The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-12-26

Z
Whichever you choose" said
Marian, little stiffly.
But she stood still to watch the
quick. bird-like movements of the
lovely little creature, who had nestl-
ed down into a chair, aud was enger-
fly breaking the seals Of her let
ters.
New Orleans" said Fernando,
with her lips pursed up. "Sentimen-
tai. but badly spelled. Leon de
Vergos.' Boston"
She paused suddenly, as a photo
graph fell out from between the
folded pages OF the epistle post
marked with the name of the "Cra-
die of Liberty"-Franl1 Applston's
photograph, with the accompany
ins words:
Felix Arden's devoted compliments TO Sophie
Sweetbriar, and desires further correspondence;
also the favor OF her photograph in return for his
own.
Fernando looked up at Marian
with q scared face, which every yes.
tige of color had vanished.
''Marianp p she, cried out, cluch-
ing at the others Marian.
it can't be true! Frank sending
his photograph to strangers? Frank
writing love letters to any one but
me? OH. Marian, it cau't be possi-
ble trusted him so p
''He trusted you, child, didn't he ?"
said Miss Gryce. little hardly.
What fault can you find with him?
He's only doing what you did your
SELF
But Fernando still clung to Ma
riau's dress, looking, with white
cheeks and startled eyes. at the pho
tograph. which she made no efforts
to lift from the floor. Until burst of
hot, passionate tears rained down
over hsr face.
Fernie, don't be such goose -
said Miss Gryce. impatiently.
9 Where is the harm, | say? It's
only in fun p
Only in funY' repeated Fernan-
ia, looking up, with quiyering lips
and humid eyes. But, oh, Marian.
it breaks my heart to think that he
could be false to me, even though it
were only in fun p
She rose up, dashing the briny
drops from her eye-lashes.
" Where are you going, Fernan-
DAP Miss Gryce demanded.
:" To my room"
I" What for?"
"To write to Frark-to tell him
that can never believe or trust in
him again-to give him back his
troth, and return my engagement
ring. Oh. Marian, Marian, my heart
will break | never knew before
how dearly loved him-how entire
ly 1 confded in him! !"
"Stop !" said Marian, authorita-
lively. Consider little first. Are
you going to own yourself as Sophie
Sweetheart?
Fernando shrank from the ques-
tion as if a pinprick had stung her.
oh, cannot-I cannot ]" walled
she. "Oh. Marian, dear Marian, be lp
me-advise me what to do! l have
been such a foolish child I have
stopped 30 such idiocy -
81 III tell you what to 6o," said
Marian, with smile. Dismiss the
whole thing from your mind. Frank
Appleton had nothing more to do
with il than yonder child who is play
ing marbles in the street. Don't you
see that the handwriting isn't his 2"
Yes; but people SO often write
feigued hands. And the photo
graph?'
1.-The Photograph is his said Ma
rian. But it came out Of my all
bum. 1t is one he oRce gave me.
years ago. put it into that letter;
wrote the letter myself. Frank is
as true to you as he ever was, and il
far above ali such pretty nonsense,
You said, Fernando, that you should
not care how many unknown beauties
Frank corresponded with. thought
would let you try the experiment
that is ALL"
" And-and Frank really knows
nothing about it?'' cried Fernando,
with a Frightening face.
" Nothing whatever-and never
will, unless you tell him.
Fernando Black tore up the other
letters, and flung them into the
CRATE.
/" There's an end Of my folly"
said she. "And oh, Marian. please
keep it secret. from Frank, that I
could ever be so siAy--so unfemi-
nineI For [ see it all now. "a
never saw it before"
And you forgive me, darling9"
whispered Marian. "For believe me.
this little lesson was all for your
good, TO induce you to pause before
you had gone too far"
Fernanda's fearful. smiling kiss
waa auffleiant apavvar. H ~