The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1878-05-10

away, diamond sparkled on
Queenie Harrison's forefinger, and
she had promised to become his
wife.
Royals mother only showed her
surprise by saying, Don't you
think you are little hasty, Roys
and smiled fondly as he answered,
with boyish eagerness !: Perhaps
was, mother, but | could not come
away until she had promised to be
mine. l know, you will love her,
mother; for she is as good as she is
beautiful
Little May, who was sitting near,
with her brown eyes bent on her
work, felt a strange pain at her
heart, which she had never felt be
fore, and wondered, vaguely, why
she was not glad of her guardians
near happiness. Sixi.months came
and went aud Royal had only been
twice to see his bride elect, but
/ eacn time came back more pleased
with his tfancee. One day, as bust
ness was dull, he determined to go
at once to his betrothed's home. As
he neared the elegant mansion, he
saw that it was brilliantly lighted,
and knew that some entertainment
was going on in there, and for mo-
ment he turned to go back, then,
thinking that if he could pass unno~
ticed to the conservatory he might
get few moments with his be-
trothed, determined to do SO. 1t
was an easier task than he thought,
for the company were at supper.
But he had hardly concealed him>
self behind the curtains of a bay
window when they came out, and
half an hour later he saw Queenie
enter the conservatory leaning on
the arm of a handsome, dark
bearded stranger. For a moment
Royals heart beat proudly, as he
thought how soon she would be his,
for the wedding was fixed for June,
then he felt pang of jealousy at
seeing the bearded face SO near hers.
They were drawing nearer, now,
and Roy heard the gentleman say,
passionately, 'You own you love
me, and yet you will not give me
the desired answer; tell me, Queenie,
why you will not be mine.'
Because | am already engaged
Her companion dropped the little
hand he held aud drew back, but
taught it again, and raised it quickly
% his lips as she added, do not
ook so startled, do not loved him.
Then, why not give me the an
9wer | desire, and break the en-
sEgeA = be interrupted eagerly.
A low, ripping laugh fell from
Queenie Harrison's lips as she re-
olied, 'Oh! he has the almighty dol
ar, and you have not
He opened his lips to speak, but
she raised her finger warningly as
gentleman came into the room with,
This is my dance, Miss Harrison
yes, was the answer, Il believe
it is; Sir Barnard will excuse me-
Sir Barnard simply bowed, and
followed her from the room. Royal
Weston spraug from the low win
dow and flung himself on his horse.
This, then was the girl he had
loved, she who had SO often told |
him that no other could take his
place in her heart. This was the |
woman he had thought so pure. He
would never trust another. All night |
long Royal paced up and down his
room, and when dawn came he be
gan to get ready to go home, not,
until he had penned few |
lines to his fallen idol, which made |
her fair face crimson with shame as
she read them. This is what he
wrote:
Il was in the conservatory last
night, and heard what you told him,
| release you from your engages
ment." Royal WESTON.
what, home SO soon, RoyY' his
mother asked, as he entered her
room quite unexpectedly; then, see-
ing hia baggard face, started up,
saying, What is it, RoyF'
Mother, I'm going away Queenie
Harrison is not the pure girl |
thought her; and I am going to
travel awhile, hoping to forget Der.
If | catch the first steamer, | must
take the NEXT train, which leaves
here 10 an hour, but as | have some
business to attend to, | must leave
immediately, and you will have my
trunk sent down. But whero is
Msy' l must tell her good bye
Then he added, by the way, she is
seventeen years old to-day. There
is a copy of Tennyson in my writ
ing desk; don't forget to give it to
her,
There we're tears 10 Mrs. Yves
tons eyes as she said, Il will run up
stairs and see if she is there
Roy stepped through the low
window, and g pretty picture met
his eye, for May, half reclining on
the marble steps, her head cush-
toned on a large New Foundland
dog, with one arm thrown caress
ingly around his neck, a half-fn
ished wreath in her other hand, was
fast asleep. A broad>brimmed hat
I Al