The Newtown bee., 1878-04-04
8&l{st5Ss Stories.
TheO'S Romance.

"Lovc is the cross and passion of the heart"
 -FeStgs. A long reach of glittering gray beach, on one side of which rolled the calm, golden azure of the sea, and on the other green landscape, touched here and there with tntS of rosy bloOm
 Two persons had met on the sand just where, through a break in the rocky crags, the red sun, set light streamed down, warm and picturesque, across gnarled fir roots and trophy timbers of triumphant, ruinous stOrms that were polished into q tawny lustre by the ceaSeless friction of the tireless surf.
 One of these persons wasea woman, young and comedy, although q sort of dreamy despair had aged her fair and perfect features, and robbed her graceful figure, of Its natural elas- ticty. <r44 .~--' - %
 The white plume of her stylish bonnet was not more cOlorless than her lovely cheeks, and the fashionable dead black of her silk garments not more gloomy than the darksome trouble of her sweet violet eyes. Even the negligent braiding of her thick yellow hair seemed to hint of the utter and careless abandon of some powerful but secret sorrow.
 The gentleman who camo to meet her with n curious, contradictory mien of loath eagcr- ness was very handsome very disttngue, and in the prime of his youthful manhood.
 He touched his hat courteously, and then ex- tended large and shapely hand cold as ice.
 The small, dainty fingers that fiuttered into his palm were quite as cold. They lay there for moment hstless as pieces of marble, and then dropped away slowly, sadly, quivering
 "I congratulate you, Waldemar," said the fair woman faintly.
 "For what, Theo?" he asked gently.
 "For what?" she iterated in reproachful won der; "for your fortunate marriage with the nest beautiful woman in America. What else?" He smiled, and his smile was quite as full of wonder as her voice had been. "I am not married, my Theo," he said; "al- though l hope to be soon, and to the most beautiful woman In America, who Is yourself. l know you are true to me Theo, but have been sadly perplexed recently by your strange silence Theo, have come fer you. Do you see those brown gables wonder behind the sand hills and tall green trees? Yes2 Well, my love, have bought that place-old surfmere. for your home and mine. l heard you were here and followed you, my darling, to beg your | consent to our immediate marriage.-Why | TheO?"
 The surprised query had startling cause for the fair woman had suddenly dropped at i his feet and buried her snow-white face in the wet sand.
 | He raised her in an agony of suspense.
 "Why, TheO, what has happened? You act strangely" he said
 "You are not married? You were not false to me?" she gasped.
 False to you?" he answered; neuerl And l I am certainly not married, and never shall bC unless you will be my wife. Has any one-dEl one told you differently" "Yes." l "Who?"
 | She shiyered, and held out her hands blindly
 "Rufus Aldrich," she replied weakly.
 "And you believed him?' "Yesm
 | "And you believed him? o, my TheO, m! poor Theo! Thank God, have come now"
 "You have come too late" she moaned.
 "How? what do you mean?" "I am his wife," she replied simply; and as i the words had recalled her to herself and duty she shrank away icily cold and frigidly re served.
 The sun had gone down; the ghostly sur beat dismaliy on the damp sand, all Its death white death-tlrear motion and sobbing risinl and falling wearily through the dusk of tin sudden twilight.
 And in the swiftly coming night darknes waldemar Beresford and Tbeodosia Aldricl parted, touching hands dumbly. as if the shati ow of Azrael had come between them.
 Theo went slowly homewari Before her il the clear moonlight gliftered the white marbl walls and columns of the stately house tha seemed to her now but gilded prison.
 Usually at this hour her wild and reckles lord was away rioting with his boon rsysterer in haunts Of splendid infamy; but tonight h had returned early and was waiting for her.
 He was pacing with rapid and uneven step up and. down the handsome parlor, and whel she saw the ashy pallor of his haggnr'l visag and the strange glitter of his cruel dark eyes