Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1878-09-14
He found her alone in the parlor.
"Florry !" half fearfully.

surprise. "You have been SO shy oi
me of late. So you have not forgot
ten me quite ?"
Forgotten you, Florryl' There
was world of reproach in his earn
est voice. Il shall never forget you.
! I"
II hope not, John, she interrupted.
Maybe she apprehended what he
might have said. 81 have something
to tell you, John. To-day promised
to marry Casper Ducey."
She was cruel, and she knew it.
1T is best SO, she thought; che
must know it sometime"
"And you love him, Flcrry % after
a long pause.
Yes" without looking up.
"Better-better than you could
ever love me ?"
| "l-l think Sc, John"
His face was psllid, and his voice
trembled as he said, "then Heaven
| bless you, FloIry, and make you hap
py, [ wish you all Joy and peace,
now and hereafter =
Never till this moment had she
comrlehonded the full depth of John
Myers love How nobly self-sacri6-
cling he was-this man who could thus
give lis hearts idol up to another be-
| cause he thought she would be hap
| pier with him.
Whata world of anguish those few
words cost him none could comprehend
but himself and another-One that
reads all our hearts. How she pitied
him as she thanked him for his kind
wishes.
He toiled patiently on at the old,
monotonous drudgery in the counting
| room, striving to crush his wild, un-
| availing love, to drown it amid the
ceaseless cares of business.
Mr.. Digby, tired of her futile fish
ing for the "great catch" as she men,
tally styled Ducey, put fresh bait on
| her hook, and cast her line for Tom
Lacy; and, as the latter gentleman Il
heart had long since become enslaved
10y her pretty brown eyes, he was
a comparatively easy victim.
Then the widow exulted over little
Mabel ToWnley, who did not care a
straw for Lacy, and was satisfied in
the proud consciousness that she had
g lover at any rate.
After while the Borovillians ar
ranged to have a grand picnic in
Crimps grove, mile cut of town.
Of course all--that is all who be-
longed to the "circle were expected
to attend. "The Quimbys, the Bro
dalles, the Tnomases, and Mr.. Ducey
aud Florry, and Tom Lacy, besides
DR.. Granton and his cousin, Miss
Ellis, and ever so many more are 60
ing, said the widow, and we sLall
| have such a splendid time |"
"Of course you will 60, John p
said Florry.
"Florry, cannot"
why ?"
because BECAUSE hesitatingly,
II have business Of Importance to at
tend to"
ooh, but you must go, John, per.
suas;ve!y at will he the last picnic
of the season, and-and yon know
an going away soon. Casper insists
on my naming an early day for oul
marriage, and you must 90 just this
once for my sake; and you need recre'
ation--you are working too hard"
| And so he promised to drive over
to the grove about the middle OF the
atteruoon-"in time to pa,take Of the
refreshments and come home with the
rest" he said.
| Why Florry insisted on his going
she scarcely knew. Maybe she
thought he was working himself te
death, for he had been looking un.
usually pale and thin Of late.
At last the all-importart day came
as most days do, and an eventful day
it was, to three at least. Just after
dinner the picnic party took up theil
line Of march to the grove, looking
not unlike battalion Of Lotal wait.
ers, laden as they were with plates
and platters, cakes and biscuits, anc
all the other things that 60 to make
up the delicious array that we se'
spread out on picnic-table, to please
the eye and tempt the palate.
Florry waited a long time for Mr.