The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-22
He understood Wilfred Hare better

He understood Wilfred Hare better
than she; it would have been easier,
perhaps, to resign her to any other man.
1t was not strange, that in this hour,
realizing his own loyalty and tender
ness, he should rail at justice and the
veriest of myths.
The days passed slowly, drearily. to
Saidee; with each, her love for Wilfred
Hare growing deeper, her grief sharper
more uncomfortable.
"Come what will, no power ON earth
shall separate me from youp'
Morn, noon and night these words
came back to her. and with them hope
to feed upon. Surely all would be right,
she thought. He cou d not give her up;
he was only angry with her; he would
come to understand and forgive her, and
then all would be well again.
These were uneventful days, till, one
morning, the news was brought to Saidee
that Aunt Ruth could not live; that,
contrary to expectation, the peculiar
troubles that had result ed from her in
juries were developing fatally. Her
gentle heart smote her, for often, often,
this later time, she had regretted her
promise; in her anguish, wished she
had broken it. A while remorse ban
ished all else from her thoughts; but
love is mighty king, and poor Aunt
Ruth had not been long under the sod
ere it regained the mastery.
He would surely write, now that Aunt
Ruth was dead; he would surely under
stand.
So she was musing one twilight, when
there came a knock at the door, and a
letter was handed into her. At the sight
of the familiar writing she could notr
press rapturous cry, despite the pres
ence of the new servant, who knew
nothing of Wilfred Hare; her trembling
A6ngers could scarcely break the seal.
And when she s;f did ,...,
Only wedding sssagd. the little little! note
she had written him, and CHssl .lme, -
1T is but right I should Tssse 10
you your pledge"
Wilfred Hare had proven himself.
She read il, she broke into a fit OF
hysterical laughter, and then, not
knowing what she did, she dropped it,
and went down and out over the lawn
far into the maple grove. Looking
ahead dreamily, she saw Mark Vale
coming toward her. He had heard ol
this; he was coming vaguely, with only
She waited for him; she stretched Out
with a dreary smile.
Mark" she said, "did you know
Wilfred was marriedP Did you
She could say no more, the full reality
had broke.
He had endured much, he could no
endure the look now on her fac :. Will
sudden, uncomfortable impulse, h,
threw his arms around her and drew
her to his breast.
"Oh, Saidee! forgive me, forgive me
but cannot see you soP'
So cried Mark Vane quite terrified a
his act, striving vainly to loose his arms
To his surprise she did not resist him
He even fancied she clung to him.
Do not send me awayw voic'
you to love me, and l know you Low,
me very much"
Was this delusion, or was she mock
ing him in her despair
"Saidee," he murmured, bewild er
edly, "do you mean that-that yol
could marry mep"
He was all she had. Hers was ma
ture to crave a prop; it seemed to he
that moment, that never a love was 81
sweet to woman as Mark Vane's was t,
her.
81 loved Wilfred," she answered
brokenly. '' But l have lost love, ant
| must have love or my heart will break
Dear Mark, if you can marry me so,
will be good wife to you"
"Saidee!"
With the one word wherein lay hi
soul, he drew her gently, almost rever
entially, closer to his madly- beatin
heart.
And so he married her, and he i
content. For she never repulses him
his love seems always sweet to her, an,
sometimf s, of her own will, she come
and, twining her arms about his mech
kisses him ten derly.