The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-07-30
THWARTED VENGEANCE.
n T AM RASH, Florence I own to

AM RASH, Florence own to
Il the Southern blood that leaps
through my veins,-that makes me, as
you say, wilful and passionate. But 1
am man, with mans feelings and
high principle of honor. am no boy,
Florence,to be wiled from this gay smile
to that,-I must and will be heard"
1t is better not" said Florence May
nard, turning away half impatiently.-
We have been such good friends, Will
lis, have hoped that nothing would
disturb the calm current of our happi-
ness. And the sweet girl sighed as she
seated herself again.
Florence-Florence = how could
help 1t ?" cried the young man, passion
ately. Have not been always under
the spell of your presence? When you
were child, loved you, madly. L
cannot = will not see the prize that l
have toiled for, early and late, slip from
my grasp. Oh! if you knew how hard
have tried to be good, for your sake,-
to be, if possible, worthy of you,-you
would let your heart love me, L know
you would"
If it were in my power" said Flor
ence, sadly and seriously. eff it will
comfort you, let me tell you how hard
have tried to find in my heart one chord
that would thrill in sympathy with the
feelings you profess. 1t is in vain, Will
lis. love you as friend, as brother,
even, for that you have always seemed,
but, oh you would not take for wife
one whose every impulse revolts at the
thought of that other sacred union -
The man stood up, fire in his eyes,
scarlet flush on his cheek, his arms,
folded, his hands clenched Though out
of sight till the blood almost came. He
gazed at the girl with strangely vary
ing expression now cruel and relent-
less, now tender and pitiful.
Florence, you will never know how
much love you. Two years ago, when
thought that perhaps had lost you, 1
sought to put the wide seas between us.
travelled fast and far, even to the wilds
of Australia. The suffering of that time
has left indellible marks upon my face.
thought had conquered" He stopped
for moment, his lips working con-
vulsively. He turned away to hide his
emotion but in few moments resumed.
" came back, hoping, as 1 had heard
nothing from you you were married. If it
had been so, all might have been WE'LL
But you met me the same kind tones as
of old, the same sweet smile. o Heaven
how my pulses trobbed with hope again.
All the past was forgotten. madly be-
lieved that my absence had worked a
change in your feelings. 1 dared to
dream again,-I dared to love. Icannot
give you up, Florence,-I will not give
you up!"
Florence rose from her seat, frightened
at his manner, trembling as she noted
his changed appearance.
No,-don't leave me as if you were
afraid of me; cannot endure that. L
will not harm you, Florence; but can
not give up the hope that you don t un-
derstand your own heart, that you don't
understand me. You, at least, love no
one else, do you, Florence ?"
g have never loved any man, Will
lis,' she said, calmly, "and if this is the
complexion of that greatmystery L trust
never may. I'--
Florence, you know not what you
saying" cried the young man, his
swartby face glowing again. "What
have done to distress you ? Pity me
pity mel 1t is not love that prompts
me to violent speech; it is disappoint-
ment where had staked all my dearest
hope. Oh, why was 1 ever born to en-.
endure this misery ~
Florence stood there, plying. She
trembled, and could have wept, but II