The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-01-04


They were to correspond regularly,
and in March Herbert was to retui
and remain with the Morrisons.
January was over when the letters
ceased. lie waited reasonable time,
then wrote, No answer. fastening to
the house Herbert found it closed and
deserted.
The agent, whose address was on the
placard announcing the place "To Let, t"
could give no Information excepting
that he received the orders to let the
house from Mr.. Morrison, the brother
of the former owner. He was not at
the funeral himself, and knew nothing
about Miss Leda. lie could give the
address of the late Mr.. Morrison's law
yer, and knew that the surviving
brother and his son were travelling.
At the lawyers the news was crush
ing. Mr.. Morrison had died without a
will, and the entire property had pass
ed to the heirs at law.
Gle was superstitlous, 1.-THE old law
yer said "fancy!ng it would hasten his
death to make will. Foolish? Well
yes, but not uncommon. Miss Leda
remained a week and l do not know
what became of her then. The broth
er was very unkind-you might say
brutal, for he had been jealous of her
for years, and understood perfectly
well that it was through his brothers
neglect only that she was left penniless
instead of inheriting the most OF the es-
tate. If ever hear of her again will
certainly let you know of the fact"
But thirteen long weary years pass
ed by, and no word of Lcda had reached
the faithful heart waiting and hoping
to receive the long looked for tldings.
Nc other fair face ever took the place
in Herbert's heart that Leda's face
illed. No other love ever drove out
this one strong love of his life, and
when he looked upon the parting gift
of his darling every throO of his heart
was as truly hers as it had been when
he bade her farewell, and tenderly
kissed her falling tears away.
1t was many minutes before he could
control his agitation sufficiently to open
the letter.
The date was that of the day previous
to Mr.. Morrison's funeral. In humble
words Leda told him frankly the story
already familiar to him, and of her own
penniless condition.
"You may not care to claim a wife
who knows nothing Of her BIRTH" she
wrote, "and who row stands utterly
alone a beggar. But if-as my heart
whispers hopefully-'you still love me,
you will find me here a week longer.
II you do not come, shall know you
dispise me for my involuntary deceit,
and | shall accept a position offered me
by an old friend, as governess to her
children"
ooh, my darling, my forsaken dar-
ling?" Herbert wispered, "where are
you? Sorrowing for your wasted love?
Desplsing your lover who deserted you
in sorrow and loneliness? 1t is too
bitterl'
But calmer thoughts came at last, aud
after long deiberatiOn Herbert decided
upon one more effort to gain his lost
love. In every city for one week, one
of the leading newspapers contained
this advertisements
"Leda:-The letter written thirteen
years ago has just reached me. Write
again. "H"
Waiting, enduring for so many days
became torture after this advertisement
appeared, and once again Herbert
Payne resigned himself to future un-
cheered by loving companionship.
Had he possessed Asmodeus power
he might have been waited to a home
in Paris, where a sweet-faced woman,
lovelier in her gentle maturity han
even in her girlish bloom, was teaching
class of girls the hard woIds of the
English language.
Accepting tEe position offered by her
old friend, aud refusing the assistance
grudgingly profTered by her adopted
fathers brothers, Leda Morrison had
taaveled with the children under her
charge for nearly six years. Then,
finding herself in Paris and able to
gather class of pupils for English. she
had decided not to return In her old
home, earning more than sufficient for
her humble wants In her new vocation.
1t was some weeks after the discovery
of the long lost letter, aud the
class of girls were improving their
English accent by reading from a news
paper, when one slowly and hesitat-
ingly real;-
"Leda;-The letter written thirteen