The Worthington advance., 1880-09-30

AO1"s NxI6s xuO1uVu CJUGluU0Os
"Would you had never seen Frank
Mernield! He fersook you in poverty;
ana even when the far greater sorrow OF
your poor fathers death came upon us,
he gave us not one sympathizing
word. Oh, Ethel, think no more OF
him, but rather try to reward the true
and devoted lover who has proved so true
friend to us. DR.. Jones has been like
son to me through all your sickness. In
time to come you will get over this in
fatuation for one so unworthy, and re.
ward devoted love as it deserves.
Ethel looked up wea1ily.
II don't love Dr.. Jones, mamma, al
though esteem him, and am grateful,
oh, very grateful, for his goodness to US
both. But shall never love any man
but Frank. Some day i will tell the
doctor so, and then, if he chooses to &C.
cept esteem and gratitude, I will for your
sake, mamma"
She stopped, and quite broke down in
storm of sobs and tears. Her mother
soothed her and presently she became
calmer.
"Don't let us talk of 1t any more. ''she
said, signing. "Let us find Franks ad-
dress, and send HIM his pocketbook."
So they opened it and examined ito
contents. Notes, bills, memoranda, re-
ceipts, a considerable sum of money, but
no address.
At last, in an inner pocket, they found
a letter, and in it a photograph. Ethel
took 1t QUIT was her own picture.
"Mamma, mamma, look herev' and
the poor girls trembling fingers clutched
at a scrap of newspaper that was Autter-
ing to the floor.
20, what is this2"
Bending their heads together they
read the following notice:
"Married On June 4th at Grace
Church, Henry Rollins, Esq, to Miss Eth
el Thornton. Immediately after the cer-
emory the happy couple started on
Mrs. Thornton looked up in bewilder-
ment.
"Why, what is that doing here2" said
she. ut is the announcement Of your
cousin Ethel's marriage"
Eyes, yes; and Frank thought it was
mlnel l see It all now. He has believed
me false to him. Oh, my poor Frank, he
has been suffering too! The photograph
see what is that written underneath it
in his own handwriting. Oh, look!''
"Again they read together. This time
shakespeare's lines, though slightly al
tered:
"Wert thou but constant thou vert perfect
that one error
Fills thee with faults"
"Oh, my poor Frank I" cried the hap
py, weeping girl. "Oh, why were cousin
Ethel and I named the same! And Frank
never met her. Don't you see, mamma,
how the mistakes have occurred9 And
it might have remained unexplained for
ever but for that shower of rain! Look
at the letter, mamma. I must find his
address now."
The letter was examined, and happily
for all, contained Franks address. The
next morning he received the following
note by mail.
"S1R- MY daughter, whom you kind
ly assisted during shower of rain three
weeks ago, desires to restore your pock-
et-b0ok, which she found. Sickness has
prevented our attending to this earlier.
Please call at your earliest convenience
and inquire for Mrs. Thornton"
An address was given. Mr.. Merrife(d
stared at the name.
IAN odd coincidence" thought he.
''There are plenty of Thorntons in the
world of course, F." and he set off to reclaim
his property.
A lady in deep mourning received him.
He started violently.
MRS. Thornton!" he cried, "can it
be really YOUR and stopped, confused and
angry.
She was perfectly self possessed.
~ thought you would have recognized
the name," she said quietly, though our
circumstances have made change OF re-
residence necessary. It was Ethel whom
you carried across the street. She has
been ill since then, o."
He interrupted her in surprise:
Ethel ill! Ethel whom I carried9''
Then getting more and more bewildered,
II thought that Mrs. Rollins was abroad.
I understood eo."
Mrs. Rollinsa Oh certainly Mrs. Rol-
Inns is my niece. l was not aware you
were acquainted with her. It was of my
daughter Ethel was speaking.'
Frank started to his feet excitedly.
"Your daughter Ethel? Whatdoes this
mean! I heard she was married. Oh
madam, have pity on me--have I been
deceived9 You know of our love and
our engagement. Are there two Ethels,
and can mine be still true?'
A cry answered him. cry from the
next room. Mrs. Thornton flung open
the door.
"Go to her," she whispered.
The next instant Ethel was clasped
in her lovers arms.
Who shall describe this meeting? Sui
fec 1t that they we're as happy as they
had lately been miserable. All misun-
derstandings were cleared away, and con-
fidence returned.
"As soon as you are strong and we'll
again we will be marrled, my darling"
said Frank. "Thapk God for the storm =:
cried Ethel, earnestly. "And God bless
the dear muddy crossing!' "0h, Frank,
it seems to me that, under Heavens mer-
cy, we owe all our happiness to tnat
shower.