The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-11-20

Dear child" he answered. .sperhaps
II may be SO, but be faithful and [ Will
one day come
he was not even to write TO him: but
hers was that perfect love which castetL
out tear, and she was content; but she
did not then realize the sorrow OF lonel-
ness nor the despalring heart sickness
for the sound OF his voice, until it was
gone and she alone again. and now
doubly alone, for the neighbors seemed
to hold aloof from her, and regard her
coldly, and 50 she withdrew mcye and
more into herself and lived only in the
past. 1t was peopled with sweet re-
membranes.
Years passed, and yet the child wait
ed; years more, and patient woman
took the place of the child. and sad
look Of expectancy made the face wistful.
even to pain, and be came not, nor any
word Of linn. But she had given her
promise, and kept 1t; he had gwen his,
and she believed that he kept his word
n well, and she hopeda always that morn
ing would bring him, and in the morn
ing she took her post where she could
look down the road from where he would
come.
The three old ladies were dead. and
the girls that had been her schoolmates
had little children around their knees
and stalwart husbands by their sides.
and Miss Cherry had begun to be called
an old maud, but still he came not, and
she was not tired waiting for him Who
never came.
But, if there was sickness or sorrow
III the village, 1t was the old maids -
province To be the soother OF pains, men
tai and bodily, and the sweet patience
and loving sympathy made her the vel
come guest everywhere.
One day Miss Cherry had pressing
invitation from friend who had married
wealthy man III New York, to go there
on a visit. Had 1t been any other city
III the Union She would have refused.
bat that was where Stanley lived, and
with faint, underlined hope that she
might at least see him, she accepted the
invitation and was soon on her way.
Years had ripened her into a sweeter
loneliness than she had even in youth,
and her love of books and Eer quiet, re-
Elective life, had cultured her already
fine mind, until she was III every sense
the peer OF any belle that famous city
could boast, though she was modestly
unaware OF that fact.
Her friend, Mrs Harris, had issued
invitations tOr a dinner and social dance
atterWard to some intimate friends, and
among the guests was the senior mem
Der OF their mercantile house with his
wife and their two grown daughters
Mrs. Harris and her visitor went TO
church III the morning and listened 10
the Thanksgiving sermon, but somehow
Miss Cherry would keep thinking of
Stanley and hope 10 see HIM, so that she
could scarcely take the sense OF it all.
linen they returned and passed the day
III pleasant conversation till time 10 pre-
pare for dinner, which was to be large
one with many guests.
In the parlors the guests began to as
semble, and Miss Cherry was presented
to Nr. and Mrs. Verdenal and their
daughters. She did not faint, nor
scream, though she went very pale, fer
while, and they all went down to dim
her. This was Stanley, and this their
meeting. Then she began to think and
look at the daughters. Yes, it must be
SO. He was married and had children.
even when he had come to her little
home and won her trusting heart. All
the good and true in her rose upper
most, and she grew to despise a man so
base as that, but IN spite of the deadly
sinking OF her heart, she seemed placid
aud calm, and she looked at HIM and saw
that his face was coarse and bio ated, as
if from wine and the indulgence Of his
lowest nature, and she noticed that he
drank glass after glass of vine, till his
utterance grew thick, and at last he
was guilty OF rude and almost brutal
remark to his poor wife, who evidently
sought TO restrain him.
Miss Cherry shuddcred and folded her
hands under the tablrcIoth and closed
her eyes a moment as she murmuIed,
for TINS and other blessings, OH father.
| am duly thankful