, 1880-04-08
face again from my amiable friend, I
retired from her presence.

For threA weeks following this dis
tressing interview, was the most
wretched man in the county. The al
ternate feelings of wrath and forgive
ness, of love and chagrin, to say nothing
Of the rude awaking which / had expe.
rienced from my bIissful dreams, so
wore upon me that could neither cat
nor sleep, and became reduced to a mere
shadow Of my former self What the
end might have been to me dread to
think, had not q few lines from her own
pen reached me, expressing regret for
what had been said-avowing a love
which could not endure endless separa
ton, and intimating that sisters i'm
portunity was the cause of the whole
unpleasantness.
"That letter calmed the troubled wa
ters Of my soul considerably. My ap.
petite improved; began to assume
again the appearance of a human being.
But L was in no hurry to reply. My
love had received such withering that
1 was in no condition to bloom again
right away and my views as to the ma
ture and motives of women had under
gone somewhat of change. Angel
lea and 'Sinceritas were the names
which had been replaced in my mind by
others less fattering, but perhaps more
appropriate.
1ndecision, common to young peo-
pie suffering from heart-ache, led me to
delay SO long any recognition of her
communication, that the lady evidently
thought l needed another stirring up,
and one too of O different character. |
received through her lawyer notice Of
suit brought against me for breach of
promise, and pecuniary damage for in
jured feelings, etc.
"Strange to what expedients women
will resort to further their ends
81 should willingly have paid the
damages, although had but little faith
in the existence of injuries but public
scandal was u thing dreaded to face,
and legal contes5 with woman-a
woman whom / once had dearly loved,
and for wnom perhaps / still felt weak
ness-was highly distasteful to me. But
| had character to sustain, so conclud-
ed to appear as defendant in the case.
"The trial, like the lady herself, was
a mixture of bitter and sweet. The
hand Of the widow, as prime mover in
the proceedings, was plainly revealed
The sympathies of the jury we're largely
with the plaintiff (beauty and tears have
their inhuence), but the evidence was
entirely against her, and she lost the
suit.
Subsequent to the trial | offered
through my attorney to pay such part
of the damages claimed as I was then
able-promising TO liquidare tho whole
in time. / did not like the attitude in
which 1 was unwlllingly placed that of
an enemy to the cherished ones Of my
departed friend, and made this offer to
change, as well as to show to the ladies
that their welfare was matter in which
l had not ceased to take an interest.
And I mad, too, an indefinable heart
longing for the happy days of the past
a yearning for her who once had re-
ceived my caresses, and sincere wish
to retain her esteem.
"My offer was refused with disdain
1.-THE freak of a woman, or perhaps the
disregard for once of the prayers of a
sister), and a verbal message sent to me
to the effect that it was her earnest hope
that should know nothing but misery
for the remainder Of my life.
"After the lapse of several years |
was summoned to the death bed of my
not forgotten friend. found her con-
scious, but hardly able to articulate.
She implored forgiveness, and managed
to inform me that her love had always
been mine-her heart had been right,
though her judgment wrong - and
wished me to promise to meet her in
heaven. / made her the promise, God
permitting.
"The sudden revealing Of the better
side of her nature so overwhelmed me
with love and grief for her the only
woman who had ever entered my heart
her hapless condition so excited my
pity, that l would have made any sacri-
fice to prolong her life. She died in my
arms. When l 60 hence shall look for
her. 1 hope she may be found in that
place from whence l, when l first met
her, felt assured she cane"
Every much obliged to you, Uncle
George" said Mark, as he rose to 60.
"I feel the necessity Of expedition ;
there is no telling how the complexion