The Van Buren press., 1877-06-05

dear she was to him. And now-this
was the end of it. =..z
She arose and held out her hand.
GOOD by, Mr. Stab"
How far away and unnatural her voice
sounded
Louis Stab looked at the pallid, white
face, and great hope leaped in his heart
He held the cold hand more firmly, and
there was an involuntary pathos in bis
voice as lie said
6 Nettie, Nettie, you surely do not
care for my going p
Care? Why should | p she answer
ed, haughtily. chagrned to think he
should guess her unreturned love.
al am sure do not know, said Stab
:" Once again, then, good by
She closed the door after him and
stood listening to the retreating foot
steps. They died away. She went tc
her room then, staggering as though sh'
had received blow. As she opened the
door, and the light and warmth streamed
out, she put her hand to her head with a
dazed feeling, and thought
ais it possible am the girl who came
out here not half hour ago? | thought
poor fool that was going down to q
new life; and so did, she moaned, bit
terly, "to life that ! wish death would
this minute free me from. The worst Of
all is that he could not but see that low
ed him; and he pitied me. But l can
remedy that" she exclaimed after a few
minutes of deep thought "Pll cause
him to think he is mistaken. To-mor
row I'll accept Clarence Preston. HI
will get all that he seeks-my hand anc
money. Heavens! what life to lead
but can endure it; anything is better
than to know he is plying me. Oh, Lou
is, Louis, my first, my last. my only
love, shall, shall l ever be able to cast
you out of my hearth
The next day Clarence Preston receiv
ed note from Miss Austin, asking hin
to call that evening.
"Weil," he said, as he entered thu
room where she was waiting to receive
him, :" the fates are propitious; l am tt
have one more interview with you i
seems"
EYES, said Ne Sic, 4" strictly bust
ness one.'
81 am all attention; proceed
"Do you remember what told yoV
the last time we metz
81 shall not be very apt to forget it,
he replied, as his face darkened.
81 have changed my mind since then
Mr. Preston"
You surely do not mean, Nettie Aus
tin, that you will be my wife 7"
THAT is exactly what mean"
MY own darling" .....
"There, Mr.. Preston, that will suffice
You arc a poor actor, and ! will excus,
yo% f,om that y part q the eeremony X.
marry you. That is all there is of it
We are both to sensible to 60 into rap
lures over so common, place an affair"
So he it, Miss Austin, if it pleasc
you best"
THANK you; and now, as | have ac
complished what wanted in sending to
you, you will excuse me from entertain
ing you this evening, and afterward cal
AT your pleasure
Certainly he said, rising TO go, 81
shall come and 60 at your bidding, ant
be only to happy to be able to obligt
you, Good evening"
Clarence Preston was rising young
lawyer of the place. Ambitious and
poor, anxious to build himself up moro
rapidly than his limited means would al
low, he coveted Miss Austin's fortune
and had long been a suitor for her hand
No encouragement had he ever received
from her until the night that she gave
herself to him.
Neltie Austin felt that by engaging
herself she accomplished all that she hao
intended her marriage to do; so she con
Guided to defer that as long as possible
The last month Of her " freedom" a
she termed it, was spent in Cleveland
On her homeward trip, the train she wa
on went down a broken bridge. Sh
was dragged GU. and carried away in I
half conscious state, with this upper
most in her mind: that she bad passcG
from earth and escaped the dreary lif
that awaited her.
She was cared for, and when asked t
tell the name of some friend whom sh'
wished sen. for, she gave the name ant
address Of the only one that occupied
her thoughts now.
Louis Stab came in answer to the tel
egram.
Who has sent for me?' he asked OF
his arrival
"A lady. Step in that room across
the hall, and see if you recognize her."
Another minute, and he was in TIM
presence of the woman he loved.
my God!' he exclaimed. alt il
Miss Austinr'
"She heard his voice, and turned he
head toward him, while her face grew
perfectly radiant with happiness.
"Do you know me?' he asked, as III
took her hand.
know you? Certainly. l feel a:
though l had been in new world for a
few days. 1t only needed the light of 8
face that knew to bring me back again
know what has happened; but how
came you hereY'
Ibid t you send for me p
"Send for you? You are the last per
son in the world that would have sc n
for
He looked at her moment, ant