The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-03-06

gorgeous tropical blossoms sitting mi
with their T4nk odors.
forgot Rites flowers. forgot her wait
ing toilet, forgot everything but my OWE
suffering. An aloe tree in full blossom
sitting alone like some weird necronan'
Ger, caught my eye, and sunk down q
its roots and burst into team. ! seemed
70 see papa's grave covered with yellow
autumn leaves. heard the wash Of the
waves, the murmur Of the pine trees. The
hustle Of the gas-lit streets drove me q
frenzy.
This life is killing me and must
go home TO the old home and papa's
grave"
A hand touched my arm as the words
broke from my lips.
beg your pardon, madam; you seem
in distress. Can / hslp-gOod Heaven,
Bell Is it you?"
"Capt. Garruthers!"
leaped 70 my feet, and we stood face
to face. BE was bronzed and bearded,
but the frank, kind eyes were unchanged.
A wild impulse seized me to clasp his
hands and tell him how lonely and
friendless I was; but woman's pride,
stronger even than her love, stihed the
desire at it's very birth. bowed eoldly.
"Why, Bell, you haven't changed; only
you look wan and sad. ! am so glad to
meet you. have written again and again,
until | tancied you were dead. How is 1t
that l find you in PARISH
'No matter; bid you good evening.
Capt. Caruthers."
The glad, kind, handsome eyes wtdened
| NTH UOa1aF az 7 daPtAd aWNV
-
Dear, me, Bell, I thought you'd never
eomeI / don't like to keep Carruthers
waiting. Gracious goodness! where are
the dowers?'
'tI didn't get them, and can't dress
you, Marguerite. l am going to my
ROOM
inP'
1 did not pause 10 answer. At noon on
the following day, my aunt summoned me
to her presence.
"You need not read to-day, Bell; l
want to talk 70 you. You met Capt. Car
ruthers in the greenhouse last nightW
Eyes, by aecidentl"
Aunt Edmonton toyed with the tassels
Of her morning robe, and for the first
time, to my knowledge, showed signs OF
embarrassment.
"By accident, Of Counsel / dinn't sup
pose you mistook my meaning, my dear.
He's q fine handsome fellow, and he and
Rite are well matched; don't you think
so? Vel, my dear, his coming changes
our plans in ameasure. We may remain
here for the winter; and your health
seems to be failing. and you don't like
Paris, Bell, and I thought perhaps"
tFYou thought you would send me home,
Aunt Edmonton? Pray do. meant TO
ask permission to 60 this very day-tor
I'm dreadfully homesickm
She laughed genially, and crossing the
room kissed me with more kindness than
she had ever shown.
.'Then you shall have permission, my
dear. Mrs. Montague, on old friend OF
mine, leaves Paris tonight, and you shall
60 under her charge"
1 went, leaving giddy Paris behind me
with feeling Of infinite relief
But when reached the old home, how
desolats it wasl Winter came, and the
white snow filed the hollows and crowned
the southern hills Letters from Aunt
Edmonton informed me that they were
in Rome, Cant. Carruthers as escort, and
limited at great wedding when spring
came. Did / care? What was Captain
Oarruthers to me? My fathers friend,
and must always regard him with graft
tuds; and Marguerite would make him q
stately beautiful bride. Yet through all
the lonesome winter days and nights my
heartache never cease or abated.
Spring came, and the skies grew soft and
tender. The SHOWS melted, leaving the
hills green and the sunny hollows sweet
with yiolets. One March morning went
ont to rake the flower beds. The hyactnths
and buttercups were already above the
mold, and here and there green tulip
leaf could be seen. The winds blew warm
from the south, the sunshine glimmered
like gold, and in one Of the willows over
papa's grave bluebird sang / threw
aside nv rake and sat down TO cry, not in
hopeless sorrow, but In new born faith.
4 step crushed the gravel of the walk, a
tall shadow fell athwart the glimmering
sunshine. started 70 my feet.
"Capt. CsrruthersIs
"Good morning, Miss Edmonton.
'tHas my aunt Gomez
ssNo; / left her in Venice"
HAnd you-why are you hereg
The kind eyes smiled down upon me
full OF sad reproach.
s'To say good-by at once, Bell, II my
company is not wanted. My regiment Is
ordered off again, but couldn't go with
out having one last look at your face.
The blood in my heart seemed to burn
into my cheeks:
"Capt. Carruthers!"
"Well, BellP
miss Edmonton, Il you please" :.
every we'll, Miss Edmonton, then, Il
YOU admire It better. We were friends
once; why should we not be now2
"Oh, we are friends; we shall be some
thing nearer when you marry my Cousin
Marguerite.n
guerite."
ST have never asked her-hAIe never
wanted her. Oh, my darling, your eyes
tell me something that gives my heart
hope. Bell, / never forgot you. l wrote
dozens OF letters, but not one ever reached
Won. l only guessed at the truth few
weeks ago, and I am here. loved you
wears and wears ago-I love you now-l
snail always love you. Tell me the truth.
| II they hadn't intercepted my letters and
msds Won think me false, would you have
cared for me as syeri"
/ could not for my life say no.
81 thought you were engaged to Mar
guerite. was sure"
"You thought wrong. Marguerite is .
fine woman, and she maTries title this
summer. My darling, 1 nave loved no Eo-
man but you"
notes OF delight the blue bird sang, swing
inc IN The old oai treel The whole uni