The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-10-22

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dress and one-button kid gloves"
Harry " was sure she would make any
dress look elegant;" and Eloise said,
thought so too. So the end of all Harry
bade her " farewell till the 5th of the
following June, and that with many
tears and protestations they finally be-
gan their self-imposed trial of each
others fidelity.
The next mornings paper announced
the sudden departure of Mr.. Henry
Torrens for New York on business of
Importance likely to detain him some
months" and Eloise was angry enough
at the information. She had hoped
Harry would try again to convince her
of " the folly of parting" and she was
determined at this interview to be con-
vinced.
For some weeks Miss Ethel did not
have a very happy time. Elois wan
dered in the park, or about the big
silent house. and was not at all cheer
full company. At first Harry's letters
were so long and frequent that great
deal of her time was satisfactorily em.
ployed in answering them. But by de-
grees they grew both shorter and less
frequent, and toward the beginning of
The two W omen looked sadly in each
others face at the empty post. box every
morning, and Miss Ethel had her will
made during these days, and left her
niece all she had, as some compensation.
But yet often when she saw the sad face
that had once been so bright and pretty,
she half reproached herself, and Won
dered whether, where ignorance is bliss,
if it be not folly to be wise.
One day toward spring-a bright,
warm day for the season-Elois, who
had now long ceased even hoping for a
letter, was walking slowly up and down
the great hall dividing the large draw
ing-room and the late Mr.. Bruce's
library from the rest of the house.
These rooms were very seldom opened,
and still more seldom used. Eloise only
remembered two or three grand oc.
casions on which they had been used for
great entertainments, the last being that
which introduced her into society two
years previously
A sudden fancy seized her; she would
throw back the closed blinds, and let the
spring sunshine into the dark rooms.
Besides, there were all kinds of curious
ornaments there, and a great many
books; to examine them would pleas
antly pass a few hours. Miss Ethel
readily agreed. She was glad to see her
niece interest herself in anything that
could beguile thought from the one sad,
mortifying subject of her desertion.
Toward noon she went to seek Eloise.
Her first glance showed her the girl sit
ting thoughtfully upon the hearth-rug
with her lap full of letters, and queer
tarnished Hindoo iewelry. She sprang
up to meet her aunt, and with strange
ly solemn excitement, cried out:
"Oh, auntie, they are all yours, all
yours! l was looking at that queer
cabinet, and my dress turned it over,
and piece fell out of the bottom, and
these things were scattered about"
Then she ran out of the room, shutting
the door carefully behind her.
Poor Miss Ethel needed her privacy.
Here was her lovers vindication; here
were all the sweet words for which she
had nearly died. He had suffered all
she had suffered; he had poured out his
agony and his despair in letters which
had never until now reached her. The
poor lady took them to her room, and
never appeared again that day. But she
had no hard words for the hands that
had wronged her. Dear father; he
meant it for a Kindness" was all that
she said.
Still she grew very restless, and con-
tinually declared that she was sure
something was going to happen. But
coming events often cast long shadows
before, and it was full two months after
ward ere Miss Ethels presentiment
came true. Then she got letter one
day which threw her into wild, fever.
ish excitement. "Eloise," she cried,
almost sobbing with joy, "he is come !;
he is at the village; he will be here in
an hour. How am | TO bear itP"
Women seek each others sympathy
in hours like this, and EloiseEperhaps
with just little pang for her own sor-
row-gladly gave it. But when she
Joined the long parted lovers at dusk,
and saw her aunt lingering with tender
cares by the handsome dark stranger at
the fireside, she knew that never again
would Aunt Ethel want sympathy; it
was easy to see her lover was still her
lover, and that they thoroughly under
stood the past.
Perhaps the sight of their happiness
was a little irritating sometimes to
Eloise. She could not help blaming her
aunt in some measure for the loss of
Harry, and she wondered if she ever re-
membered now any of her old opinions
about the folly OF marrying for love.
Many women would have reminded her
of them, but Eloise was not ill-natured !;
and when she saw the old lovers wander
ing about the gardens so happily to-
gether, she only hoped that her own
bighted youth might have some such
recompense given it; for such a JOY it
would be almost worth waiting, a little
while, but not twenty-five years; that
was too strong test of fidelity.
1t was not asked other. On the morn
ing of the fifth of June, when the dew
was yet on the grass, there was a mes
senger to see her. He had with him an
exquisite basket of white roses, and in
their midst was letter which made
Eloise Bruce the happiest girl in Amer
lea. And Aunt Ethel was Just as de-
lighted "He must come here at once, -
she said; they would wait breakfast
for him-and he must never go away
again"