The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-01-08
A GIRLS TRIAL.

u W. Riley. in he indianapolis Journal.
A GIRLS TRIAL.
"My darling, this makes me realize
that in only two weeks time you will be
married, and 1 shall be without my
grand daughter. q.
Yes, but you will have gained a
noble grandson" softly whispered Flea
nor's sweet voice.
Mrs. Hamilton bent her gray head
fondly and kissed the speakers soft
cheek.
The old lady and her grandchild
stood before a lounge upon whose GRIM
son cushions lay Eleanor's wedding
dress, which had just arrived, q deli
cate marvel of satin and lace. JIC
OF course it must be tried on, and
with the assistance of Margaret, Flea
nor's Lids deft fingers, the young girl
soon stood before the mirror blushing
at her own loveliness.
Just then q knock came upon the
door. Itwas q servant with letter.
Eleanor glahced atthe superscription
without recognizing the writing.
sc 1t is not from Ralph" she said, in
reply to her grandmother's questioning
look.
After the bridal costume had been
pronounced a perfect fit and entrusted
to Margaret to be replaced in the cedar
chest, Eleanor took up the letter and
broke the seal. ..if ---
She read the first few lines carelessly,
then into the brown eyes q look of un-
speakable horror sprang. r-r--s
"What is it, Eleanor?" exclaimed
Mrs. Hamilton, as she saw her agita-
tion, but without speaking, the young
girl rapidly read on to the end. Then,
with sobbing. long drawn breath, she
threw herself into her grandmother s
arms. q. 3
:" Readr' she cried, /" Is this true
what is written here, or is it the plot of
some enemy to crush out my happi-
ness?"
As Mrs. Hamilton perused the letter
a pallor settled over her features. What
she had always dreaded had come at
last! o, if it might have been only two
weeks later. One glance at Eleanor s
imploring face, and she saw that the
truth could be withheld no longer.
"Grandma, speakl ndI-Ralph's s
promised bride-the child Of o! for
PHYS sake, tell me am dreamingr'
Then Mrs. Hamilton spoke.
.' Eleanor, try and be calm, and I
will tell yeu the truth. You know that
Your mother, my only child, died at the
early age of twenty; but you have not
heard that she. died of q broken heart!
When the man whom she married
against her parents wishes, abused her,
she bore it without complaint, never
letting us dream of her unhappiness;
but when, after being his wife only
three years, she discovered that her
husband was a criminal, living upon
his iI-gotten gains, then she left him,
fleeing with her babe to our protection.
Not long after, your father was arrested
for q bank robbery, and imprisoned.
The shock was too much for your moth
er's frail strength, and after lingering
short time she passed away. After
her death your grandpa saw your father
and obtained from him . promise never
to disclose himself to you. But, alas!
he has broken it. Do not blame us,
Eleanor, for thus keeping you in igno-
rance of what would have always
clouded your life. We thought we did
it for the best" 80 lus. -.
The young girl listened with bent
head and tightly clasped hands. As
her grandmother paused she looked up.
A woeful change had come into the
round, blooming face. .r-
Grandma" she said, and her voice
was low and strained, "does any one
know of this" .L-...-.,.--..
"Only one-your friend. Mr.. Stearns,
your grandfather's lawyer" -
And Ralph-does he not know?"
81 do not think he does" ar.rz--
40! (the young voice was very
piteous) it was a cruel kindness to keep
It from me. Now l shall never be
Ralph Ogden,s wife," ~
"Eleanor," !" sxpostulated hergrand-
mother, winding her arms around the
dropping figure, .' he need never know.
You can go and see your father. BE
says il viii be the last time he win evel
Drawing herself sway. Elsanorlooked
firmly into the fearful face near hel
own. u > ~ N
=" Grandma.J i win not bring q tainted
name to him l love. 1 can never marry
Ralph Ogden" E
That evening Mrs Hamilton sent TO,
Mr.. Stearns. and 1the two old Friends
had . long consultation together. The
kind lawyers eyes moistened as ht
u6dIQ OI LleduOT STltl.
1.-The Sscoundrel!'' he CALCULATED
latter running one life, could he no
have held his peace and refrained from
blighting another But stay,n he said
taking up the letter again and reading
Il have fought against the longing r
see you, my daughter. but 1 can ne
longer restrain myself. 1 promise yor
that If you come to me this once it viii
be the last time you shall ever heal
from your wretched father, This look.
to me as if he must be very sick-per
haps dying" ...r. :,
So Eleanor thinks, and the noble
child persists in saying that she will %
at once to him. She declares it is hel
duty. Poor, poor girl; see now tha
this concealment has been very wrong.
"Do not fret, my friend; You ans
your good husband could not look int.
the future You did as you thought fo
the best. So Eleanor has written abou
it to Mr.. Ogdenp She is a noble Great
ure, and if he is what he ought to be
it will bring him on the wings of tn
| wind" 5.l .ys.- l'-e - --
The next day heavily-veiled, girl
ish figure and an old, gray-haired gen
tleman were led through gloomy cor
rider, and into prison cell,