Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-05-15

sat on u BtfU cnne-DOttOmed cuair on a
cnrpetlcss floor, and his heart sung with
In him. IL was all so unconstrained and
bright and pleasant. fhe father was n
musician, composer, nm organist; now,
in his feeble condition of body, very
querulous and irritable. But Douglass
conceived hope that he should be able
to do something for his eyes. Mr.. Wiese
was "A German by BIRTH he had never
learned TO master his wife's mother
tongue. But he was exceedingly volu-
bic in his own broken cultural. lie
never wearicd of pouring his complaints
into Douglass ears And Douglass
listened with exemplary patience-nay.
intcrcst-ior IIilda's sake.
Yes. for IIilda's sake. II had come to
that. He had yielded to n sentimental
f,ncy at first sight; now, at second and
third sight. hc had fallen in love des-
pcratcly, with an absorbing energy
which colored his whole nature, impart-
ing sincw and muscle 10 his ambition.
1t seemed TO him now that he had never
known before what was genuine nmbi-
tiun. He grew fevcrish with impatience.
He was n poor man; he could barely
support himself If he should sup
port wife. 1t must be i'm the simplest,
plainest way. Would lIilda be willing?
In marrying, Ililda would be called upon
to make more special sacrifices than most
women make when they marry. He nj
most feared that she would never like
him well enough to make these sacrifices
for him.
He knew that IIlda was meanwhile
studying hard. preparing for her arduous
profession. Besides. she was giving les
sons in clocution. Poor little thing!
How hc longcd TO work for them both!
lie was with her cons. .antly; after n
while, every evening. 1 hose delicious
spring days suggested country uambles,
bnating-anything which furnished nm
excuse for being together. As for liildn.
she dared not stop 10 realize how happy
she was in this constant companion
ship. She dared not realize that she
simply delighted in lite because il
brought Douglass TO her at the end of the
long days.
Those days were shared almost rs in
variably with NJ. DE Bonnc Fortune.
He had followed up his acquaintance rs
vigorously as had Douglass. appearing
at the Wios"s' dingy little house behind
a pair Of superb black stecd. in gold
mounted harness. He whirlcd IIilda off
in this snowy equipage one fine day
Her father stood in the little doorway
looking after them, shading his inflamcd
eyes with his hand. " He is in luf nit
Ililda. can see dat" lac said to his wife
at will pc n goot ting for us ale"
Mrs Wicsc's bright face cluudcd. Her
own choice for her daughter would be a
different one. Nor had she failed 10 no.
ticc the lighting up of lIilda's face when
Douglass came and went.
Mr.. Wic-c was right. NJ De Bonnc
Fortune had fallen in love with IIilda
IL was nothing Ia him who she was.
who her people were. She would be
above criticism n the Duchess dc Bonnie
Fortune. lie determined to marry her
from the outset He considered IL hardly
probable that the facts that he WAS yell
low and wizcncd and lame. and Hilda's
senior by certainly fifteen or twenty
years. would weigh in the balance
against the advantages Of his title and
his wealth.
Nor did they when It came 10 the
point. II seemed to her that it was her
duty 10 accept him. Her father had said
as much 20 her from time to time during
the weeks that the dukes black chargers
swept his glittcring chariot to and from
town. Moreover. the duke made his
offer to the father in the first place. and
the father in repeating 1t urged the suit
in every way.
"He has promise To settle nm Indecent
ent fortune on you.' Mr.. Wiese urged
Nit dat you can do vat you choose
And he vii set Oscar up in business ven
he has finish school next year. II vii pc
n great ting for us all. Hildachcn."
Yes" Ililda said. " suppose II will
| will marry him. father and having
given her consent. she felt as though she
had locked herself irto prison.
That evening Douglass came NJ. DE
Bonnc Fortune. who dincd late in the
city. rarely spent AN evening at tho
Wieses'. and 1t so happened that he and
Douglass had never met. Hilda felt like
n traitor as she followed tho young man
down to the boat-thcy had an engage
mcnt to 60 rowing. The language Of
love is easy oi Interpretation she had
read it in his looks and in his voice n
hundred times Resides. she could inter
pref it by the key of her own feelings
! But she made up her mind that he should
I learn Of her engagement from her own
/ lips. If he was paincd, no one but her
/ self should see his pain.
When she had told him. Douglass
/ rowed on in silence for n while. Then he
I said, Il have no doubt you have decided
( wisely. The children Of this world are
I in their generation wiser than the chill
dren Of light You have my good wishes.
of course; you resign some things-your
| art"
Yes" she replied. wretchedly. "But
/ woman cannot always think Of her
self" They rowcd on in silence for
/ another while. Presently she shivered
and suggested that they should return
/ home. at Is so cold on the water to-
night" Poor girl she was cold to the
/ heart.
/ The tears stood in Mrs. Wiesc's moth
/ erly eyes. and there was weight on her
/ heart. IA heart and eyes both followed
/ the young man a. lac strobe down the
/ road. having said farewell that night.
| lie was the mate she would have chosen
4 for IIilda, in spite Of waiting. in spite OF
poverty. Alasl she believed. she feared.
/ that IIilda did not care for NJ. De Bonnie
Fortune. She was taking up the unuttcr-
| able cross of lovelcss life. She went ia
her daughter on the spur Of that convic-
tion, but Hilda put her away with cold
/ kiss. Dear mamma, let il be as have