The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1879-10-18

| sell, l Sllall not SHOW thc HiIilc
feather about it. must pratend to
be happy when | am wretched, and
recciyc congratulations that will
nearly choke me; but such trials
are part aud parcel Of u wonmn's
lot"
Miss Ethel roso with Il proud air,
but n pitifully sad faco, and at
tempted to leave the room, but
Eloisc, with gentle force and many
tender kisses, ,mado her sit down.
"Auntic," ishc said, coaxingly,
"you have asked mo IL good many
questions.and have answered them
truly; now | am going to ask you
some, and l know you will be fair
with me about them. First, were
you ever in love7'
Half smiling and half sad, Miss
Ethel sat thinking. At last she
answered slowly, "Yes,T once loved
as l do not think you have power
to love. tits twenty-five years ago"
"Will you tell me about it2'
II cannot. Ycs-I will try;por-
haps it may show you what u waste
| of life it is. Wait here a moment" :"
She left the room, but soon re-
turned with a little tortoisc.shcll
box. 1t opened with spring, and
showed a few yellow lettors,a bunch
Of withercd violets, and the half of
II plain gold ring. She lifted the
latter and said:
"This is part Of his dead moth
er's wedding ring; We broke it in
two, and sworc solemnly over it to
be faithful to the promises wo had
made each other. Then he sailed
away from me, and I never heard
from him again."
"Pcrhaps he was dead"
"No."
"Thcn lie was miserable crea-
turc, and I should have put him
out Of my heart and memory"
"Yes, l think you would. ] think
it is likely you would have let come
other man mako a fool Of you a
second timo."
"But you were rich. and hand
some. Did no one else care for
you?"
"Yos," with 4 slight hesitation.
"Who was it, auntie2"
"Colonel Powell"
$50 you wanted me to do thing
you would not do yourself"
"Yes, dear. You wanted to mar
ry; l did not. When l was twenty
if had wanted to ..,narry nt all, |
| should have married for wealth
and position"
"Are you still in love with this
Mr.. Early's memory"
"No, l am not"
"Is he alivc?"
II suppose So"
"Poor aunticW
Don't pity me, child. Tam to bo
| congratulated. lit had not boon
for my dear fathers opposition, |
should have married. for love, given
my fortune and my life into tho
keeping Of a selfish, tickle man."
"Do you really think Harry
would forget mo in a few months2'
"Of course he would"
~ will try him.
"You will act very wisely to do
SO. Eloise, l ain glad l havo told
you my sad little story; it may
make you at least look before you
leap Whore docs Harry general.
ly leave your"
"On tho little bridge outside the
| Place."
"Do not say Farewell there.
Lovers who part over running
water never meet again. Give him
every lawful chance. You may
bring him into the park tonight" "
So 4 few hours a(terward there
was n very bitter parting under the
oaks in Bruce Park. Eloiss was
almost shocked when it was over.
In her heart she had only intended
to frighten Harry, but her lover had
taken tho proposal too seriously,
and things had been said that she
could not unsay. AT first, indeed,
Harry had laughed at Miss Ethel's
doubts Of him, and his laughter
had provoked Eloise. She did not
ike tho thing traated as iokc