Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-07-23

shoulder, and held one of her little
white hands in bis own. She was al
ways handsome, but now there was
deeper hush on her fair features while
she said,-
Ralph, fear you forget that am
poor, and that l am mothers sole sup
port; you cannot marry me; you would
| be making O meSalliance.
"Pshawi yonr pride and duty have
hitherto kept me from claiming you.
By marrying you, shall gain the
truest and braves. little woman in the
whole world. Philip must have an ed
ucation better than either your uncle
or you can afford to give. l have
enough for you all. / have waited two
long years, and | can wait no longer;
You are wearing your iit" away; l did
not know you we're teaching here until
to-day. l began to think l had lost
you, and do not mean to lose you
again "
"What tyraunical lover you are! I
have b 'eu told that you are paying
court to Laura Mayne."
"Ha! la! what nonsense! | have met
the young lady a number of times--in-
deed, was her esco tto-day-but never
thought of loving her, and never pre-
tended to do so. l love only you; will
you give me the right to protect you?"
Her answer was too low for US to hear.
but he stopped and kissed her, placed
ring on her finger, and said in earnest
ones.-
God bless you, my own!'
could not see Laura, aud she did
not know of my presence; bnt l could
imagine how the demon within her was
raging, and trembled for the uncon-
sclous Grace. heard her say
Ralph, leave me for a time to
think"
At first he seemed 10th to 60, but at
last walked away. l was not prepared
for what followed.
Laura waited until he was too far
away to hear her, then she sprang out
like wild beast, and, grasping Grace
by the throat, said, with an insane fury
in every GESTURE
$50, my fine lady washerwoman, it
is not enough that you should come as
my teacher, but you must steal my
lover! you-you-" And her hands
closed tighter and tighter.
was barely in time to rescue poor
Grace from an untimely fate. Laura
did not care to attack me, but walked
sullenly away. dared not leave Grace
so stood there, trying to bring her
out of her faint, when a stone, thrown
by an unerring hand, struck her on the
head, cutting q deep cash, and making
u dangerous wound. Then screamed
loud and long, and was rewarded by
the appearance of Ralph and two other
gentlemen. He was surprised and
alarmed. Grace was taken to his fathers
house, while Laura was carried back to
the school under guard.
For weeks Grace lay ILL; but at last
life aud love triumphed, and she
mingled with US again; but Ralph re-
fused to allow her to come back to her
Old place, saying she was soon to have
only one pupil to teach.
Laura had been away for weeks, but
returned to us again, to be Stunned
and avoided by all. She was pale aud
quiet now. Owing to her fathers alb
sence in Europe she was obliged to re.
turn to the school, for, despite her
wealth, she had very few relatives and
no friends.
One night she fell ill with scarlet
fever. She was taken to small cot
tage near by; but no nurse could be
procured, and even we, who disliked
her SO much, could not endure to think
of her suffering and alone.
One night Grace came to the school
and said:
~ am ready to be Laura's nurse.
have had the fever, so have nothing
to fear"
And all through the days that fol-
lowed, Grace was Laura's constant
nurse; but the dark angel of death
claimed her for his own. The nj. ht
before she died, che held out her hands
to Grace, and said with quivering lip
" Grace, have been wicked, very
wicked; do not know what made me
hate you so; can you forgive me ?"
Yes, Laura, as l hope to be for
given"
Il am going soon, and I give you
this ring, my mothers last gift. Will
you have the kindness to write few
lines for me?"
Grace wrote what the feeble girl die
tated, wherein she requested her father
to make certain disposition of her pri-
vate property. A few hours afterward
she died. at the last calm and peaceful.
Soon afterward Ralph claimed his
bride, and she has ever proved our
teacher in the highest sense, render
ing good for evil.
Money Pulled Away in Smoke
1t is startling truth that New York