The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-08-01

9uA aALCt - AOh5 QciAUeFAGAOu E1SF-
bert decided upon one more effort
to gain tiding of his lost lore. g
In every city for a week one lead
ing newspaper contained this adVer-
| tisement:
LEDA: The letter written thir-
teen years ago has just reached me.
Write again. "H."
Waiting. endured for so many
years, became torture after this no
tice appeared, and once again Her.
bert Payne resigned himself TO q
future uncheered by loving COM
panionship.
Had he possessed Asmodeus'
power he might have been waited to
home in Paris, where sweet
faced woman. lovelier in her gentle
maturity than ever la her girlish
bloom, was teaching class of girls
the hard words Of the English Ian.
gnage.
Accepting the position offered by
her old friend, and refusing the as
sistance proffered grudgingly by her
adopted fathers brother, Leda Nor.
rison had travelled with the chill
dren under her charge for nearly six
years.
Then finding herself in Paris and
able to gather class OF. pupils for
English, she had decided not to re-
turn to her humble home, earning
more than sufficient for her humble
wants in her new vocation. aa
1t was some weeks after the dis
covery Of the long lost letter, and
the class of girls were improving
their English accent by reading
from a newspaper. when one slowly
and hesitatingly read:
" LEDA: The letter written Chir-
teen years ago has just reached me.
Write again, "H."
In a moment Leda. white and
trembling, was eagerly canning the
lines.
Leda 1t was an odd name.
Could there be another Leda who
had risked her whole life's happiness
thirteen years before in a letter to
'' H?"
Were there two Herberts? II it
should be-if it should be
The young ladies wondered at the
perfect impunity with which they
murdered ;he English language dur
ing the remainder Of the class-hour,
but none guessed the tumult of hope
aad fear in the heart of their pale,
gentle teacher-none saw her, when
she was at last alone, with few
words only:
"If it is indeed Herbert who has
put the enclosed advertisement in
the paper, he will find me at No. 28
Rue Mont, Paris. Ever his faithful,
owing betrothed. LEDA.''
Then she put the advertisement
nto the letter. sealed and directed
t, and sent it over the sea 10 the
lnxions lover waiting and praying
or tidings.
The English classes were never
the comfort Of the aged
widow who was Leda's companion
vas never forgotten, the daily duties
! life were conscientionsly per-
but it seemed to Leda as il
Ter whole life concentrated upon
he arrival of the mails after there
vas possibility of receiving an an.
wer to her short note. ot
She grew pale with restlessness at
light when the dream Of her
outh came again to keep her wake.
al.
All the old love, the old hope, the
ong-ago.conquered despair and
ain came hack to haunt her as she
'aited with renewed hope for It'd
lgs.
Il am growing old and worn"
be said one day, looking at her
ale face in the mirror; II am not
le blooming girl Herbert loved, but
careworn. pallid woman"
And her own sad eyes could not
se the rare beauty of the sweet
ce.
But still thinking Of her love. she
visited her hair in a heavy cor
let over her shapcly head. and
,on one side put knot Of blue
Dbons.
" Herbert liked it so.'' she
ought.
Then she pinned blue ribbons over
r gray dress under a soft lace
liar, and put on a brooch her
opted father had given her, which
IS a favorite with Herbert.
And thinking sadly of the change
ars had made, she was summoned
her sitting-room to meet a grave,
ddle-aged man, changed also,
til upon his lips and II his eyes
e read his constancy and answer
it by her own. Ha
Years rolled back as these two
thfnl through all, met at last TO
ow their hearts still young. their
70 still true, as it was In those
ys when cruel fate separated them
so small an agent rs a crack i'm
; wall behind a mantel-piece.a9a