The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-06-14

Ii home like a palace, anu her lie woul
be one long dream Of splendor and thu
rest that seemed 10 desirable. And til
good, unselfisl mOther-the dear mOthe
who had known 80 much Of sorrow
would be happiest Of them all. And b.
and by she would forget the old hauntin
iancles that had been so sweet, and sh
,. would learn TO love Monreith as vel
as he deserved to be loved.
"Wlll you not give me my answer. Tes
sie% pleaded the wooer. n have waitet
long"
:" III were only sure would make yot
happy" she staminered, undecided.
"YOu would, dear" he persisted, earn
estly. ~ should be happy In caring TO
you. My child, / love YOU so unselhshl,
that should make any honorable sacri
flee TO save.you from the pain or trouble
OF a single hour"
Little did Monreith Darlington guess
that this assertion was TO be sOrely TESTED
before that day would be done.
"And responded Tessie, in odd, alb
stracted, dreamy tones, SHOULD rather en-
dure the worst In silence and alone, than
to feel that one loved was suffering fol
me-"
~ should be glad to suffer for you IL by
that might win you, be said.
But he had won her, and few minutes
later le left her, the touch OF her rosy
mouth yet warm on his lips, and she went
back 10 her mother room wearing on her
pretty white hand the jcweled token OF her
betrothal.
Mamma, dear, 1 have accepted Mr..
Darlington" she said simply.
~ am very glad, Tessie," replied Mrs.
Rivers. ~ have feared that you would
refuse him, and possibly for the sake OF
John Eustis."
John has never asked me TO be his
wife, mamma" returned the girl, wearily,
and something in the suddenly Spiritless
attitude Of the graceful, dropping figure,
some vague unsatisiled expression OF the
strangely pale face half hidden by the
loose tawny curls, disturbed and panied
her watchful parent.
When Darlington reached his office he
found a gentllnan there waiting for him.
"Ah, Mr.. Eustis. You wish to see me?"
lie observed, lightly.
Yes, | particularly desired to see you
to-day concerning mortgage you hold,
just due, and that l wish 70 pay" was the
prompt explanation.
Darlington had quite forgotten the claim
he had against the property OF Mrs.
Rivers, and that he had only secured
from clamoring creditor Of her deceased
husband that he might befriend tho girl
whom he dearly loved.
care you prepared to do this?" he in.
quired, wondGringly Of the young man,
whose income was decidedly not opulent.
"And may know your motive for wish.
ing me to do it?"
The fine, honest face OF John Eustis
flushed slightly, but he evidently did not
consider the question impairment.
Gould ! not have come prepared |
should not have come at all, )" lie returned
quietly. ."Aiy motive is to please and sur.
prise the lady whom | expect to marry.
For months / have dreamed how her
sweet eyes would glisten when | should
be able to assure her that had saved her
dear old home for her bonny sake"
Darlington listened, dazed, and paled
to his bearded lips.
II was impossible to believe any ialsity
or littleness OF John Eustis, and Conceited
and egotistical hecertainly was not. And
it was actually impossible to suspect CO.
HuChS VI pClAuJ vi 6heeL 4eeSlb NlNHI6.
Darlington ventured few subtle ques.
tons that were readily and innoCently an.
swered, and thus shrewdly learned the
truth. There was not, nor had there ever
been any engagement between John Eus-
tbs and TessIe Rivers-only a lifelong,
wordless understanding OF tenderest aifec-
ton and truest fidelity. lie could under.
stand now how the fair girl, bound by no
promises, doubtful for her future, and so.
liCilOus for her mother, had accepted what
seemed wisest and best, while her soul
was haunted by m unmarked and unac-
knowledged love that might prove but
shadow, fantasy, delusion as delusion
after all, and with his whole noble heart
he exonerated and pardoned her.
81 should make any honorable sacrifice
to save you from the pain and trouble OF q
single hour" he had told her that morn
ing, meaning it to the uttermost, and the
time for tho sacrifice had come. The bust
ness was speedily and satisfactorily trans.
acted, and Tessie's pleased young lover
turned to go when his friend stopped him.
~, too, wish to see Mrs. Rivers" he
said. 81 shall follow OH presently. Do not
leave the house till ! shall have come.
Promise me that you will not, John"
The young man promised, and hurried
away, impatient TO surprise Tessie with
the proofs OF his loyal and generous de-
votion.
"Oh, John, you ought not to have done
this" she cried, in voice OF regret and
distress. "Tou could not afford it, and
beside something has happened, John,
that made 1t unnecessary"
lie gazed at her in mute wonder. The
pain OF her sweet eyes startled him.
"Why could not afford it, my pet, he
asked gently, "when you are to share all
have by and by, when you will be my
Own-my wife?"
"oh, John" she gasped, "you never
asked the TO marry you, and now you are
too late oh, John, too late!"
And then she covered her face and DO.
gan to sob bitterly. The poor child had
never hidden sorrow from him in all her
life. She had always gone to him for
comfort in all her griefs, and it did not
occur to her that II was not quite proper
and consistent for him to console her for
a grief like this.
But in the midst OF her tears she sudden
ly remembered, and she fled away from
his OBTAINING hand to the iurthest end Of
the Parlor, only to meet Darlington, who
had Just come in.
"Tessie, he began, kindly, ~ have made
my sacrifice, and have come to tell you.
know the whole story, just as you would
tell me yourself did you not wish to spare
me pain. ! do not blame you, little one
AM your friend and his. Go to him and
comfort him. You will make him as hap
py as you could have made me had Heaven
meant me to be your husband. l shall
see your mamma, and save you from all un.
pleasant explanations"
His goodness touched her. In her graft.
tude she could have knelt at his feet and
kissed the kindly hands which now led
her back to her wondering lover.
Johns arms about her, and Johns kisses
were on her lips.
On Tessie's wedding morning she found