The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-03-29
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"What is the matter with my little girl
now?" the gentleman asked, kindly, strok-
ing her head.
"Thot isn't her." she said in a grievcd
tone. al want to see t'other one"
at is my mistress she MEANS" said Kotyj
"please walk in, and l will call her."
Miss Ventnor, sitting by the window, and
heard his voice, and face so white met
Katy's eyes that she started back in alarm.
Miss Ventnor smiled forced smile.
"Do not be alarmed, Katy, l am only
little dizzy. l have worked too hard with
my pen lately. must take rest.
"Little Oracle and gentleman are in the
parlor, and want to see your"
every well, will be down in a moment"
she said, Just as calmly as if her heart were
not striving to break its prison with its wild
throbbng.
The gentleman stood with his back to the
door, studying rare painting, when Miss
Ventnor looking very pale and naughty,
swept into the room. Oracle sprang for
ward, shouting gleefully;-
at is her, papa-the one that kissed your
picture"
A wave of crimson sweptover Miss Vent.
nor's face. Little Oracle had unconsciously
dealt terrible blow to her pride.
The gentleman did not seem to notice the
childs remark. His eyes were fixed upon
Miss Ventnors face, and his own was pale
as ashes. lie took a step forward.
"lmogene, am dreaming, or do l again
look upon your face after SO many years."
Then he sank into a chair and buried his
face in his hands. After few moments he
looked up.
"Forgive me; should have said Mrs. At
wood"
"I do not claim that name," she said cold.
ly.
"IIave you never married l have al
ways thought of you as George Atwood's
wife, Are you really Miss Ventnor still"
81 am"
"Will you tell me why you never married
him-or anothcr?"
because | did not love-"
"Oh, Imogene, can l dare hope that you
have remained single all these years because
you could not forget that you once loved me?
Nay, forgive me-hear me out" as he saw
the flash of naughty pride which swept over
her face. "lmogene, can you forgive me
when tell you have never ceased to love
you, and how have suffered for those cruel
words which parted us? l thought then l
was only doing my duty, and was just to
myself. You remember l embarked i'm
mediately for Europe. l had not been one
day out at sea when became convinced that
was wrong in my mad jealousy of George
Atwood. AS soon as reached England I
sent repentant letter, begging you to for
give and love me again; but the answer
which l received nearly crushed my heart"
"The answer" she interrupted. 81 never
received or wrote any letter."
"What can this mean? l certainly re-
ceived a letter in your handwriting, stating
that my repentance had come too late as
you were already the wife of George At
wood"
at was a base forgery !"
"But who could have been guilty of such
thing would have sworn it was your
writing"
"No doubt it was George Atwood himself.
He used often to bring me my mail, and he
could initiate handwriting to perfection"
"The rasoal"
"Hush-be not severe! George Atwood
is dead, and at the bar of higher tribunal
than onrs."
"Dead? had not heard orthis. You are
right | will not judge him, and shall strive
not to hate his memory. After / read the .
contents Of that letter | was i'll for many |
weeks, and after my recovery spent years of
restless wandering in foreign lands. In a
tiny English cottage l met Gracie's mother. |
My heart was strangely drawn toward her, |
and l thought by marrying l could forget |
my first love. trust did not wrong the .
sweet girl who became my wife; loved her
deeply and tenderly, but more as a father
loves his child, and daily thanked God for
her sweet, trusting love, which made a bet |
ter man ofmo. made the few years she
spent with me entirely happy and when |
laid my darling away to rest mourned her .
tenderly and truly. Imogene, have told .
you my story. Can you forgive, and love
Inc well enough to be my wfe?'
81 can, Ernest, for, strive hard as l would,
l could not forget you, and that is why I
have never married. !, too, will ask you TO
forgive me. was proud and wilful."
"NIy darling, there is nothing to forgive.
Though parted so long by plotting ones, let
us both strive so to live that the years we
spend together shall be an atonement for
what we have missed"
"And, Ernest. let VS. no longer think of
him who caused our arrangement, but
rather of little Oracle, who was instrument
al in Gods hands in bringing us together
She has stood there in the corner some time,
lost in astonishment, and entirely neglected
by us. Come here, Oracle"
She sprang into the arms outstretched to
receive her, and was elasped to Miss Vent
nor's bosom.
"Gracie," said her father, "Ths is to be
your new mamma, and you must love her
dearly"
ooh, won't that be nice? I'll have a
mamma now out of the picture Why don't
she kiss you now, papa?"
"Yes, Imogene, why don't your"
The good people of Canton filled out tho
romance to suit themselves, and it was as
tonshing to learn how many knew all along
that Miss Ventnor had corresponded with
Mr.. Peyton a great while, and been engaged
to HIM year. But what difference did it
make so long as they were happy2