Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-03-18

WOulu HUI nave ITVSpdSStU upon |
your time" he said, "had RIy business
with you been of any other nature. But |
l crossed the ocean for the express pur-
pose of clearing myself in your eyes, |
and l could not bear to let another day |
pass over my head until had proved to |
you that was not the mean. deSpicable |
villain you must have thought me."
He paused a moment, and she looked |
at him with wondering eyes and bated
breath.
"Seven years rgo," he went on, 81
loved you. tried to win your love in
return, and thought l had succeeded.
l had exposed my love to you in every
way, save in words. l felt that you
were as much mine as though bound by
solemn VOWS. 1 was only waiting our
return to the city to gain the consent of
your parents before speaking.
"a few days before our intended de-
parture for home, Helen Griffith and her
brother came down.
"The afternoon of their arrival was
standing by the window when she came
up to my side.
"You and her brother were walking
down toward the shore.
I'VE could see you from the window.
Helen looked out
"Dear children, they are happy she
said, laughing. John has been impa-
tient for the last few weeks to come
down here.
"'Ethel kept pleading in her letters,
telling him how dull it was without him.
and he was chin-deep in that hOrrid law
business, and could not get away.
81 know she hates this secrecy, and
besides, it is too hard for her to receive
the attentions of other gentlemen; and
yet she must, with apparent pleasure,
too, or the parents will suspect. Poor
girl! it is wearing on her.
"That was all she said, but 1t was
enough.
81 went back to the city in advance of
the remainder of the party, you remem-
ber
"Helen and her brother. who had on
ly come down for day, returned with
me-"
when | reached home 1 found my
father in trouble.
"His business was in terrible con-
dition-he was badly in debt, and Mr..
Griffith, his partner, had half his proper
ty in his hands.
"His presence, or an agents, was re-
quired abroad, and he begged me to act
as his agent.
"Mr. Griffith also made proposition
to my father, that l should marry his
daughter, and thus unite the two prop
critics.
81 was mad and reckless, and cared
not what did.
"You had deceived me, and my life
henceforth seemed of small account.
81 might as well accede to Mr.. Grif
fifth's proposition and accommodate my
father as do anything else.
81 married Helen Griffith, and We
went away.
Il tried to be kind and good to her,
but she was jealous, tyrannical and
shrewish. She made my life burden.
"On her death bed she called for pen,
ink and paper.
She wrote for some hours, and then
sealed up what she had written and sent
for a lawyer.
"In my presence she handed the pack
ct to him, saying:
"'When l have been dead two years
give this to my husband. Do not give
it to him before
"She lived two weeks after that.
81 wondered what the packet contain
ed, and remained in Italy until the two
years had expired.
"Then received the packet and open
ed it. 1t was her confession, telling me
that you had never been betrothed to
her brother, and it was story of her
own making, intended to separate us.
"Her brother loved you, and came
down to propose to you, and she added
the rest. She wrote that her father was
anxious she should secure me as hus-
band, and she had planned this scheme
to win me.
"She delayed this confessions falling
into my hands until she had been dead
two years, lest l should not pay proper
respect to her memory. / have come
across the sea to tell you this, not that
expect or ask any favor at your hands,
but because want to stand cleared of
a meanness in your eyes, and want to
be your friend"
He looked down into her eyes, and she
looked up into his.
Heart read heart.
He put his arm around her, and drew
her head down to his shoulder.
80, Ethel" he whispered, may l be
more than friend? ?"
"God help usr' she answered; Il am
engaged to Sydney Eliot"
Engaged! o, Ethel, do you love
him."
He felt her shudder.
mo, no." she said; Il love none but
you-never have loved any other, never
can"
Then you shall marry no other" he
said kissing the beautiful mouth.
She freed herself from his arms, and
told him the story of her betrothal.
Sydney Eliot is good, noble man"
she said in conclusion. "He has given
me the one love of his lifetime, and
cannot do him wrong now. We must
go our separate ways, and bear our bur-
dens silently"
"God help me-" cried Chester. "My
life has had enough of bitter already.
Why need this be added ?"
1t was useless to plead.
She was firm in what she deemed her
duty.
Then he came TO say goodbye.
"I am going away" he said. ''I sail
the day after tomorrow, and We shall
never meet again in this world"
On his way out of the house he met
Sydney Eliot, but passed him without
a word.
Sydney marveled more in finding
Ethel in tears.
He did not question her, but sought
out Chester Abbott that afternoon.
Tell me-" be said, "what it all means
will know. 1 have right to know,
, Did you love Ethel Weston before you
} vert away?"
/ And then Chester told him all, save
that she loved him now.
, Il came back to find her pledged to
another" he said; Il do not complain, but
, cannot stay here. am going back"
! await here until / return" Sydney