The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-01-15

"He is going away to-day" she cried,
a great pain in her voice.
And you will see him before he
goesP"
"Oh. no, no, Charlie. Oh, don't look
so cruel. ! can't see him now, you
know can't!"
Since you've heard that he's got q
wife elsewhere, ehP"
"Charlie! l don't care; it isn't that"
she answered, chokingly. How could
she add" 1t is because 1 have found
| him base, untrue, when he seemed to me
like an angel of light"
Her red lips quivered; the tears stood
large and shining on her lashes, her
eyes were downcast, her hands folded
with the rigid clasp of despair.
81 shall never see him again." she
whispered, hoarsely; but if you say all
is over between us, why it must be So"
Il don't say it need be, mind" he
said, looking pitifully down at her. II
can overlook a good deal, l love you so
knows low much l have loved you.
But l won't have the face of that man
between us. God! no! mol" and his
great shoulders lifted with the scarcely
drawn breath, while a dark red hate
smoldered in his usually soft eyes.
cit shall be Just as you say" she
murmured, meekly, without looking up.
1T shall be just as you say" he re-
piled. quickly. "Do you think you
could learn to love me again, littlep"
he asked, the anger all gone. She was
SO beautiful.
Try me, Charlie. You are so strong
and good, and noble; always felt that
and enc can't long like where one
can't respect, can oneP" Her hands were
on his arm now, and the lovely plead
ing eyes uplifted to his.
You won't see him againP"
Il won't--I swear | won't! What
should | want to see him for now?" she
sobbed.
Then, we will wait. This troupe
goes tomorrow. Don't cry, darling; l
dare say it will all come out right !" and
alter few low-spoken words, the young
man left her, but by no means with
peace seated on his bosom's throne.
Mamma. if anybody comes, say IN
out" called Margaret, from the top
stairs.
"Well, I guess nobody'll be here to-
day, unless it's that actor fellow" was
the response. Don't walk in the sun, "
she added. for mother and father were
proud of their darling's beauty, and they
secretly wished for her a better match
than even their neighbours son.
Deep in the woods she struck, deter
mined never to see that too fair fatal
face again.
" He'll be gone Tomorrow" she half
sobbed, holding her hands hard against
her heart, land | shall never see him
again. God be thankes for, oh, l dare
not trust myself
The path. slippery, with pine-leaves,
led 10 Il favorite resting -place-a cleared
spot through which ran a crystal-cleaI
river. The place combined several dis
tinctively beautiful features. Here she
sat down. unmindful of the singing
stream, he soft shadows, the sweet
murmuring of the wind in the tops OF
the trees.
A footstep near startled her.
In the river, as in Il mirror, she saw q
vision that had become all too dear to
her-a graceful figure clad in black vel
vet, the small hat, with its waving
plunes, reelected, with the outstretched
hand that held it, in the blue depths.
She sprang to her feet, Il burning flush
spreading over brow and neck, and
would have fed but that he was beside
her at bound.
MY beauty! my darling! my own y
"Sir, those words are an insult to
mel" she cried with spirit, striving in
vain to free herself from his caressing
arm.
IAN insult! I would die before
would offer you an insult, my beautiful
Come with me; l want to show you g
loyelier spot than this-come!"
g will not, she said, firmly, wrestling
herself from him, not daring to look ur
| ix,l l,s, II f,ll l.N.,
mellow dared you?"
Love will dare anything" he said,
gayly, fastening his powerful eyes OF
her face, and drawing her glance up tc
his. Come, / will WOO you like
Claude Melnotte." And again he put ar
arm about her; but, like flash of Ii ght
ming, the two were torn asunder, anj
the man was thrown headlong with on'
blow from the powerful arm of Charli'
Vance.
"Go" he said, sternly, pointing to tn,
frightened girl. as can save you from
his insolence, but l cannot promise tC
save you from yourself. Go, and thinl
on your broken promises"
Later in the day Charlie came up t.
Margaret's house and asked for her.
Whatever is the matter with tht
child ?" queried the mother. | never
SIW hGT III SUCH low SplTlUS.
The young man made no answer, bu
went into the cool, shaded parlor
Presently Margaret came down, whit,
= as lilly. There was an unspoke,
question in her wide, fearless eyes.
mo, l didn't kill him, Maggil
though he deserved it. / don't wan
tie crime of murder on my soul, evel
for you, my poor girl. But | sent hin
away as subdued and cooled-down ;
man as ever you see. Such men ar
always towards. And now, Maggie
you're free. ] never should want t.
think of the look you gave him while
held you in my arms, ard | should hav,
to think of it. I've come to say good
bye, for I'm off for the w est, and if eve
I-hellom
There was low. broken sob, and OF
his chest Margaret lay dead weight
The girl had tainted away.
Well, n long sickness followed. Charli
could not leave her lying there betweel
life and death, and the first visit afta
she could set up settled the matter
Margaret had conquered her vanity
: which, after all, was more touche,
than her affections, and found that ther
: was only one image in the heart tina
had been, as she thought, so torn wit
conflicting struggles--and that was tn
frank, honest, blue eyed Charlie Vance
who had loved her ever since she was
!, baby.
And of course they were married.