The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-02-08
Select Story.
ONE IN TEN THOUSAND.
A STORY OF LOVE, FORGIVENESS AND
MERCY.

All the golden flush and glory of per-
feet midsummer day lay like a silent benz
son on the fair country scene at which Muir
iel Wallace stood looking-sweet, sweet
Muriel with her tender brown eyes and rip
pling dusk hair.
Far as she could see, over smiling meadow
and ripening fields ofgrain, down the shady
valley, where the mill stream tumbled in
joyous music, clear to the low, blue -misted
hills that skirted the wide domain-far as
Murel's happy eyes could see, it was all
hers-her very own.
Not that she had ever cared much for
riches--not that she had been content AS she
was, when the wondrous news came to her
that she was the sole, undisputed heiress of
a distant relative, whose existence she had
almost forgotten but for Carroll Hom's
sake she was so exquistely happy-Carroll
Holm, her lover, her one among men, her
one darling.
They had not been betrothed very long
half of twelve month but such perfect
bliss and content had been crowded into
those days of betrothal that it seemed to
Muriel that she could scarcely remember the
days when she did not have Carroll Holm
for lover.
They were to be married now-in less
| than another six months and it WAS such
| gadness to this true, tender woman to know
she did not go empty-handed to the lover
whose own wealth was even greater than
| hers.
Before her accession TO this almost I'M
bounded wealth. Muriel had thought it well
that a wife should owe all to her husband.
Now that she had the possessions to take
with her it seemed to her right and pleas
ant
And she was passing sweet and fair thi'
midsummer afternoon, watching the shad
ows lengthen and waiting for her lover tC
come.
And Carroll Holm, as he drew his horses
reins to the groom perched stifily on the higl
back seat of the elegant little phaeton, ant
walked eagerly up the shaded flower border
ed path, felt how immeasurably good tn
fates had been TO him, to give this beautiful
girl to be his own.
i have been waiting ten minutes for yor
CARROLL she said, a moment later.
Actually six hundred seconds Murie
you don't often watch for my coming
But, you see, | wanted to see you $
especially to-day. have been doing some
thing, Carroll, and | am anxious for you
opinion-or, rather, your approval"
He was looking at her with his admirin
eyes.
There is but one something you coul
do which would meet with my disapprova
Muriel-that is to cease to love me-
She flashed him back a mute, worshiptu
glance. 1t was so like her not to make an
other answer of assurance.
you remember having heard me spea
of the death, year or 50 ago, of friend
my mother's-Mrs. Willis. She left he
daughter in very Strengthened circumstance
and the child has no one to look after hel
She is fairly welleducated, and very prett
and refined, and gives promise of magnif
cent voice, to cultivate which and becom
singer is the dearest wish of her life. Sh
wrote to me, Carroll, and | at once felt
my duty to care for her. telegraphed he
to come to me at once and make her HON
permanently with me, She came this morr
ing
Her earnest eyes were reading every shad
of change on his face, that had taken on a
expression of slight annoyance.
She came this morning? She is hel
now? confess | am surprised, and-wel
perhaps little displeased at such an irrul
tion into pleasant little circle, What coul
have possessed you, my darling, to yield
such Quixotic impulse /?
%, Carroll, sudden as it was, please do N
call in an impulse. 1t was my honest col
victioD of duty. Why, Carroll, with all Il
money | have, should | not make othe
happyH l am so happy myself-O, Caro-
so happy-that want everyone to be. Te
me you are not angry because Floren
| W lllllo has COnic W i've WIN u.s.
One small, fair hand lay coaxingly on h
.. sleeve the eager face, with its VISIT
eyes, was lifted to his half-smiling, hal
frowning ones the exquisite month W
; very temptingly near his own, and so
kissied her, and told her so far as he W
! concerned she was welcome to the great clio
. hopping country girl; only he hoped 81
would not torture his ears with discorda
screams and false notes.
Murel smiled as he caressed her fingel
his gentle master touch ending her blood
, pulsing warmth along her veins.
And then there came suddenly over h
face look as strongly marked as shadow
X different from sunshine-an expression tn
he had never seen before in her eyes, as S
raised them almost solemnly to his face.
. Carroll, Carroll, do you love met A
iyou sure you love mer