wind bends some tender flower.
| She lay there until at last the pale