The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-07-10
OUT Of. FATe'S LABYRINTH.
py MARY REED CALDWELL.

tf MARY ktED Nht'P"'
Jnlion Crrslcish laid his cigar
down carefully ard locked seriously,
n Melville Vests grave face.
90 you love her. Melville
While Mr.. West returned his
s,rnjsh1, serious look with all his
heart in his blue eyes; >,
with all my soul. JULIAN.
"Hoes she love YOU y
And such look Of passionate pride
accompanied his prompt answer: .
"My little darling ! am sure OF
hcr!" 49,
IL. ponaerous, as II his question is
unanwerable, except IN one matter
of.fact way, III that IL the case, you
and pretty little Mary Warren are
in love with each other, Why don't
You marry her 2? ,.,
"You naturally wonder Why" Mel
Vile said gravely. almost wistfully;
"and when l tell you that my little
Nav has refused to marry me Tor
three wears, and is sorrowfuily reso-
lmfe "a ever. your will wonder all the
more, knowing, as / have just told
YOU. how truly We love each other.
Cresleigh frowned inquiringly.
II confess l do not understand
such q conundrum.' he said. Ii l
loved a woman. and she loved me:
not ali the powers Of earth could
keepus apart"
Melville smiled grayely.
"NIy dear little May Is not like
other women." he E remarked +! ten ten
derly, reverently. "She is all that
is noble, and conscientious, and hon
Orable: and, while realize she Il
smelling both our lives by her rigid
adherence to what she believes hel
duty, I yet cannot hut admit Its hon
or and nobleness.
Tho froWn on Cresleigh's hand.
some forehead deepened into posi-
tive wrinkles.
II give it up" he said. with q sigh
Il let me tell you, in q dozen words
nv darling's story: when sh'
was l6-she IL 90 nOw-ehe spent
summer with friends In the country
and while there-children will b.
foolish always--she permitted tn
attentions OF a young farmer. NOR
from a spirit Of girlish fun ana CO
quetry than aught else. and becam
engaged to him, in the same spirit Q
heedlessnees, which she did not ne
lulj.e until she had returned HON
and thought the matter sertousl
over. and conflded tho affair to ne
friends. Every effort has been mad
to break the engagement. except
public attempt, that would be u
flnjtely iiisgraceiul for my little gil
to endure. But Morgan fletcner-
that's his nama-vtll not give uE
He declares she promised to nave
him. and he swears he will have hel
He il rich, and q decent enough te
low-but May Warren's HUSBAND
He writes her once q week. ana ns
for several years. although. she NJ
persistently refused to see him. An
there the matter rests.
II, "Humph!" Cresleigh e}acu'ate'
:, - forcibly. -,
~ him but she thinks that 90 long
!. abe accepted his offer she IL not mo
" aliy free to marry any one else.
" "And 80 both your happiness 81
!, hers are to be ruined because OF Of
~ mistake in a child's life"
~ Such a look OF tenderest love, a.
o pitv. and faith shown out OF MI
u vilie's grand face! a.
~ "Don't say ruined, Julian; Tor, n(
- = withstanding the strange barrier o
tween US, We are very happy. In ca
10 others love; and May IL a woman
sI worship with all the strength OF ont
" life." .:s,
e On stand how such relations c0uld
o = maintained, when there were
20 many cogent reasons for havin9
I au otherwise. Melville West went lrt
~. CresIeigh's office to the unpretel
i is inc little cottage where May and
n s elderly sister lived. all his heart 81
a! rod NV his recital OF their romance
IL" "To.day ia one OF the days when
~ feel ! cannot except tho late IN 81.
ILL., for me-" he said to her, passionate
no, wistfully, rs he took her 10 his s!to
N as' arms. ITO see you here, 80 pate
~ ~ 40 gentle, 80 sweet and loyal to
and know I may not have you
~, INV wife-t0 know you work for. "
..'s daily bread, while I have richee
70 spare. May, May! he pitilul:
break your word to that other.
hat She looked at him with sucn ol'
' sweet eyes.
n.y and I am only reaping the rewar(
n.y. eirIish folly: repented OF as soon
,,v committed"
ely. While a hundred or 80 miles a.
.lVo from the little suburban colt
''"" where May lived, Morgan Flete
,.h paced the sunny, western piazza
.sn' his farm house, that self. same WI
~ afternoon-a tall, robust, coarse
ka.s tured man Of nearly 40. With snal
' se. auburn beard and bright brown Q
,s s' that were almost cruelty positive
Peg ! by: He had lust been handed two let
,, ~ by q farm bow returned from Tue
~" lage post office; and one: ~
,s.,v Warren's delicate hand vtlttlh9.
''e,y been eagerly read, while az "a
'''"' almost hungry, look had come
his ewes "a he quickly tore u ope
MI, see q few lines. cold. carless a.
:eets "' ,.aya VIZ" ~" ar.+ sor nearly {
The AN! Anu -, sue -. nn" ,"s aayagely
on x.-s -. a. a oac0n0 re0l
Eeen no .D .S.,.s. :. y" Ito his pocket.
'har. .uou |".u .". ~ I;..'n Nav mustn't {
mean !.m l 2 gong , 70 pu. " ia Ave !
iudg. Vi Iulns 0lv .O"kI ia avaa un0n