The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1880-05-29

- lfSoS Va hhNISA akIbhA
d than for a salary which lie did no,
n'ESneed. Before he went awaylllelhad
o a serious talk with Mabel, and
/ finally succeeded iii gaining from
Z her Il promise that she would not
/ give her heart away to another, nor
g listen to u proposalof love from
h another, until his return. And lie
T. was t0'be gone two years.
h This Mabel told to her guardian,
0 saying in conc!usion:
0 SO you see, dear guardy, lshall
= have a husband when Edgar gets
| back,-tllat is, i'll. should conclude
to wantone.h
Her guardian kissed her upon
the pure white brow, and blessed
\ her and then went away into lis.
own chamber and locked himself
/ in.
!, As the weeks passed, and tile
! old routine came back, Percy was
{ happy again. IIc. did not ask
J sbliimself how heiloved his beautiful
Eward,-he did mot care,-enough
/ for him that she was happy and
!. joyous when lic was happy; and
50 was she sad when he was sad.
Consequently, for her sake, lie
studied 10 DO happy.
Thetwo years were atianlcndIbe-
fore Percsy eouldlfully realize thc
flight Of time, and Edgar "A Atherton
i had returned-a youngtmany fisk
and-twenty, and in every way38or.s
'lthy.the love of any woman who did
mot look for n saint in herisuitor.
1 Mabel was HOW twenty years lofage,
strong and vigorous, healthflll and
buoyant,and her beauty had seemed
to increase and strsngthenSwithh
years. q
Walter Percy, when he thought
Of younger people, called himself
old /; but he was only IA man
grand and noble in allithat wentIto
the making up of true, loyallman-
hood. The women, both young and
middle-aged, of his acquaintance,
were many, who would have been
only too happy in the offer Of his
hand, Land his great heart to goiwith
it.
Twas on a brightjpleasanteyen
ing In June that Edgar Atherton,at-
ter his rsturntfron tho Pacific coast,
called on Mabel. She received him
in tho smaller sitting.room, and
there Percey left then, talking bus.
lily, when hewsnt up oihis bsd.
0nstlie following morning Mabel
was very sober, ,zand cher guardian
was sure he could detect traces OF
tears in her eyes, and upon her
cheeks. During the d,y9hei eimads E
his arrangements for goingjtoj New
York, where it was possible he
might remain. Tho house swhsrs
he had found a home for so many
years belonged to hisaward, and he
had made arrangements with tho
old family lawyer for turning all
her property over to her own care. =
The term Of his guardianship was
at an end, and he was cure his dear
ward had found a new protector.
The business was all done, and
on ths morrow he would have the
lawyer come to the house and COM
plete it, when he would transfer
his wards fortune, and surrender
his charge. MEt = giii3'
Evening had come, and We find
the guardian and his ward where
we found them at the opening of
our story. Mabel had broken down
in singing Annie Laurie; had turn
ID and found her guardian in tears;
had flown to his side and wound an
arm about his neck, and had cried !:
20 Dear gusrdy What Sis it?
Tell me. Tell me. I have a right
10 know |" i's.,- 'i.,- /.
He dared not look into her face,
10 he drew her head down upon !.
his bosom, and answered her. I
Mabel Darling I'll cannot
Iell you now. Perhaps at some Y
'ims-I will tell you-but not
now.n ',s'5s g53
She clung to him moro closely,
md cried more bsssechingly and
mora earnestly: gss ilil!l
"Tell me nowl I will not
cave you till I know r. '2s
Then Walter Percy lifted his
head and locked into her face.
"3label! Don't you know? Oh,
you will break my heart! You
know not what you ask !nStst
"Tall mel Tell me / Oh, Walter,
7 you loue n,e,-tell me n ..f +
"BEldveAyou OH you have
'aid it Mabel, you have saidiitl"
"Oh, Walter, my ownl+ Do you
owe me SO well that you will never
'snd me away from you?s
The strong man started, and q
,reat light filed his eyes and ever
'pread his face.
"NIabel What have you told
Edgar Artherton?"7
@That I never could lsve another
While my guardian livcdsa.s
"NEabel! You love. meme, an
I'D" ~! 53is Es9: III s
"stop stop!-old2 OF dear,