The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-06-08

Our ceurtship progressed very happily,
and, before l realized it, the long warm
summer had passed away. But how
rudely are we sometimes awakened from
pleasant dream! One day received a
letter from her, which read:
"MR. ALToN-Forgive me for ever
leading you to believe that / cared for
you. / can never love you, as my heart
is already possessed by another. I write
to ask you if you will generously release
me from cur engagement.
"EvANGELINE."
Dazed and astonished, l read this cruel
letter several times. She did not love
me; she had toyed with my affections,
and then thrown them aside! As in a
dream, l wrote an answer, stating that /
released her, and two hours later saw me
on my way to New York. There l tried
hard to forget her; but in vain. Her
image was constantly before me, and I
loved her still, though she was mine no
longer.
Five years passed away.
One night was seated in my study,
musing over the past events of my life,
when the door bell rang, and presently
the servant opened the door, and a man
entered the room.
"Sir," he exclaimed, hurriedly, "I am
sent here by friend of mine, who is fast
dying, to tell you that he wishes to see
you. 1t is very important, and concerns
your future happiness. Follow me
quickly if you would hear what he has
to say. for he has but few hours to
live; he may be dead now, for aught 1
know"
l hesitated, for the night was bitter,
and my study looked so warm and COM
Portable; with its bright fire, that the
prospect for Drawing the storm without
was anything but pleasing. Then l
wrapped myself up warm, and without a
word followed my guide.
On we went past brilliantly-lighted
houses until we turned down a dark,
narrow street, on each side Of which
were houses inhabited by the poorer
classes. The snow was falling fast, and
gusts of cold wind blew innumerable
fakes in our faces Soon we came to a
dingy brick building, where we entered.
/ was led softly to an apartment in
which man lay dying.
IL have sent for you," he said family
to me, as seated myself near him, ITO
make confession that will ease my con-
science, and'let me die in peace. l have
wronged you, and I wish to repair the
wrong as well as I can before my DEATH"
He paused, exhausted by the effort, and
murmured to himself: "God knows how
much I've suffered since that night at
ArdmoreW After his medicine was
given him, he continued: "Your remem-
Der Ardmore from the fact that there
you met and loved Evangeline Orton. It
may startle you when say that 1 loved
her too, aye, madly, blindlyl
"My love was not reciprocated. She
was cold and Indifferent to me, and after
you came l ceased paying attention to
her; for / could see that she loved you.
One right l heard her accept your love,
and the jealousy in my heart called out
to me to kill you. But another, and
better plan came. was always clever
at initiating handwriting, and l had her
note in which she refused my love to
practice on. 1t was I who wrote the note
you thought came from her." e
He paused agoin, and looked at me;
but I said nothing. I was only thinking
of the wrong had done my pure girl. =
81 am dying he said; "the doctor
says that | can not live. Will you for
give me?" -a. ....... ....
1t was hard; he had separated my love
from me for FIVE long, drearv years. l
looked into his pale, wan face, which
bore signs Of sincere repentance. and
answered: .,. .....
~ forgive you." ..,,
From that room Of death I went to
my home, where Ispent the remainder of
the night in painful thought. Early on
the following morning | started for Ard
more, and was ushered into the little
parlor at Fern Cottage. l was met by a
lady whom never saw before, and of her
/ asked: .. a. u,
els Mrs. Orton at homer ,.
"They do not live here now"
"And Miss Evangeline-" faltered.
"Poor girl!' she replied, "they say she
died of broken heart" ..
Iwaited to hear no more, and left the
house with such pain at my heart as
shall never be removed this side the
grave. ... ..,u-... .,..
Often I visit little green and quiet
grave, and bow silently before the mar
BILE stone, which simply bears the name
"Evangeline." And I pray that may
meet her some day in that land where
there are no partings, where love and
happiness dwell supreme.