The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-05-10

into loves larry dTeamiland, entirely uD
conscious ofiall around, when the crack
ing of dry twig startled her, and sh'
sprang up in alarm; but 8 pair of ,darl
eyes looked into her own, and 8 fanilia
voice treasured her. She laughingly
greeted the intruder, saying:
"Why, Herbert, how you startled
mer.
He smiled, and, advancing to meei
her, replied:
" L am sorry j frightened you-I did
not think to find you here !; but you ale
looking pale; are you faint ?" and he
gazed at her with 30 much anxious solic-
itude that poor Minnie's equanimity was
entirely overthrown, 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 had felt that deep gulf
separated him, a poor widows son, from
the only child of the wealthy MIR. Arlin,
and, therefore, he felt compelled to
worship from afar." He, too, had
heard the rumors of Mr.. Ariin's losses
and he supposed this was the cause of
Minnie's agitation. He could scarcely
repress the hope, sweet and faint though
it was, that Minnie might now be his;
but, checking this feeling, ne seated
himself by her side to comfort and cheer
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 own love and hopes. His
unseibsh action touched her heart. H
Here was one who loved her for herself, |
and was willing to take her, eveniif poor.
But the wound she had received was too
fresh to allow her to do aught but rise
embarrassed, and, though thanking Her
bert with her eyes, to shake her head
sadly.
But that chance interview decided the
fate of both. The more she Thought of
hesbert's disinterested offer the more his
rose in her estimation. Mean,
time, as she had consented to receive
aim as a friend, he often visited her, and
esteem for him ripened into
owe.
One soft, summer evening Herbert
1entured to urge his suit again, and this
lime Minnie, though as embarrassed as
before, did not say nay, but returned a
flushing answer that filed his heart
With joy. They fingered long amid the
crest shades, and when they returned
Herbert songht Mr.. Arlin, while Minnie
an up to her room like q frightened
eer.
When Herbert had confessed his suit,
fr. Arlin, looking archly in his face,
aade reply, "Do you wish to make poor
Jimmie Arlin your bride? Can you
hink OF taking dowerless bride o.
"Oh, yes,,' earnestly replied Herbert,
u should never have told nv love
lad she still been as in days gone by"
The old gentleman smiled peculiar
mile, and said: "Yes, Herbert, she \
yonrs--you are worthy of her; but j 4
m glad > for your sake and hers, that / II
N not 80 poor that she will be rpor-
ionless bride. But you must let Minnie 4
ell you the story" 4
Minnie did tell him the story, and
ierbert was unspeakably delighted at Il
ne idea that he had won the hand of the n
eiress Of Mr.. Arlins wealth but Minnie l
told him that her poverty l
ad lost her one lover and won her
mother
Herbert was also a lawyer; but being
DOR, and without influential friends, he /
adfmanyttimesbeen neaslydiscouraged;
ut now he felt his heart become strong
1ithin him, more because he had won
helhand and heart Inc had 60 Icing de-
ired than at the prospect Of a portion OF
or fathers wealth.
They were soon after married, and MIR.
sriin's handsome mansion was thTown
pentot ecrowd oflfriends who gathered
witness Minnie's wedding.
Before the day arrived, however, the
Iory of Minnie's Iuse has become .ru-
lored forth in the village; and Roby,