Osage Valley banner., 1880-04-08

UltNAs
MIR. EnwAnp woRrHINGToS-Si Sir: Par
don these intrusive lines, aud rest assured
that they are from one who VIII ever be
proud a. call himself your sincere friend.
Lucy Ames Is not faithful 10 you'll do not
write this to you for any base purpose; for
since know 80 well your generous and no.
BILE nature, cnn not hesitate when ! see thai
naturoheeOme the innocent dupe Of vile dis
stimulation. Nor have ! been too hasty IN
communicating 90 you this knowledge; !
only fear Il Is too late; but rest assured that
al j have said j. true, aud ran h" attested by
one who has an undOuhted personal know-
edge OF an the facts. Arthur Wesley, ,he
singing-master, is your too fortunate rival.
Yours. \ FEiENp,
This was not the first intimation | had
had OF Lucy's Inconsistency. had seen
things with my own eyes that made me
doubt her sincerity. For long time the
unwclcome suspicion had been preying
upon me, and this fatal letter had come
TO bring conviction--stern, irreyocable,
hopeless conviction.
| did not doubt the truth of IL; and
vet now Il writhed my soul with torture
10 think of it, 10 admit It's truth. 1t did
not, il could not, crush me; ! brayed Il
10 the last | should have been less than
man 10 do otherwise. ! reperused the
letter, calmly--no, not calmly-not in
differently, hut sternly, as though it
were decreed OF fate that | should not
only drain the bitter cup, but should
swallow the very dregs.
And yet | loved the wayward girl,
and gladly, oh, how gladly, would |
have forgiven her imprudence! To her,
first Of all. went 10 seek an interview.
Lucy was proud-tOO proud 10 be
Just 10 herself-yet she was generous
and noble, in spite Of all her ickleuess.
Obstinately convinced that she had
preferred another 10 me, did not ask
or expect any explanations from her;
showed her, without any hesitation,
the letter had just received, and re-
quested her to return me such letters
rs had previously written to her, and
any other little keepsakes which might,
in future, prove only annoying to her.
She bestowed on me "A look which !
shall never forget.
ado you believe this, Edwardp" she
asked
al do, replied, without hesitation
"What unimpeachablo evidenced
she retorted, with the first impulse OF
pride,
"I do not rely on the information
contained in this letter. | said. /"
have seen enough myself without ask
ing any person advice or opinion"
She Immediately left the room, and
returned in few moments with "A pack
are Of letters and a small box of jewels
my former presents, saying gayly, a.
she placed them in my hands:
"By these tokens, then, since 1t II
your win, absolye YOU"
In spite of the smile that played upor
her mouth, / thought l could detec
traces OF recent tears, hastily brushed
away from her checks.
In moment the thought flashed upor
my mind that she might, after all, b'
true. Impulsively I was about TO speal
20 her, 20 ask her II il were not so bu
what should ! sayP | had gone too far
and il was too late 70 retreat. But, n
the thought had come upon me like
flash, IL vanished as II had come, leav
ing no alternative but to pursue tn
course had adopted.
Farewell, thenl" | said, with ap
parent Indifference. "May your fumr
life be ever lighted with the sunshine O
happincss!"
"Thank you, she replied. tus
no act of my own will ever bring miser,
upon me-
Conscience, Miss Ames-cOn
seionce!n / said.
"Wil never reproach me-, she re
piled.
"Heayen grant it," said 1. eth
step you have taken may in your opin
ion, be Just, but let me assure you tina
others do not think so, We do nc
always see ourselves rs others see ms.
II have done nothing, Mr.. Worth