The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1878-12-21

on the contrary, ! have come now to
beg that, as there is no longer any
obstacle to our marriage, you will APP
point the earliest possible day that
you feel you can with propricty for
| know" he added, "that you are not
very happy with your step.mother.'
"Then | will say, Ralph, dearest. "
she said, zone month from to-day ;
providing, of course, on account of
papa's recent death, that you will con-
sent to a QUOT wedding"
ooh, certainly, darling. l should
be unwol 5hy Of suefyERING Ipy
beautiful Blanche "" - 80
make display, under the existing
circumstances" replied her lover
Colonel Ralph Leichestcr had been
paying his addresses to Blanche Ever.
field for some months previous to her
fathers death-somewhat against the
better judgment of the invalid gen.
tleman, although be did not positively
forbid her to receive him. He hoped
to prevent his daughter from marry
ing him, and Notwithstanding that he
talked loudly of his wealth, Maurice
EverfeId believed him to be but an
adventurer.
Blanche had met him at the house
of a friend, who seemed to be on ex-
eellent terms with him, and who had
told her father, when that gentleman
had questioned her about him, that
he had brought letter of introduce
ton from one OF the best families in
Boston.
The day which would see Blanche
Everfeld and Colonel Ralph Leiches-
ter Joined in holy wcdlock at last ar
rived
The few intimate friends hadassem-
bled, and Blanche was dressed in her
pure white Swiss, with a wreath Of
orange blossoms surrounding her
heavy coils of auburn hair. Her only
ornament was necklace Of pearls, a
birthday gift from her father but q
few weeks before his death.
A more lovely being could not we'll
--------=--.-=-.--'--->a 4----I--=-IA----n.-i a
as she rather impatfently surveyed
her queenIy figure before the long
mirror, awaiting the coming of the
bridegroom elect.
"Why is he so late, | wondcr?'' she
whispered.
"a note for Miss Everfold," SAID a
servant, in response to her "come in. "
"A note from Ralph " she MUIR
INJURED, turning deathly pale, and has
tily tearing off the envelope.
A hasty glance sufficed to tell the
poor girl that her prophecy had been
fulfilled. She gave one shriok, and
fell lnsensible upon the floor.
The note ran as follows:
DEAREST BLANCHE: | pray that
you will both forgive and forget me.
/ did not know until late last evening
that your father had given, some
years previous to his death, his en-
tire fortune to his wife, leaving you
penniless.
al censure you only for keeping
me in ignorance of the fact; but un-
der the circumstances | am sure you
will not expect me to keep tho COM
pact between us. When you receive
this shall be on my way to England.
farewell forever,
RALPH LEICHEsTER."
When Blanche had been restored
TO consciousness she rc-read the heart
less note and then for the first time
it flashed upon her mind that her low
err had never received her note, in
which she told him of the state Of her
pecuniary affairs. But then he had
spoken Of receiving it.
aWhat did it all mean 2" she asked
herself
But when she had questioned the
servant to whom she had given her
note to mail she had no difficulty in
perfectly understanding the mistake &,
for her stepmothcr who was anxious
TO be rid of her, had intercepted the
servant, taken the note, and sending
the domestic on some imaginary err
rand, had said
at will be time enough for this on
vour return"
That Mrs. Maurice Everfold had de-
stroyed the note and written one in
ITS place, in which she had carefully
avoided hintIng at the actual state OF
her step.daughtor's poouniary affairs,
Blanche Everfcld was certain.
"Well, better now than later" she
had whispered, as he folded the heart