The advertiser. (Wilmington, Del.) 1879-18??, 1879-12-06

/
dered thus far into loves fairy dream-land
en- tirly unconscious Of all around, whe II
the cracking Of a dry twig startled her,
and she sprang upin alarms but pair Of
dark eyes looked into her own, and ia
miliar voice treasured her. She laughingly
greeted the intruder, saying:
"Why, Herbert, how you startled me !!
He smiled, and, advancing to greet her,
replied ,ss9aSsA
II am sorry frightened you'll did moi
think to find you here but you are looking
pale, are you feint?" and he gazed at her
with SO much anxious solicitude that poor
Minnie's equanimity was entirely over
thrown, and sinking again upon her seat,
she covered her face with her hands, and
burst Into tears. The feelings SO long pent
up, and the tears that had been gathering
for several days, had at last found vent.
Herbert Clayton had grown up with
Minnie from childhood. He had always
loved her, but he felt that deep gulf sep
arated him, poor widows son, from the
only child of the wealthy Mr.. Arlin, and,
therefore, he felt compelled to ''worshlp
from afar. " He, too, had heard the rumors
of Mr.. Arlin's losses, and he supposed that
this was the cause of Minnie's agitation.
He could scarcely repress the hope, sweet
and feint though it was, that Minnie might
now be his; but checking this feeling, he
seated himself by her side to comfort and
cheer her if possible. Gradually she became
calm, and then she impaired to him the
story of Roby. He was indignant at such
baseness, and led on by his feelings, told
Minnie of his love and hopes. His unselflsh
affection touched her heart. Here was one
who loved her for herself, and was willing
to take her, even if poor. But the wound
she had received was too fresh to allow her
to do aught but rise embarrassed, and,
though thanking Herbert with her eyes, to
shake her head sadly.
But that chance victory decided the fate
of both. The more she thought of Herbert's
disinterest offer the more his charactar rose
consented to receive him as a friend, he
often visited her; and gradually esteem for
him rpened into love.
One soft, summer evening, Herbert ven
tllred to urge his suit again, and this time
Minnie, though embarrassed as before, did
not say nay, but returned blushing answer
that filled his heart with joy. They fingered
long amid the forest shades, and when they
returned Herbert sought Mr.. Arlin, while
Minnie ran up to her room like frightened
deer.
When Herbert had confessed his suit, Mr..
Arlin, looking archly in his face, made
reply: tDo you wish to make poor Min
ME Arlin your bridge? Can you think of
taking dowerless wlfe?'
''Oh, yes, earnestly replied Herbert ~
should never have told Of my love had she
still been as in days gone by"
The old gentleman smiled peculiar
smile, and said, Eyes, Herbert, she is yours
you are worthy of her; but am glad, for
your sake and hers, that | am not SO poor
that she will be a portionless bride. But
you must let Minnie tell you story"
Minnie did tell him the story, and Her
beit was unspeakably delighted at the idea
that he had won the hand of the heiress of
Mr.. Arlin's wealth; but Minnie laughingly
told him that her poverty had lost her one
lover and won her another.
Herbert was also a lawyer; but being
poor and without influential friends, he had
many times been nearly discouraged; but
now he felt his heart become strong within
him, more because he had won the hand
and heart he had so long desired, than at
the prospect OF portion of her fathers
wealth.
They were soon after married. and Mr..
Arlln's handsome mansion was thrown open
to the crowd of friends who gathered to
witness Minnie's wedding.
Before the day arrived, however, the
story of Minnie's ruse had become rumored
forth in the village; and Roby, finding
himself and his selfish principles too much
the topic of conversation, found it conven-
lent to leave Belmont for some other field
of labor
CInEh.-Cider is preserved in Nor
| 1. IL 80