Connecticut western news., 1877-06-01

ness, and must return to my home in Philadelphia at once. But, if you wish it, will return in March,"
 q do wish it. Philadelphia! Our home is in Albany. I will give you the address, so that if you cannot re- turn here you will find Leda in her own house in Albany. 1 shall will the house to her."
 "Little doubting his success - for while Leda was never unmaidenly she had never quite concealed her shy, pure love-Herbert wooed and won the maiden he sought for his wife. They were to correspond regularly, and in | March Herbert was to return to Florida and remain with the Morrisons. He was filled with new, deep happiness as he journeyed homeward, and every tender, loving letter from Florida 1 added to his content. January was l over when the letters ceased. He waited a reasonable time; then wrote. No an- swer. Again he wrote, enclosing a letter to Leda in one to the landlord of the hotel giving his address.
 The answer to this came promptly. MT. Morrison had died very suddenly the last week in January, his brother and nephew had come to remove the body to Albany, and the whole party had left the hotel.
 Fastening at once to Albany, Her bert found the house to which MT. Nor rison had directed him closed and de- serted. The agent, whose address was upon the placard announcing the place '"To Let," could give no informa- tion excepting that he had received orders to let the house from MT. Nor rison the brother of the former owner. | He was not at the funeral himself, did not know anything about Miss Leda, could give the address of the late MT. Morrison's lawyer, and knew that the surviving brother and his son were travelling in Europe.
 At the lawyers the news was crush ing, MT. Morrison had died without a will, and the entire property had passed into the hands of the heir-at-law.
 "He was superstitious, the old lawyer said ''fancying it would hasten his death to make will. Foolish We'll, yes, but not uncommon. Miss Leda, came home with the body, and remained a week, but 1 do not know what became of her then. The brother was most unkind-one might say brutal for he had been jealous of her for years, and understood perfectly well that it was only because of his brothers neglect that she was left penniless in stead of inheriting the most of the es- tate. If hear of her will let you know, certainly. =...
 But thirteen long, weary years passed by, and no word of Leda reached the faithful heart waiting and hoping to have the long-looked for tidings. No other fair face ever took the place in Herbert's heart that Leda's face filled. No other love ever drove out this one strong love of his life, and when he looked upon the parting gift of his darl ing every throb of his heart was as l truly hers as it had been when he bade her farewell and tenderly kissed away her falling tears.
 It was many minutes before he could control his agitation sufficiently to open the letter. It was postmarked Albany" and the date was that of the day previ- ous to that of MT. Morrison's funeral. When at length he opened and read i it, tears that were no shame to Her bert Payne's, manhood coursed down his cheeks. In humble words Leda told him frankly the story already familiar to him and her own penniless condition.
 "You may not care to claim a wife who knows nothing of her birth," she wrote, "who stands now utterly alone, beggar. But if, as my heart will whisper hopefully, you still love me, you will find me here for week longer. If you do not come I shall know you despise me for my involuntary deceit, and shall accept position offered me as governess to her children"
 "Oh, my darling, my forsaken darl- ingp' Herbert whispered, "where are l C4r fr1re Por. tod Despising your lover who deserted you in sorrow and loneliness! It is too bitter.'
 But calmer thoughts came at last, and after long deliberation Herbert de- cided upon one more effort to gain tid- ings of his lost love. In every large city for week. one leading newspaper contained this advertisement:
 "LEDA-The letter written thirteen years ago has just reached me. H."
 Waiting, endured for so many years, become torture after this notice ap- peared, and once again Herbert Payne resigned himself to a future uncheered by loving companionship. Had he pos sessed Asmodeus' power he might have been waited over the broad Atlantic to home in Paris, where a sweot-faced woman, lovelier in her gentle maturity than even in her girlish bloom, was teaching>a class of girls the hard words of the English language.
 Accepting the position offered her by her old friend, and refusing the assist ance offered grudgingly by her adopted fathers brother, Leda Morrison had travelled with the children under her charge for nearly six years. Then find ing herself in Paris and able to gather a class of pupils for English, she had de-
 cided not to return to her old home,
 earning more than sufficient for her
 humble wants in her new vocation.
 It was some weeks after the discovery
 of the long-lost letter, and the class of : girls were improving their English ac- cent by reading from a newspaper,
 when one slowly and hesitatingly read
 ,"LEDA-The letter written thirteen
 years ago has just reached me. Write again. H."
 : In moment Leda, white and tremb- : ling, was eagerly scanning the lines Leda! It was an odd name. Could ! there be another Leda who had riskeC her whole life's happiness thirteen : years before in letter to 'EH." Were there two Herberts? If it should be dered at the perfect impunity witt which they murdered the English Ian 3 guage during the remainder of the elass-hour; but none guessed the tu mutt of hope and fear in the heart o their pale, gentle teacher. None saw her, when she was at last alone, write r few words only:
 ''If it is inded Herbert who has pu the enclosed advertisement in the pape1 he will find me at No. 28 Rue-Pari ! ever his faithful, loving betrothed. LEDA MORRISON" ) Then she put the advertisement int, the letter sealed and directed it, ant t sent it over the ocean to the anxiou lover waiting and praying for tidings
 The English classes were never ne