Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-07-16

tone.
"That l am not going to be married,
Mark-that is, not yet awhile. Wilfred
is angry with me; but l must not tell
you-I do not know why so forgot my
self. 1t is only that 1 am to stay with
Aunt Ruth for the present-that is all,
Mark
She truly said she did not know why;
she felt very traitress, thus openly to
blame Wilfred Hare. She did not real
ize, poor Saidee how pleasant Mark
Wales devotion had suddenly become to
her-how plain she was making this.
But he could not see. He walked on
beside her silently, little dreaming he
was aught to her to day beyond what he
had been before. Never had life seemed
so dreary to Mark Vale-not even that
black morning when he learned she was
to marry Wilfred Hare. Then his I'M
selfish soul found solace in the thought
that she was happy; now he stood in
presence of her misery-he, who, had he
the power, would not have permitted
the winds to blow roughly on her-and
could not save her its least pang.
He understood Wilfred Hare better
than she; it would have been easier,
perhaps, to resign her to another man.
1t was not strange, that in this hour,
realizing his own loyalty and tenderness,
he should rail at justice and the veriest
of myths.
The days passed slowly, drearily, to
Saidee; with each, her love for Wilfred
Hare growing deeper, her grief sharper
more unendurable.
"Come what will, no power on earth
shallseparate me from you"
Morn, noon and night these words
came back to her, and with them hope
to feed upon. Surely all would be right
she thought. He could not give her up !;
he was only angry with her; he would
come to understand and forgive her, and
then all would be well again.
These were uneventful days, till, one
morning, the news was brought to Saidee
that Aunt Ruth could not live; that,
contrary to expectation, the peculiar
troubles than had resulted from her in
.juries were developing fatally. Her
gentle heart smote her, for often, often,
this latter time, she had regretted her
promise; in her anguish, wished she had
broken it. Awhile, remorse banished all
else from her thoughts; but love is a
mighty king, and poor Aunt Ruth had
not been long under the sod ere it re-
gained the mastery.
He would surely write, now that Aunt
Ruth was dead; he would surely under
stand.
So she was musing one twilight, when
there came knock at the door, and a
letter was handed into her. At the sight
of the familiar writing she could not re-
press a rapturous cry, despite the pres
ence of the new servant, who knew moth
ing of Wilfred Hare; her trembling fin
gers could scarcely break the seal. And
when she did
Only wedding card, the little note
she had written him, and the line:-
cit is but right should resto to you
your pledge"
Wilfred Hare had proven himself.
She read it, she broke into fit Of
hysterical laughter, and then, not know.
ing what she did, she dropped it, and
went down and out over the lawn, fal
into the maple grove. Looking ahead
dreamily, she saw Mark Vale coming
toward her. He had heard of this; he
was coming vaguely, with only the
thought that he must comfort her.
She waited for him, she stretched out
the hand which still held the card, will
dreamy smile.
MARK" she said "did you know
Wilfred was married? Did you know
She could say no more, the full realit,
had broke.
He had endured much, he could no
endure the look ON her face. With
sudden, uncomfortable impulse, he threw
his arms around her and drew her to hi
breast.
"Oh, Saidee forgive me, forgive me
but cannot see you sol"
So cried Mark Vale quite terrified a
his act, striving vainly to loose his arms
To his surprise she did not resist him
He even fancied she clung to him.
"Do not send me away" a voic
floated up to him. 6 have only &C
you to love me, and 1 know you love m
very much"
Was this delusion, or was she mock
, ing him i'll her despair?
q "Saidee," he murmured, bewildered
ly, "do you mean that-that you coul
marry me?"
! He was all she had. Hers was Ms
: ture to crave prop; it seemed to he
! that moment, that never love was S
q sweet to woman as Mark Vale's was t
q her.
81 loved Wilfred," she answered
brokenly. But l have lost love, an
I must have love or my heart will breal
Dear Mark, if you can love me so, wi
i, be a good wife to you"
= "Saidee!"
With the one word wherein lay h
> soul, he drew her gently, almost reve
! entially, closer to his madly-beatir
heart.
And so he married her, and he is CO.
l. tent. For she never repulsed him, h
: love seems ALWAYS sweet tn har or