Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-03-28
LITTLE MAY.
BY FRANK LEE BENEprcT.

y
happiness which should one day
crown her devotion, and his patience
and energy, amid the struggles
which beset a man trying to make 8
foothold 10 this hard old world.
Then Cecil Raymond's ambition,
and intriguing mother took he,
away to Europe, and Lasley PAYNE
was left alone to fight the battle or
toward wealth, distinction. and tina,
most glorious Penticost of his hopes
the winning of his wife.
But by the time another year wen
by he was donbly alone, for the
dream had fallen in ruins at his feet
and crushed his heart under and
the blasted hopes Knocked him as
bitterly as if they had been curses
returned to the soul that sent them
forth.
No answer to his letters, not o
word from Cecil /; no clue to her
movements except the vague rumor
that she was about to sell her beauty
for q coronet-a growing weakness
with American girle.
So it ended-he could do NOTHING
more; be had ilied every means,
nothing was left him now but to
preserve at least the dignity of man
hood, and let the world separate them
since che so wiiled it.
| think be hated her for a time
hated her with that horrible bitter
ness which is only love misdirected
He could understand how it had been
the world had conquered that de-
ceitful old mother had Carried her
point. He knew her thoroughly, and
knew that 10 spite of the blood on
which she prided herself, she would
only have needed to have lived "a
century or two earlier, 10 have de-
liberately chosen for her child a
golden infamy in preference to hum
bic honesty.
He hated the girl with fierce, hot
love. He despised and made excuses
for her,and cursed himself both ways
for his folly-and then went on bis
course.
Life will not stand still for people.
There is no possibility, except in
rare instances of giving up existence
to wretchedness. There is great
deal else to do. Men must live-the
world must go on. There is eating
and drinking and work, and every
day aims, and though hearts may
break, lost people learn to live COM
fortabiy with the fragments. And
suppose they stop aching at last, ex.
cept when some chance touch stirs
up the old pain 10 a numbing way.
So Lasley Payne lived and pros.
pered in his profession, and made
friends; and nobody knew what he
had lost under the waves, and it was
not particularly romantic, and at last
life would do very well--oh, very
WE'LL
The second year after almost
three years, perhaps am never GER
tain about dates-what we call fate,
without ever thinking that it is alb
solute atheism thus to misname Gods
providence, threw May Jordan in
his way.
B!ithe May Jordan Nobody ever
thought of calling her anything bat
May; and she had not yet lived
enough for any one to decide wheth.
er the pretty pet name, or the grave,
clear sighted Margaret, which she
had been christened, was most in
keeping with her character.
1t was a match which every body
approved-and he was attached to
her. And how many of the mar
riagos which have come under your
observation have possessed any BET.
ter foundation than that?
can tell you sincerely that he
did not think of her money. Indeed
there was no occasion for he had
been successful, both as regarded
prosperity and reputation; but he
was not man to have thought about
it any way. He thought it odd
enough that be should dream of mar
rying her at all--her or any he
could not explain. She vested him
with her pretty ways. Every time
he heard her girlsh laughter, it
seemed to charm the mournful ech-
oes in his soul. She had such caress
ing, womanly habits. She was so
deIicate-such an atmosphere of Ia
dyh0od hung about her.
He said to himself that she was
not woman of intellect. So much
the better She lived on the surface
of life, and would rest contentedly
among the outer folds of his heart,
without even paining herself or him
by straining after dark secrets. So
much the better She was not i'm
aginative or morbid. She would be
perfectly content with what he bad
to give, and never dream that he had
in him capabilities of being different;
that, in spite of his gentleness and
affection, an impossible gulf swept
between their souls.
All this, with a mans insolence OF
pride, be felt, without acknowledge
ing it to himself. lie decided upon
her character according to his keen
perceptions, and was satisfied that
he had made no mistake.
And she? Why she was accus.
toned to being petted, and treated
like q child his grave, sweet way
of doing it was the pleasantest of all
And the time when he spoke the
words that bound them for life-the
volume words that so seldom receiss
the full significance in our minds.
He had not really thought to ut.
ter them-it might happen some
time. But that pleasant Spring day
which they were spending out Of
town; the delicious feeling of res,
that came over him the idea thai
here alone be could fiud repose.
Then, too, only the night before
that false woman had troubled bis
slumber. He would not permit ever
that. This pure rosebud should liz
on his heart and guide it from al
possibility of her intrusion.
Yet be had not thought to speak, !
say the words were on bis lips al
most before be was conscious. Sit
ting there looking at her face shaded