The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-02-28
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a lie. Did you steal the troth ring from my
neck and give it back to Evan as III from mel
You I've loved and houored my life long
I'd rather die than think it,"
She turned scarlet.
"True love |" said she. "You've but one
true love now-'Sqmre Turner"
"You've done it7" cried. ats written
on your face"
And she looked down at that and fell in
weeping.
"Nfy own true love was breaking his
heart, she said. Ny husband and l have
loved for fifty years. l did it to saye him,
could let girls fancyj worth nothing,
stand in my way, and see him a beggar in
his old age? Oh, grill girl"
And then fell down at her feet like a
stone. knew nothing for an hour or more
but then, when was better, and they left
me with Jenny, babe her fetch my hood
and cloak and her own and come with me,
aud away went across the moor in the
starlight to where the hall windows were
ablaze with light, and asked the housekeep.
er to let me see the Squire.
SHE stared at me for my boldness-no
wondef-but called him. So in a moment
he stood before me in his evening dress,
with his cheeks flushed and his eyes bright
and led me into little room and seated
me.
agatha, my love, hope no mischief
brings you here" he began.
But I stopped him.
"Not your love, Squire Turner" said,
al thank you for thinking SO we'll of me I;
but oven:after all that: has passed, l."
"Have offended you, Agatha" he said
"Not you. The ofience-the guilt-Oh, |
have been sorely cheated I" And all I could
do was to sob and think he thought me
mad.
At last strehgth came to me. went back
to the first and told him all-how we had
been plighted to each other, waiting only
for better prospects to be wed, and how,
when he had honored me by the offer of his
hand, l anpered my grandparents by own
ing the truth, and the ring granny had
stolen from my breasty and the false mes
sage that had been sent my promised hus-
band from me.
"And though would never see Evan
Locke again." said I, "still can never be
another mans true love, for am his until
die"
Them as looked, all the rich color faded
out of the 'squire's face, and saw sight
we seldom sea strong man in tears.
At last he arose and CAN'T to me.
"My little Agatha never loved me-" he
said. "Ah me! the news is bad. thought
she did. This comes of vanity"
"Many faircr and higher have hearts to
give" said. "Mine was gone ere you saw
me-"
And then, kind and gentle as though
had not grieved him, he gave me his arm
and saw me across the moor, and at the
gate paused and whisperedi
"Be at rest, Agatha the Canadian ship
Golden George has not sailed yet"
l liked him better than had ever done
before that night when l told granny l
would never wed him.
Eh but he was fit to be king-the
grandestj kindest, best of living men, who
rode away with the break of the morrow,
and never stopped till he reached Liverpool
and found Evan Locke just ready to set foot
upon the Golden George, and told him a tale
that made his heart light and sent him back
to me- But our young Squirrel Heaven
bless him!
And who was it that sent old grandfather
the deed Of gift that made the cottage his
own, and who spoke kind word to the
gentry for young DR.. Locke and helped him
into practice? Still no one but Squire
| Turner, whom we taught our children to
pray for every night For we were mar
ried, and in few years had boys and girls
at our knee; and when the eldest was nigh
two, the thing l needed to make me quite
happy happened, and from far away over
the sea, where he had been twelve months,
came our Squire with the bonniest lady
that ever blhshed beside him, and the Hall
had a mistress at last-a mistress that loved
the Squire as loved Evan.
Eh! but it's an old story. She that re-
mefubered girl saw in her coffin, wither-
ed and old. And then they opened the vault
where the Squire had slept ten years to put
her beside himj and I've nothing left of
Evan, my life and my love, bit his memo
ry, and it seems as if every hope and dream
of joy l ever had was put away under the
tombstoues And evet the Golden George,
the great,strong ship that would have borne
my dear from me, has mouldered away at
the bottom of the sea somewhere. And
think my wedding ring is like to outlast us
all, for l have it yet, and shall be ninety
tomorrow.