Montgomery County sentinel., 1877-06-15
2 9leasant Sturp.
oracle MERTON.

dear. And Gracie's brown eyes mois-
tened, and gave the answer the trembling
lips could not frame.
And now, little one, last goodbye.
Kiss me, Grace---it may be the last
time, he continued, taking the quiverng
face in bis bands, and kissing it tenderly.
Then the young man turned and disap-
peared in the shade of tho trees that
skirted the roadside, and the girl under
the apple tree looked after him with a
sigh that told how her fresh heart had
gone with him.
Oracle Oracle child, come in
you'll catch your death of cold p cried a
shrill voice from the farm house And
Oracle dried her tears, and with heavy
heart obeyed.
And now it is time to give an expla-
nation Of what all this was about.
Grace Merton was an orphan, and
taught the district school at l., a
sweet little town. fresh and rural. This,
perhaps, was the reason it was visited in
the summer, by so many New York
people of means and luxurious habits. -
One Of these visitors Morton Pinkney,
Willing away bis idle hours by boating,
fishing and hunting, had often seen
Oracle on her way to and from the
school-house. Attracted by her uncon-
ecious grace Of movement, and her
aausualiy pretty face, he rested not un-
Ill be made her acquaintance. He soon
found she was o,hyent, and accom-
plished beyond The usual standard. Many
an hour they spent together during that
brief summer, and by degrees her heart
went out to the handsome young man,
till finally he captured and kept it for
his own.
And he-well, he vowed love as
strong and deep as hers, and she believed
him implicitly So they lived that brief
summer for each other-and when at
last his employers wrote that he must
return to the city, and that they intended
to send him to India on business, and
also offered an opportunity for him to
make his fortune, their parting we have
seen.
While Oracle grew pale, and dropped
with the sorrow of their parting causing
much anxiety to their friends, who could
know the reason why. Ho frted as
carelessly with the next pretty girl ho met
as he had with her. Had she been rich ,and
"in society,"" he told himself, he would
boya o,;,ta,, L;e oIl cor hor A, 20 ,ros
he went off whistling an operate air and
let the subject rest. He went to India
and entered into active business.
A year had passed. Summer-dreamy,
delightful summer, had wrapped L
in rustic splendor again. "And Oracle p
you ask What of her? I'll tell you
now. For months she waited with
woman's faith for a letter or so,ne
other token from her loved one. None
came, not even a word Other friends
surrounded her--friends. that she had
known from childhood who loved her for
her gentle refinement, and the strong
spirit and cultivated mind that made it D
pleasure to be near her. Still she faded
and her anxious friends believed hei
near TO death.
But, presto, chapgel They we're sur.
prised to see return of her old spirits
and her old beauty. Six months had
then elapsed, and she knew she had beer
tri1ed with. Then the woman's spiri
kindled, and she determined not to die
for faithless man. With the resolve
came back new life and vigor She wal
again the life Of r..
Then came summer, and the crowds
Of New York society pcople-and, among
the rest, millionaire Of postion--hand.
some and erect yet-though the weight
Of sixty years was on his brow. Gracit
and be became friends. Then this mar
began to love her for herself.
He met her ono afternoon, and they
strolled in the wood together.
Gracie, said he, suddenly. your life is
too precious TO be worried out by the
tiresomo round Of teaching. ! love you,
Oracle. and can offer you homo aud
nay lasting deyotion. Oracle, will you
be an old mans darling ? Answer, dear.
Oracle struggled with herself, then
honestly told him that she did not love
him
But, she added, if you will take me, |
will do my best to bo a true wife TO you.
Thank God he cried, as ho folded
her to his breast.
Two weeks after there was Wedding
in L., and Oracle became tho old
mans darling.
New York was to be their home, and
after doing Niagara and the White Noun
tains, they want 10 their palatial home in
that city Oracle met deserved populari-
ty, and gained warm friends in The circle
in which they moved
Her friend, Mrs Burlow, called 10