The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-10-02
BURIED HOPES.

found vencratlon for his mother His father
had left property enough TO relieve the son
from any need OF working for living. So he
had studied and travelled for the sake of his
own culture, and made himself a COMPANION
to his mother
During his stay at the country seat of one
of his friends, he had met for the first time
Annie Bradbury, bright, animated and bril-
liant girl aqulck, engcr reader, with subtle
rapid appreciation, and a judgment more true
than his. They met at many other places dur.
ing the season, and Byron was for the first
time IN his life unhappy. Strange doubts and
pains reached him, for lie said to himself, sad.
ly apd bitterly:
annie Bradbury Is coquette She has no
heart. She was determined to fascnatc me,
and she cares nothing about me-"
Then more tender CLEAN In her blue eyes
would seem TO plead against his doubt, and he
would devote himself To her until some one
else came near with whom she chose to divide
her attention and her glances, and he drew off
miserable.
To add to his perplcxltles and pain, he be-
gan to meet IN the same circles Of society a
girl whose mother had been one OF his moth.
cr's oldest friends and to whom he would have
paid special attention but for the distressing
influence Of bright Annie Bradbury. Julia
Moore was woodworking young woman,
with serene, Madonna-like face, and dark
brown hair smoothly reposing on a white,
broad forehead.
"She pities me-" he said to himself, "for she
believes that am enlangled by brilliant and
heartless firt. Perhaps Miss Bradbury has
told her that she has made me her slave Girls
of that nature do such things sometimes, peo.
| pie say" And he drew nearer Julia Moore,
and tried to maintain his Independence and
lsclfcOntrOl.
Presently the young company was about to
break up. The guests in the social circle of
which Byron had formed part we're abou: to
scatter far and wide. One OF his dear friends,
Harry Parsons, whom he had known at Har,
ward, had joined the group lately. His pres
ence had given Byron touch of pain, for he
soon observed that both of them were in the
same boat-lIarry was the captive and bond
slave of Annie Bradbury.
One morning Byron received II letter from
his mother which vexed him, "a she mention
ed in 1t that she had heard triumphant irt
had captured HIM and warned him to beware
of her. Had Annie been Boosting of her con.
questy Who could have written 10 his mother
on the subject? II CHANGED that he soon after
met Annie, as she turned the corner of u Wind.
ing walk. She was alone. AT first she did
not see him. In her attitude there was some
thing which spoke of Il profound and genuine
sadness. She blushcd deep crimson, and
hastily crumpled in her hand a paper she had
been reading. Then they talked for u while,
and for some reason, Byron could not explain
to himself, they talked very gravely, and al
most sadly. All the manner of the coquette
was land aside, and he actually asked himself
if he had not misunderstood the girl. AS they
walked along, the thorns of rosebush
caught Annes dress She put out her hand
to release herself, and the paper she had been
holding fell to the ground. Byron stopped to
pick it up and saw, not without confusion
that 1t was his own writing
at 10 the copy you made for me of that
beautiful little poem of Victor Hugos," she
said quietly. 81 SO like the poem that have
always kept it."
Byron was delighted. After moments 81
lencc, he SAID! I'VE are all scattering soon
Are we never all to meet again."
"All are not likely to meet again, suppose"
she replied. "l3ut some OF us are pledged to
meet soon again-is 1t not so? May | not
congratulate you, Mr., Westlake"
Congratulate me, Miss Bradburys Good
heavens! for whatr
She looked into his face with unfeigned
wonder. "Am | premature and rashy' she
said, with "A half smile. pray forgive me-"
i'ut, NiiSo III , pay nt "uul Spu
mean? do beg OF YOU"
He was about TO take her hand, when he
saw Harry Parsons appearing in the walk
Byron quietly drew oil. AS he wandered
through the shrubbery, he came suddenly to
an OpCning-he saw at u distance Annie and
mis- friend Parsons standing together. Harry
had taken her hand in his, and she was not re
sIsting. Byron rushed from the spot,
"lleartless coquette," he muttered. allow
nearly | had betrayed myself TO her Oh,
thank heaven for the chance which showed
me how false and cruel she So
That evening Byron lett the place, after hav-
ing proposed To julia Moore and been accept
ed. That evening poor Harry Parsons left the
place, having proposed for and passionately
pleaded 10 Annie Bradbury, and had been ten,
derby, ompassionately decidedly rejected.
And yet Parsons was SO much weather. than
Wcstlakc
Byron was married soon alter, and took his
beautiful, calm bride TO Europe She was al,
WAYS beautiful and calm. At last he had to
accept the truth he had striven rs long rs he
could to shut out from his heart and mind.
There was nothing IN his wife. He had mar
ried IA shapcly figure and II calm, handsome
face without mind or soul attached. Julia
Moore had neither brains or sympathies He
brought her home to his mother, who was at
first delighted with her. Then he learned that
it was Julia who conveyed to his mother the
hint about his attention to Aunie Bradbury
He smiled rather grimly, but said nothing
Before u week he saw that his mother had
found oct that her son was tied for life To a
brainless, vapid, soulless woman There was
a constant look Of pity on her face.
Byron strove hard TO love julia, but there
was nothing to love. She did not even want
her husbands society. She was glad to have
him for her husband; and that was all. He
could not interest her in literature, art or na
lture; they were bores to her Byron saw this
and while he tried 10 bc always kind and az
fectionate TO her, his life was still quiet, cheer
less and hopeless. His wife brought him nc
lchildren, but that In no wise disturbed her.
After some length Of time meeting took