Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-04-15
LOVED AND LOST.

furIllSHcu 0pdiIiileIltt gazing Gu
gerly into the face Of bcapti-
ful young girl, whose eyes were
pensively fixed on some object
before her.
For some minutes there was
a silence only the faintticking
of a French clock on the e-mantle
disturbed the perfect stiffness
which Arthur Stanley did not
care to break, and which Belle
Parker could not, for she was
painfully agitated. .ssae4 r
-''"Mr. Stanley,"s she said at last,
turning to him with a flushed
face 81, respect yoH, as q friend,
and have always enjoyed your
society ;lif Ishaye byidWerd or
manner assured you CT regard
other than friendly, attribute 1t
to my girlish folly as to recip-
rocating your affections, / fear ]
cannot" j,
: For a moment he did not
sneak. only pressed more pas
sionately the soft,, white hand
he held in his " -,
"But you viii tel me, Belle,
what has so suddenly altered
your affection for me? OF have
I been cherishing a false hope ?
When / received your reply to
my letter last week, requesting
your hand in marriage, / could
not believe that my devoted at
tention for the past three years
had been in vain. Were those
assurances that you gave me
but a few evening ago but the
impulse of a momentary pas
sion ~ a,1g s.se 4f.,@T
DO not, Mr.. Stanley" she said,
.'impose upon me the necessity
of reviving the past let j. be
forgotten"
mo, Belle, the past Is goo
dear to me to be forgotten. ~"
Arthur arose impatiently and
turned from her. Belle watch
ed him silently as he paced up
and down the room as if in deep
meditation.
"Bellc, have you no pity for
me 2" Arthur said more gently,
coming to her side again. "We
have had misunderstanding e.
nough; do not MAJ. my future
any longer. Oh, Belle, think
how ] have loved you all these
months and years ! ~ Think how
[ must suffer in the future, if
you Danish me from you ! You
are not wise 10 play with me
thus he Iadded. lyon make
me reckless-you make ME-
"Hush p she said suddenly.
"Itis not Arthur who speaks
1T is truly," he interrupted.
You are crueIto give me your
love and then take it from me.
Do You know that | love you as
my life, Belle? What is there
before me-? Only a life spent
in a mad, vain eAdeavor to for
get the past, 70 1sh shut { out t'9 my own 1iS1
heart" ls aei. s1a IS s1sr
Arthur ceased pleading, for
he saw that heRcouAd make no
impression OH her cold heart,
and walking, TO the hat rack in
The ball, prepared for departure.
Belle followed him to,the door.
and in the glow Off the, bright
moons rays saw linn sadlyiade-
part. gql : ,.,,.s. ,,,s.
Belle watched ,him,as he slow
lIy and with bowed head retEac-
led his footsteps homeward along
the lonely Village road, unit
distance hid him from view. pa {
"Will he nexerlreturn, am
not cruel in sending him awayy
she soliloquized, as she stood
looking in the direction he had
*s r'f.a !, Z Is
Years passed by, and numer'
Gus changes befell the quiet VII.
Ilaye of Irvington on the banks
of the Hudson river. Arthur
by the death Of his ifdther, ex.
Judge Stanley, had fallen hcii
TO considerable property, situa-
ted in Hastings, a neighbofine
village, and had taken up his n
bode there, amlIwas now engag.
ed in the extensive practice of
the law which his father leG'
him. i<tiIq H1IIu
Twas one day while quietly
seated in his Office, preparing
lengthy argument Involving. {
question oi ownership to an cx.
lcnsive estate, hat bis otfice-boJ
ANNOUNCED a gentleman and hf
daughter, Parker ,bymame. :
"Showi Rafffiy Teddy which
was the familiar title of the of
fficc-boy; apdin walked a gray.
haired old gentleman. 1t wa
apparent by his troubled express
ion and dewneasts leok tha
something was destroying ii'
happiness, y,gs,
Arthur arose to-, greet him
l>,lo l,;,o l,o caofa1