The daily gazette., 1877-12-22
Mending a Broken Heart.

winter than any marble was Kate
Grafton's face.
"Oh George, George !" she exclaimed,
in tones which seemed to startle for
moment even the thoughtless-l looking
youth who stood with downcast eyes be-
fore her "tell me this is not-cannot be
true it is too frighiful !"
"Wh hat was fellow to do ?' doggedly
replied the boy-he was little more -'sthe
governor refused me money; l was
obliged to have it; | knew how sweet
MIR. Miffiin was on you 1 made use of
his name-in short, forge"
"Oh, don't repeat the word - cried
Kate appealingly ait woald break our
fathers heart TO know this"
"Well, there is but one way out of it,"
"You were too young, George, to re-
member when our mother died. Though
but O. little girl then, remember the
last words she spoke watch over your
brother, Kate, and always love him as
would have done.' George, if by any
sacrifice can save you, name it, for the
promise whispered in our dying moth
| er's ear | must keep at any cost"
"You have only one thing to do" re-
piled the boy, stunning the sisters eye.
"Speak it"
"Consent to be Bryce Mifflin's wife.
"Has he offered these terms ?''
| "He-he has as much as said," stam-
mered George, coloring, ''that--that if
you'd marry him he'd hush the matter
up. Now, you know he's dead in love
with you, and rich, and as his wife you
might have everything you wished"
Well, said George, after pausing for
an answer.
The brother sprang forward to embrace
his sister, but with a gesture she waved
him off.
Leave me now, she said tremulously.
When alone the heart-broken girl burst
}into tears. 1t was only that day that
Thornton Peale, to whom she had long
given her heart, had asked her to be his,
and she had answered with all the fervor
of first and only love. And now, to
save her brother from disgrace, must she
give up all-hope, happiness, the hus-
band of her choice, and accept life of
weary misery with one whose presence
I6lleu her with loathing.
ayes, for my dead mothers sake"
said Kate, rising at last and brushing
away her tears, and though her steps tot
tered as she turned toward her chamber,
and her face was deathly pale, there was
in it no sign of faltering.
| When Bryce Mifflin, the wealthy bank
er, came next day to renew an offer
which Kate had once before rejected
with undisguised scorn, it was coldly ac'
cepted. There were no transports on
Ieltker ride, 5W lie interview was all
that Mra Miffiin as a business man could
desire.
AS he took his leave, he met Thornton
Peale on the steps. The looks the two
Exchanged were not friendly. On one
side there was glance of ill-concealed
triumph, OH the other, one of surprise
mixed with contempt.
Thornton quite forgot Bryce Mifflin al
the first glimpse of Kate but at the Sec
ond, the blithe smile with which he ad-
yanced to greet her, faded from his face
She gave him her hand coldly as he
reached out both of his, and drawing
back when he would have imprinted on
her check renewal of the seal which
but yesterday, has ratified their VOWS.
"Thornton-Nr. Peale--,n she began.
He, too, drew back he had expected a
different reception.
81 have changed my mind since yes
terday,' said Kate, in a voice whose
calmness her quivering lip belied.
"Chan-Changed your mind ?'
| "Yes-l cannot-marry you"
"Cannot marry me? ?"
| "No.o
4 For moment the pair stood face to
face. In his, was eager inquiry, min
lgled with despair !; in hers, despair alone.
81 have accepted another," she SAID, at
length.
"A richer man, perhaps ?"
..Yes,"
AS she spoke the word deep flush
mantled her cheek.
"Kate!-Miss Graftonw exclaimed
Thornton. 81 forebore to ask you to be
my wife before reaching position in
my profession which would justify it.
thought had attained 1t when | spoke
yesterday, but 1t seems you are of diff
ferent opinion,
81 cannot explain further" replied
Kate, forcing back the tears which well
led up ready to overflow.
"Nor need you,' returned Thornton,
as with offended pride he turned and
walked away.
The wedding day of Kate Grafton and
Bruce Mifflin, to the surprise of all but
you so," was formally announced. But
ere that day came, another bridegroom,
deaJh, was waiting to claim the crushed
maiden as his own. The stain had proved
proved too much for that courageous but
ever gentle spirit.
| AS Kate's fe everish head lay tossing on
the pillow, she would whisper her lovers
name and say:
"Ohi if he could bnt know all when l
am dead!
| One evening Thornton Peale came.
| "I must see her." he said to DR.. West,
who had taken command of everything,
as doctors do on such occasions.
"She has just fallen into Sleep" re-
Piled the doctor. "It is the crisis of the
case. Her condition is evidently the re-
suit of mental anguish. " hen she awakes
/ to consciousness of her trouble l fear it
will prove too much for her enfeebled
strength"
If her mind could be relieved" said
| Thornton.