Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-02-28

cure divorce, anu-anu-l VIII
try to make you happy"
"Heaven bless you, Edith. This
is ample compensation for my long
and patient waiting"
Her face was sverted, and she
did not observe the singular smile
that played about the moustached
lip when he said that.
CHAPTER II.
Many years previons to the date
of our story, Dyke Balfour and
Clifford Harcourt were such close
friends that people fell into the
habit of calling them Damon and
Pytbias.
The former belonged to veal
thy family, and was the only heir.
The latter was poor, and his mea-
gre share of the worlds goods was
what he earned by honest toll
Dyke lived at Balfour Hall, a costly
mansion in the suburbs OF the city |;
Clifford's uppreteatious home was
in the village of Pointville. The
difference in their stations was no
bar to their friendship, and they
were constantly together, never
quarreling, but always ready to de-
fend each other.
Finally, however, they both fell
in love with the same girl-lovely
Edith West. Dyke Balfour was q
strong-willed fellow; sometimes alb
solutely stubborn and it was only
such good-natured, generous souls
as Clifford Harcourt that could be
his constant companion and not
quarrel with him occasionally. But
now that they were rivals in love,
he was good enough to agree that
each should take his chances with
the other, and remain firm friends
whatever the result. Perhaps he
was confident Of winning the prize,
as he thought Of his advantages In
wealth, education, and personal at.
fractions.
But Edith West was q sensible
; girl, and it was the honest, straight
, forward Harcourt that won hel
, heart. She told Balfour this wher
he proposed, and the rich young
man turned very pale, and could
not speak for several moments
When he did, his voice was nnnat
urally calm. He told her she hai
made q serions mistake-that sh,
. could not see it now, hut woulC
, when it was too late to rectify it
that Clifford Harcourt was not tn,
man to be true to any woman.
They were married, and livec
comfortably at Pointville, for Cliff
ford was an experienced cabinet
maker, and commanded fair wages
They loved each other with thei
whole souls, and when, as time roll
ed on, child was horn to them
. their happiness was complete. Th
> little thing was just three years old
worshipped by its mother and idol
lied by its father, when Cliffor'
suddenly and very mysteriousl
: disappeared. He went TO the cit
= one day on an errand for his EN-
ployers, as he had done many time
before, and never was seen after
ward.
: DYKE Balfour seemed to be th
= only one who could tell anythin
a about it. He came to the deserte
e home with sad face, and in a chot
:, ing voice told Edith Of her hui
= - bands wickedness. Clifford ha
% become enamored of a rich beires
IT and had left the country with her
N "I was with him to the last" sal
:. =. Balfour, "trying to make him r.
% pent, and return to bis wife; HI
" he only laughed at me. He sal
n he was tired Of poverty, and WI
8 determined to be rich, and he to
- :. me to tell you so, Edith"
y Poor Edith would not believe
Mt at fret. She was almost distracte
III and refused to he comforted. Dyl
a. did not reproach her for doubtir
his word, but expressed GOO
is deal of sympathy for her in her h
en- reavement, and never lost an o
ir. portunity Of befriending her al
IL her child. She would not acce
aims from him, but he won her las
wv ing gratitude by procuring perm
NJ nent and lucrative employment {
ke her, 40 that sSe was able to suppo
herself and little daughter.
ur And finally he asked her to ms
er ry him. She refused, kindly, b
firmly. He pressed his suit, pi