The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-01-24

nc JOlu me lIaDRlyy ne auueuJ 'JnaJ ~
was induced to do this through interest 70
you, and that he hoped it would clear tn
way to our future happiness. lie is a prime
Kate. l almost wonder you could keep I
corner In your heart for me-"
Then he went on in his eager protestation
Of love and his hopes for the future. Th,
girl listened calmly, quietly, as if carved il
stone.
lie accepted all, giving no thought to the
man who had resigned all, never dreaming
but that she, too, was ready to receive the
sacrifice.
She looked into his face. It was hand.
some as of old, but its beauty no longer alb.
sorbed her vision. His voice had lost none
of its music, but it no longer thrilled her
senses. She had lived dream life of her
imagination. The realty stood before her,
and her dream fed. Amazed, incredulous,
Fred Mayville refused to believe that the
good gifts had come too late-that she no
longer loyed him. He first pleaded and
then reproached
al seem destined to make every one un-
happy" she murmured "but can't help
it, Fred-I can't indeed 1 cannot marry
you-I no longer love you"
"Rather say" he retorted, stung to re-
elimination, on seeing the prize once his
now slipping from his grasp--"rather say
you have learned worldly wisdom, and you
prefer richer lover"
A great scorn gathered in her eyes. This
was the man for whom she would have once
counted the world well lost and she, in
her former blind idolitarY, had failed to sec
that he too had god, the god ofself.
"Let us part friends, Fred" she said at
last. "You will know some day how you
have wronged me-"
But he, refusing to see the little white
hand outheld to him, bowed coldly and
withdrew.
The days that followed were very dreary.
The long future stretched wearily before her,
but each day revealed to her tie secret of
her heart.
With her own hand she had cast away her
life's happiness. So she thought, as she sat
alone, one afternoon in the early spring,
when the servant, throwing open the door
of the library, announced a visitor.
She glanced up to see Harold Crosby He
came forward with the easy, familiar air of
a friend striving to dissipate her embarrass-
ment.
al am going away, Miss Kate" he said,
in a voice that strove to be cheerful. al
meant to write my adieux, but concluded to
see you instead. l wanted to tell you, you
must not reproach yourself for the past. l
had no right to expect to win the love of
such woman, but feared, as you did not
your happiness, it might have
been because"
You did not know" she interrupted,
''that my engagement with Mr.. Mayville
never was renewed ?''
"May ask you why ~
"Because"-her voice faltered-"I had
ceased to love him. Another, better,
worthier man had taken the place he once
held in my heart.
"Tell me no more" he said, hoarsely. al
wish you and him all joy. l thought my
self stronger than am. What matters it,
SO I must give you up, who wins the prize.
Good-bye"
"I-I can't let you go like thisP' she fall
tered. "Why won't you understand ?"
"What am to understand, Kate ?" he
questioned, gravely.
She had risen now, and the color flush
ing to her lovely cheek, her eyes hidden by
the long, sweeping lashes.
"Only, Harold, that was never worthy
Of you, but that if you go away, if you cast
me off second time it will break my heart,
for love youJ and you alone H.
"My wife," he whispered, opening wide
his arms, "my very, very ownp
But Kate heard no more. She was sob
bing out her happiness on his heart.