The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-05-01

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own identity is completely merged
Happy she! Most women's lives STAG
natefor want of IN outlet"
Douglass carried out his intention {
calling upon the Wieses, anG found ther
living in a house very small, very shabb
and forlorn, in the suburbs Of the towr
However, Mrs. Wicse and Hilda wer
more delightful than ever, and Douglas
sat on astiff cane-bottomcd chair on
carpctless floor, and his heart sung with
in Him. 1t was all so uncon strained an
bright and pleasant. The father was
musician, composer, an organist; now
in his feeble condition of body, yer
qucrulous and irritable. Butt Douglas
conceived hope that he should be abl
to do something for his eyes. MIR. Wies
was q German by birth; he had neve
learned to master his wite's mother
tongue. But he was exceedingly volu
bic in his own broken cultural. IL
never wearied of pouring his complaint
into Douglass ears. And Douglas
listened with exemplary patience-nay
interest-for Hilda's sake.
Yes, for Hilda's sake. 1t had come tt
that. He had yielded to sentimental
fancy at first sight; now, at second ant
third sight, he had fallen in love des
perately, with an absorbing energy
which colorcd his whole nature, impart
ing sinew and muscle to his ambition
1t seemed to him now that he had never
known before what was genuine ambi'
ton. lie grew feverish with impatience
He was q poor man; he could barely
support himself. If he should sup
port wife, 1T must be in the simplest.
plainest way. Would Hilda be willing:
In marrying, Hilda would be called upon
to make more special sacrifices than most
women make when they marry. lie al
most feared that she would never like
him we'll enough to make these sacrifices
for him.
He knew that Hilda was meanwhile
studying hard, preparing for her arduous
profession. Besides, she was giving les
sons in elocution. Poor little thing.
How he longed to work for them both
lie was with her constantly: after q
while, every evening. Those delicious
spring days suggested country rambles,
boating-anything which furnished an
excuse for being together. AS for Hilda,
she dared not stop TO realize how happy
she was in this constant companion
ship. She dared not realize that she
simply delighted in life because ii
brought Douglass to herat the end of the
long days.
Those DAYS were shared almost as in
variably with NJ. DE Bonnie Fortune.
He had followed up his acquaintance as
vigorously as had Douglass, appearing
at the Wiescs' dingy little house behind
a pair of superb black steeds in gold.
mounted harness. He whirlcd Hilda of
in this showy equipage one fine day.
Her father stood in the little doorway
looking after them, shading Lis inflamed
ewes with his hand. He is in luf nit
IIilda, can see dat he said to his wife.
1T will pc goot ting for us ale"
Mrs. Wicse's bright face clouded. Her
own choice for her daughter would be a
different one. Nor had she failed to no.
tice the lighting up of Hilda's face when
Douglass came and went.
Mr.. Wiese was right. M. De Bonne
Fortune had fallen in love with Hilda.
1t was nothing to him who she was,
who her people were. She would be
above criticism as the Duchess de Bonne
Fortune. He determined to marry her
from the outset. He considered it hardly
probable that the facts that he was yell
low and wizened 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 they7Twhen it came to the
point. 1t seemed to her that it was her
duty to accept him. Her father had said
as much to her from time to time during
the weeks that the dukes black chargers
swept his glittering chariot to and from
town. Moreover, the duke made his
offer to the father in the first place, and
the father in repeating it urged the suit
in every way.
"IIe has promise to settle an Indecent
ent fortune on you," Mr.. Wiese urged.
"Mit dat you can do vat you choose.
And he vii set Oscar up in business ven
he has finish school next year. 1t vii pc
a great ting for us all, Hildachen."
"Yes," Hilda said, "I suppose it will.
will marry him, father" and having
given her consen;, she felt rs though SHE
had locked herself into prison.
That evening Douglass came. nj. DE
Bonnie Fortune, who dined late in the
city, rarely spent an evening at the
Wiescs', and it so happened that he and
Douglass had never met. Hilda felt like
a traitor as she followed the young man
down to the boat-they had IN engage,
ment to go rowing. The language OF
love is easy of Interpretation; she had
read it in his looks and in his voice a
hundred times. Besides, she could inter-
prct it by the key Of her own feelings:
But she made up her mind that he should
learn of her engagement from her own
lips. If he was panied, no one but her
self should see his pain
When she had tod him, Douglass
rowed on in silence for while. Then he
said, Il have no doubt you have decided
wisely. The children of this world arc
in their generation wiser than the chill
drcn Of light. You have my good wishes
of course; you resign some things-youl
art
"Ycs,n sic replied, wrctchedly. i" But
a woman cannot always think of her.
SELF They rowed on in silence fol
another while. Presently she shiveref
and suggested that they should return
home. at is so cold on the water to.
night" Poor girl she was cold to tht
heart.
The tears stood in Mrs. Wiese's moth
erly eyes. and there was weight on llcl
heart, as heart and eyes both followed
the young man as he strobe down th'
road, having said farewell that night
lie was the mate she would have choscl
for IIilda, in spite of waiting, in spite o
poverty. Alas! she believed, she feared
that IIilda did not care for nj. De Bonn
Fortune. She was taking up the unutter
able cross Of Il lovelcss life. She went t
her daughter on the spur of that convic
ton, but Hilda put her away with col
Lice HDaor mamma lpt II he &c I huy