The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-10-07
Story of a Broken Heart.

Albert CuSnu1du lOOkeu dt uNS CouiP"h-
ion, a lovely girl of eighteen, watching
the sweet color fade out of cheek and
lin. and a wild look of despair fill the
beautiful eyes and as he did so his con-
science reproached him bitterly, for he
knew that not unsought by him had the
innocent heart of Clara Moore been
won.
"You will think of me sometimes,
dearest, will you not p and his arm was
thrown round the trembling girl, and he
drew her closely to him.
"Oh, Albert do not leave me! /
cannot live without you T" she moaned,
as her head sank on his breast.
Albert Cushman was not a bad man,
only a weak, self-induigent one, given to
gratifying any whim that promised plea
sure fer the time being without giving a
thought of the consequences but now
he would have given all he possessed to
have undone his last two months work.
In the beginning of the Summer he
had come, an invalid, to Farmer Moore's
littls, brown, one-storied house, nesting
under the oak trees far up among the
Catskills and good Mrs. Moore and
pretty Clara had nursed him faithfully,
and the young girl, who had been edu-
Gated far above her station in life, had
read and chatted with him, and as he
grew stronger had been his daily COM
panion in all his rambles. He had
grown very fond of the lovely girl, and
had let her see it so plainly that Clara's
innocent heart had gone out to him UNI
re~sistingly and during these sweet
Summer months the young girl had
lived in a dream of perfect happiness,
not thinking of the future. But the
ijvl was over ; the leaves were begin
nlng to put ON their scarlet and brown
dresses, ana Albert Cushman knew that
he could no longer linser in that quiet,
country nook, for before the Winter
snow should fall he was to be the hus-
band of Eliza Vaughan, and he also had
at last awakened to a sense OF the bitter
wrong he had done poor Clara, In win
ming the deep love Of her trusting heart,
when all of his belonged to another.
''Dear Clara" he said soothingly to
the weeping girl, "dear little one, | am
very sorry to have to 20 but, dear, you
must have known that | could not stay
always besides-theye is another one,
Clara"-anG the young man hesitated
and his voice faltered, for he knew that
what he was going to say would be like
a dagger thrust into the gentle heart
beating so near his own-'another one,
Clara, who is looking impatiently for
me every day now-and-and-who in
a few weeks will be my-my wife,
dear"
a low despairing cIy of agony broke
engaging herself frotp his oncircling
arm, she turned to leave him, but he
caught her hand.
Dear Clara, | an very sorry that
you feel it SO much. l-l-ought to
have told you before, | suppose, but we
have been so happy and then | did not
think that you cared so very deeply for
me. | did not really mean to deceive
you, Clara you will forgive me, will
YOU not dear p and he tried to draw her
towards him again.
"Don't; please don't she said family,
trying to free herself Get Inc go home"
Say that you forgive me then, Clara
he asked pleadinglv, sand give me n
farewell kiss"
A hot flush dyed the girls cheek.
81 shall forgive you, Albert, much
sooner han you will forgive yourself ;
but YOU must not ask me for kisses now"
"Clara, darling Clara, you will not
leave me so2 Just one little kiss q
pleaded he, and he clasped her closely in
his arms.
80, my love my love ~ moaned the
girl, 'how can | give you up
Albert made no answer, only held her
closer, raining eager kisses on her white
lips.
II must co. she cried wildly, strug-
Cling to free herself 'let me so !" and
he did so, and Clara fled away.
"Poor little girl y unused Albert, 81
am very sorry sorry Cor her, but never
dreamed she would take a little flirta-
ton so seriously. She is a sweet girl,
and l am very fond of her, but of course
l can do nothing now. l wish to heav-
en- ] had never come here. What would
Eliza sayi By lingo wouldn't she
rave2 All, well; poor Clara she is
very young yet she will get over it,