River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-11-01
THE SILENT HEART.


Mrs. Hartley was seated in a small,
rather cheerless sitting room, engaged in
the homely occupation of stocking darn
ing; while opposite to her, Sarah. her only
child, with folded hands, looked out of
the cottage window. There had been a
tall figure passing down the path that led
10 the little gate, but long before, that
was out of sight. Still Sarah sat there,
her dark mOurnful eyes looking out upon
the dusty road, her beautiful mouth fold
ed in lines Of pathUs, touching in one so
ybung.
Busily the shining needle went in and
out of the stockings, and sometimes the
mother cast a wistful glance at the lovely
face opposite her, as if longing to COM
fort err advise. 1t was Strangely pathetic
10 her to see the little white hands, that
were always so busy, idle in the forenoon,
the cheerful features so absorbed and
sad.
At last, Sarah broke the long, painful
silence,
Mother" she said, " is it my duty to
marry Charles Everhardl'
Your duty, Sarahl Have you no
warmer word To use when you talk of
marrying a man to whom VIC owe so great
debt of gratitudei"
mo mother. am greateful to him
but | do not love him."
Yet he loves you dev0tedly.n
"If could only believe that" Sarah
sighed. IT were only sure ne loved
me-
''You doubt thatiH
Mrs. Hartly spoke in tone of the ut
most amazement, while her busy hands
fell idly before her.
You doubt Charles Everhard's lovel''
Mother, If he really loved me surely
my Ncart would answer something to his
worisf But when he is most eloquent
shrink from him the most | ask my
self why he should feign love for
me, who can give him nothing-nOt even
love-in return. and find no answer.
And vet know by every thrOb of my
own heart, Charles Evenhard does not love
Iaen
You are too romantic, Sarah. Think
for moment. We are miserably poor,
living in an attic, doing slOp-wOrk for
the barest necessities of live, when ac-
cident threw YOU in Charles Eyerrhad's
way"
''Was it an accidentl | have often
thought il was strange that he should
have stood so very near when | was in
suited for the only time in the street
II has often troubled me that | thought l
detected glance pass between the man
who was rude to me and my gallant de-
liverer Ii was rather dramatic, mother,
that sudden rush to protect me-"
But think, Sarah, IF the great deli
cacy exhibited in his kindness since that
time. His introduction to me was GER
tainly a gentlemanly method of obtaining
permission 20 call. Then his procuring
this cottage for Us upon such easy terms,
and the work we are doing, so pleasant
and vet so well paid. And surely, Sarah,
If we were still as rich as we were when
Your dear father died. YOU could not have
been wOOed with more respect than Char
les Everhard constantly shows YOU"
Il know all you would urge, mother,
and yet the fact remains-he does not love
me-
"He Is n man who might marry well in
his own circle, Sarah. His father Is one
of our leading lawyers, and your uncle had
great respect for him."
Uncle Herbert, mOtherl'
.Yes, dear, who died in Australia
last year Poor fellow, after staying
there for twenty years, he must have
died poor"
"Why}"
"I am his only living relative, dear
excepting yourself, ard if he had left
any property. we should have heard OF
it."
"Yes, have heard YOU say so. | wish
he had left US little money. Ever 50
little would enable US to throw off this
bitter load of obligation. 1t brushes
me. l had rather be back in our attic
and know We were independent. Mother
mother, | cannot marry Charles Ever
hard"
1t was a despairing cry. coming from a
tortured heart The young girl had been
so gradually hedged in by the kindness OF
her sutton that she had scarcely measured
her load of obligation until she was asked
to give her life in payment.
The keenest pain was in her own APP
parent ingretitude and hardness of heart
She asked herself again and again what
she could desire in a lover and husband
that Charles Evcrhard did not offer her
He was yOung.not twenty-six; fine looking
intelligent, we'll educated. His family Oc-
cupied a good social position and he was
in ! lucrative business in neighboring
town Yeti he wOOed her, g penRileSs girl
giving her no love.
Could she marry him, and live veal
after wear, with no love for her husband
no love from him2 Could she stand before
the altar and pledge herself to henOr and
obey a man for whom she felt only graf
itude which tantaiized her by.puzzling
suspiciOnl
As if in answer to her thought, hel
mother said: ''yet you have all TO gain 10y
such a marriage. Sarah, nothing to lose.
Il should lose my self-respect,my hap
piness for life. No. mother, though may
seem ungrateful. I'll not marry where
there Is no lover
Mrs Hartley did not urge the sutton:
cause. although deeply disappointed Al
her daughters decision. She had mar
ried for love herself, though her husband
had been a rich man, and she knew only
too we'll how much warm, true love i
needed to make married life happy. To
advise Sarah to marry Charles Everhard
after her reasons for refusing were 50
clearly stated, would have been 10 dc
violence TO all her own convictions.
But Charles Everhard did not patiently
bear the rejection of the beautiful girl he
had persistently wOOed for many long