The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-07-02

had been laid to rest beneath the daisies,
and she and her mother found them
selves almost penniless. Then, with the
quiet energy and self-wil1 which she had
inherited from her father, Lena obtained
a situation in the factory, despite the op-
position of her friends and her mother,
and entered her new field of labor, all
unused to work as she was, with cheer
full heart and willing hands; for she told
herself, as soon as Ronald received her
letter telling him of her loss, he would
come and urge hasty wedding, and all
her trouble would be at an end.
| So she worked away in the bright,
spring sunshine, waiting patiently, yet
eagerly, for her expected letter from
Ronald.
Meanwhile, she could not help
acknowledging to herself that Elmer
Crawford was the best and kindest friend
she had in the village; he had assisted
her in obtaining her situation, and
shielded her by his quiet attentions and
care, from the cruel insults of her enc
mics. He sent her mother flowers and
| fruit every morning, and often walked
with Lena to, or from the factory; some
times he even came in to spend an even
ing; but he was SO perfectly cool and
friendly, and acted so little like lover
that she grew to trust him, and feel a
sense of security from insult and harm
when he was at her side.
/ Three weeks passed, but Lena's letter
did not come; at least she was only sur
prised and disappointed, but, as day fol-
lowed day, and still it came not, her
heart sank lower and lower, and lower,
hope died out of her life. Returning
from the factory in the evenings, she
would enter the postoffice, slowly and
| fearfully, her heart throbbing wildly
with expectation-but the box was al
ways empty and she would turn away,
with passionate longing to hide her.
| self away from cruel eyes and sob out
her grief and disappointment alone-for
| she knew now that Ronald was false
| that he was ashamed to marry factory
girl.
"Well," said her mother one evening,
when two months had passed away. 81
guess you'll not receive a letter soon
| then think you will wish you were not
factory girl. I always told you he
would not come backp'
Lena silently took the paper from her
mother, and, with steady eyes, read the
| marriage announcement of Ronald Ker-
| shaw and Maria eld-read ii, without
a single motion to express the great pain
she was suffering.
9Where did you get this paper?" she
asked calmly.
ssElmer sent it with some grapes"
Lena arose, and, taking the paper with
her, went to her room-an her doubling
and expense were ended now-her love-
dream was broken and her path through
life stretched out before her, blank and
cleerless. Perhaps some of my readers
have suffered as she did that n1ght-have
fought out such a battle with their re-
bellious hearts. If so, let them pity my
poor little heroine
She arose in the morning, pale and
weary, but very calm and self-possessed
and went to her toll with heavy heart,
but smiling lips.
Elmer joined her at the gate and she
felt more than ever his considerate and
kind attention and care. She was sure
he must know her trouble, yet he care
fully avoided the subject.
How she lived through the days that
followed she never knew; but at last she
settled down into quiet calmness that
was worse than grief; and so the days
passed slowly by, and summer came.
One evening she was sitting in her
little parlor, alone in the twilight, when
Elmer entered and sat down beside
her.
ssLena," he said gently, taking her
hand, II cannot bear to see you work SO
hard-you are killing yourself, dear! 0,
Lena, will you not give me the right to
take care of you? I know you do not
love me, but oh! darling. am willing
to wait for you love, if you will only let
me take you from this life of toll! Will
you, darling?"
In the silence which followed Lena
could almost hear the beating Of her
heart.
Why should she not say yes? Ronald
was dead to her forever-why she not try
to forget him. and be happy with Elmer?
She would have q beautiful home, a
noble, loving husband, and all the lux
uries for which she had been yearning-
what more could she asksnow that love
was dead?
Slowly, she reached out her hand and
placed il in Elmer's.
Elmer" she began gently, and then
stopped suddenly, for shadow dark
ened the doorway, and there in the twi-
light stood Ronald Kershaw, not as she
had last seen him, but oh SO white and
changed.
ssDo not be afraid, Lena, he said, sad
", as she shrank back with cry of pain.
IT have come all this way to ask you if
this is true. Will you tell me ?''a
She silently took the paper which
he handed her, and in blank astonish-
ment, read the notice of her own mar
riage with Elmer Crawford.
Elmer she said sternly, turning to
him, ssdid you do this ?''
81 did," he answered passionately.
"Oh, Lena, forgive me loved you SO,
4 could not help it Your mother told
me Ronald had not answered your letter,
and I thought it would be SO easy to sep
arate you. But, oh! my punishment has
been great, for now, at the last moment,
when you were almost mine, must lose
you forever Farewell, Lena. Forgive
me, if you can"
And, turning away, he left the house
for the last time. They never saw him
again.
Ronald turned to Lena, and taking her
tenderly in his arms, said !:
ooh, my darling, why did you doubt
me ?"
aHow could I help it. Ronald % she