Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-10-19
NUMBER AZ.

VAS Aulh Hlbu In6 pIluo sno
had forgotten in these quiet months now
surged upward, as she turned toward him
with pale face and sparkling eyes.
"Sir, You insult me I"
"No man insults a woman with his
honest love, Miss Arthur" he answer
ed, the pride in hers bearing its reflex on
his face. IL can never offer it again, Miss
Irene; but rsmem Sei should you ever
need it, it is always yours, ready to do
for you, to suffer for you, to die for you !"
'Why does not Earl conner questioned
the invalid. II want to see him--l miss
him. Write Irene, and tell him he must
call this evening"
She wrote, in obedience:
Mamma asks for you. She knows
nothing. gyou will occasionally drop
in to see her, shall be glad
1t cost her pride a struggle to send even
this; but was it possible it also brought
thrill of something like pleasure tina: she
sheuld meet him once moreS
The weeks mad seemed strangely long
without him. Why had she thus answer
ed HIM? OF course the thing he asked
was impossible; but, nh, how cruelty she
had spurned him
Had he forgotten itf She had expect
ed some trace OF sorrow on tho handsome
brow, but when he catered, IN obedience
to her summons, the old frank smile lit
up his face, rs deyotmg himself to the
invalid, me spoke 20 her only when cour-
tcsy required.
Somehow, these weeks seemed to have
improved him, too. He had acquired
POLISH or was it only indifference, where
love had rsigned.
"Men easily forget" she Thought, and,
with tho thought, she sighed.
The Winter wore to nm end, and slow
ly tho invalid grew weaker and more
weak
The shock had been more than Eer
nervous system could bear, and she sank
under it day by day, until the exertion Of
moving from her bed to her couch became
toe great, when, for the first time the
rea lizat ion burst upon her daughter that
she was soon to be left desolate indeed.
Earl, during these months. came and
wen. Ms of old; but sometimes Irene ask
ed herself if his words to her had not been
II dream.
Not once did his eyes rest on her with
the old look-not once did he hold for q
single moment tho little fingers within
his own and sense OF empty dlsappoint-
ment, none the less bitter because unac-
knowledged, brought to the proud young
eyes, many an unshed tear. But bitter
sorrow wus in store, rs the inva id & rest
approached moro and moro near, until
the Angel Of Death stopped and gathered
her TO her breast. Earl was there at the
last, and Ms she lay so quietly on her pi.-
low they thought her spirit had already
Gown-she suddenly reused, and leld her
daughters hand in his.
Take her - she said "I give her to
you -
Then tho eyes closed forever.
"Do not mind il. She meant only rs
brother" he said in comfort, days after.
to tho weeping girl, and lrene wondered
why she could not as such accept it.
SO the weary days merged into weeks,
the weeks into months, aud the proud
young spirit learned its own bitterness.
She saw Earl rarely nowhere was no
longer tho lnyalid's impatient demands
upon his time. Some Of the old friends
had como forward In this second hour OF
suffering; but through all she missed him,
aud the thought that he had learned for
getlulness brought her no comfort Sha
was thinking OF him one evening when no
entered.
IL am going away, Miss Irene" hs
suid. "Will you bid mo God-speedf"
The old pride struggled for mastery
against ths choking in hes slender throat,
but the words she stroye to after refused
TO come.
81 have been studying law duriag ths-e
years of hard work, and am now able to
wait tor the practice l hope will come.
You will think oil me sometimes, Miss
Irene, aud, il in trouble, remember the
words, once suid--thst | stand always
ready to act the part of friend. L. even
this asking too much2" he added, as her
silence continued.
Had hs then forgotten all his words
the love he said was hers foreyer-or did
its pale ghost lie buried, too? But she
must not let him know.
"Go1d by !" she faltered; then, spite
of herself the words lhe had thought
locked in her heart burst from her: Earl.
do not go. | cannot bear 1t I"
Irene W Where had his icy indiffer-
ence fed to now2 His face was pale; his
voice trembled in his struggle for cslm-
ness. "What matters it to your
"Eyerything - she exclaimed, as her
pride lay with folded wings at her feet.
"Or, il you must go, take me with you ~
"Irene, do you know what your words
mean-that | can take you only as my
wiieY My darling, is this true"2
But in answer she sprang into his open
arms, dimly realizing that The celer
manlling her cheek was the annorred red
flag with which she had announced the
auction OF her sell to the highest bidder;
but Earl, holding her close to his heart,
will Weld his prize nevermore,
-
L. I'll