River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-05-01
HARRY BAIN'S AMBITION .
BY LULU W.

BY LULU W.
Ethel Cameron stood leaning on the
gate straining her eyes, for last glimpse
of Harry Balm as he galloped down the
road without once turning for last look
on either the young girl or the old home
he had loved so dearly, and with both
he had just parted, it might be for
months, years, it might be forever. Har-
RVS words, hard and cruel, were still
lingering on Ethel's ear, crushing from
her young heart all the bright sweet
hopes she had hitherto entertained. Yes,
he had almost broken the heart that had
been so loyal and true to him, that had
given to him all its pure. sweet love and
he had proved false; and had cast aside
her love as an impeachment in bis path to
wealth and fame.
Harry Balm longed for these. He WIS
am bilious and Tor ambition he would
sacrifice the purest and noblest impulses
of his nature; and the future promised
success; by grasping it his wishes might
be realized and to this ne would devote
his very thoughts. "Yeu will forgive
me, Etnel, and ere few short weeks
elapse you will be again the same happy
and buoyant girl. For am not, he con-
tInued while her big dreamy eyes fell
lowed his every movement with strange,
eager look, in which there was much
sadness), mo, / am not suited to such a
sweet, innocent girl as you, and, Ethel.
you would be miserable and pine for
your old hone, the fields and flowers
YOU love so dearly. We may meet again
in the years to come and you, Ethel, will
be the same good and beautiful woman
you now sre, while | shall have attained
the hight of my ambition, fulfilled the
one wish OF my life and be either
happy or miserable. OF course / shall
be wiser, but oh Ethel, fear not bet
ter man. And now ere we are severed,
perhaps forever, wish TO part friends,
so let me hear from your lips that you
forgive me-"
She had stood silent and pale, watching
Harry Balm anxiously but without max
ing a movement or uttering a word to
disturb him. at this question she raised
her head and looking him full in the face,
answered, mo, / will never forgive you,
Harry Balm, but promise me (she asked
the question almost fiercely), if we ever
meet again you will tell me if by your
choice you have gained happiness" VI
promise, goodbye" and without another
word, passed through the gate, mounted
his horse and galloped down the road.
And she was alone, what agony she SUI
Tered and how bravely she had concealed
it from his eyesl But she could endure
it no longer and sinking down under an
old oak tree hid her face in her hands
and wept as though her heart would
break. At last Ethel dried her eyes, irri-
tated with herself for such weakness;
why should she think of him2 Had be
not left herr He was not worthy of the
tears. No, she would weep for him no
more. AS she sat there, her thoughts
flew back to the past and rec ,l!ed to her
memory the many, many times they side
| by side had sat in that se.f-same place In
| the gathering twilight. There he had
told her of his love, and taking her hand
In his. asked her to be his wife. As these
thoughts came crowding through her
mind her eyes again filled with tears, but
raising she dashed them away. mo, |
must not, j shall not weep for him. Did
he not cast away my love as child
would toy it had become tired OFF, Has
he not doomed all my bright anticipa-
tons 10 be biasted2 He Sill probably
marry the daughter of some wealthy man
and break her heart, for in time she will
! find OUT he does not love her; for truly,
solemnly, firmly, believe that although
another will call him husband, another
will bear his name, his love and heart
will ever be mine, yes, mine alone, AMI
Oll why can not go forward and
become great? There is that within
me which might. with culture, grow and
strengthen until one day stand before
the world bis equal; yes, his equal.
No, no, it cannot be. | must work on,
toll on from morn till night, moi
even time for thought. What chance
have to become greats None. | must
crush these thoughts in my mind; but
oh, / cannot. When think of the cities
beyond this little village, it seems 20
must, become great, be his equal or die.
When Harry Balm left three years ago
telling me to love and be true to him,
that in a short time he would return,
then my tolling would be over, he would
claim me for his own. Oh, then he never
thought that the time would come when
all his promises would be broken and the
little unsophisticated country girl would
be no wife for the aristocratic and
wealthy man, out hoped apd toiled on
Bright visions of his success and my
sharing them filed my mind and in my
constant love for him cast aside the
love of one of the noblest hearts that ever
beat in mans breast. What the future
has in store for us | know not, but feel
it has not happiness for Harry Balm.
She neither saw Eor heard Wilson War
rep, the possessor of great and noble
heart, until be had taken seat beside
her and laying his hand on her arm said,
"What is the matter, Ethel9 Why, have
you been weepinga But yes, | know"
he continued, Harry has left, met him
ana he babe me good bye and said he
left to night FOX the city. To my qucs-
ton he replied that he did not know when
he would return; possibly never; and OBJ,
Ethel, thought perhaps | would have to
bid you too good bye" and tie face he
turned from her was as white as marble.
mo, she replied in firm but low voice.
shall never go with him; no, never, and
now Wilson, please never speak of him
in my presence again. ] must forget the
past and try to blot it from my memory
as If it had never been,' and rising,
turned and went in the house.
She knew he spoke the truth and in
her mind drew comparison between the
two men, Harry Balm and Wilson War
rem, the one who had cast aside her love
for ambition, the other would have will
lingingly died if by so doing it could
have secured her happiness. Wilson"
and raising to his her dark beautiful
eyes that were filling with tears, ego
where | may your friendship / viii prize
highly and ever think of you with gait
tude, and although l may never be your
wife Isolemnly promise shall never wed
another"
She had been gone some weeks when
according to promise be received letter
from her in which she said: Wilson, !
did not, as you predicted, find home of
elegance and splendor, but one Of love
and ease. No, my father is not wealthy
man, but be has what is worth more TO
me than all the wealth of the Indies, an
excellent library and now | can study and
read. 1t is what my heart has crayed
but what l never dared hope for"
Eight years have come and gone since
Harry Balm still loving, parted from Eth
ell Cameron. He had. as she bad antici-
pated ne would, married the only chilo, an