The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-10-22


remained unmarried, to leave you the
Bruce Place"
"Dear aunt, thank you for the inten-
ton; but would rather have Harry.
| have little bit of money of my own,
have notP"
about four thousand dollars; just
enough to buy your wedding things, and
marry you decently. For though you
are going to make such fool of your
self, l shall not show the white feather
about it. l must pretend to be happy
when | am wretched, and receive con-
gratulations that will nearly choke me /;
but such trials are part and parcel of a
woman's lot; dare say shall get
creditably through them"
Miss Ethel rose with proud air, but
pitifully sad face, and attempted to
leave the room, but Eloise, with gentle
force and many tender kisses, made her
sit down again.
Auntie," she said, coaxingly, you
have asked me good many questions,
and have answered them truly now l
am going to ask you some, and / know
you will be fair with me about them.
First, were you ever in loveP
Half smiling and half signing, Miss
Ethel sat thinking over the bold ques-
tion. At length she answered, slowly,
Yes, Eloise; once loved as l do not
think you have the power to love. It
is twenty-five years ago"
"Will you tell me about itP"
i cannot. Yes-I will try; perhaps
it may show you what a waste of life is.
Wait here few moments"
She then left the room, but soon re-
turned with little tortoise-sEell box in
her hand. 1t opened with a spring, and
81 La e
withered violets and. the half of plain
gold ring. She lifted the latter and
said:
"This is part of his dead mothers
wedding ring; we broke it in two and
swore solemnly over it to he faithful to
the promises we had made to each other.
Then he sailed away from me and l
never heard from him again. For two
years / suffered all the agonies of hope
deferred and sighted love, and at length
l had fever that left me the colorless
little ghost | have been ever SINCE"
Perhaps he was dead"
"No."
"Then he was miserable creature,
and | should have put him out of my
heart and memory"
Yes, | think you would, Eloise. !
think, too, that it is likely you would
have let some other man make fool of
you second time. / have different
nature. l did not cease to suffer for
James Early for five years, but having
conquered that weakness l never per-
mitted myself to care for any other
man."
but you were rich and handsome.
Did no one else care for youP"
Miss Ethel smiled queerly, and after IA
oil iuIf CniA
"Who was it, Auntie?"
Colonel Powell"
"Oh, aunt So you wanted me to do
thing you would not do yourself"
Eyes, dear. You wanted to marry;
| did not. When l was twenty years
Of age, if | had wanted to marry at all,
| should have married for wealth and
position. Colonel Powell can give his
wife these advantages"
Are you still in love with this Mr..
Early's memoryp"
"No, am not. If L should meet him
to- day, l do not think should care to
speak to him."
Is he aliveP"
81 suppose so. heard of his mar
riage ten years ago."
"Poor auntiew
Don't pity me, child. l am to be
l.
my dear fathers opposition, l should
have married for love, given my fortune
and my life into the keeping of a selfish,
tickle man-in fact, made just such a
little fool of myself as you are about to
make"
"Aunt, do you really think that
Harry would forget me in few weeks
or monthsP"
"Of course he would"
I will try him."
"You will act very wisely to do so.
Eloise, / am glad l have told you my
sad little story; it may make you at
least look before you leap Where
does Harry generally leave youP"
"On the 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 to-
night"
So few hours afterward there was a
very bitter parting under the oaks in
Bruce Park. Elose was almost shocked
when it was over. In her heart she had
only intended to frighten Harry, but her
lover had taken the proposal too seri-
ously, and things had been said that she
could not unsay. At first, indeed,
Harry had laughed at Miss EtheIs
doubts of him, and his laughter had
provoked Eloise. She did not like the
thing treated as a Joke. "It was very
serious matter, and she did not see how
Harry could laugh at the idea of not
seeing her for eleven months"
For eleven months was the time she
had fixed upon as the limit of her lovers
probation. In eleven months she would
be of age, and could claim her small
fortune. If Harry was true to her, she
would then be willing to begin life with
him on four thousand dollars. Besides,
she had "A shrewd idea that if she
humored her aunt thus far, Miss Ethel
would not withdraw her favor.
Harry was indignant at all such pru-
Dental considerations. He spoke very
disrespecttully of Bruce Park, and de-
clared he would not say Thank YOU
r 4