The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-09-08

! him because he was poor.
October was fast approaching. The
orchards were golden with their lus--
cious fruit; the forest trees were all
tinted with autumn brown, while over
all was that dreamy, hazy, delicious air
which seems redolent with general Joy
of the season. You would scarcely have
known Adelaide again, so wondrously
had she changed. The gladness of her
| heart seemed to have come out upon her
! face, making it radiant with beauty and
bloom. No longer did she sit passively
! looking on upon the progressing of bridal
appointments. Her betrothed was large
hearted as he was large Drained. He
insisted upon furnishing the trousseau,
and made q trip to town for that pur-
pose. Be sure there was nothing for
gotten that could please the eye or
| crafty the taste. How long to Ade-
laide seemed the days of his absence.
She would not have believed she could
have missed him so much. Did she
love himP Oh, never; yet she was not
sorry to have him love her. To be sure
he had not spoken upon the subject since
that fatal morning on which she was so
incensed with the persecution of her
mother. She almost wished he would,
that she might take back some of those
cruel words. and tell him how much she
liked him, and how different she had
found him to what people described
him. She was sorry she could not love
him as wife should love husband, but
perhaps the time would come when her.
mind would change. At present she
must be true to William, from' whom
she was parted forever, and whose woe
begone face would haunt her while she
lived. Yet spite of these sentimental
thoughts she was quite angry with her.
self that she could not feel more real
sympathy for her broken-hearted lover.
At length Mr.. Thornby arrived, Ade-
laide meeting him ut the crossroads,
where she knew he would take a short
cut across the farm - One single grain
of encouragement from him and she
would have flung herself into his arms /;
but he merely took her hand, placed it
under his arm, and proceeded leisurely
to the house. Adelaide was chilled by
this singular GOODNESS; she was prepared
to give him so kind reception, and had
even taken the pains to walk half mile
for the pleasure of seeing him few
moments sooner. 1t was not kind of
him, to say the least. Then came over
her with a great crash, Suppose he
does not love meP" Such possibility
had never before occurred to her.
What, after all those protestations, to
|
to stagnate in her veins; she could not
move if her life depended upon it. Mr..
Thornby felt the sudden trembling Of
her hand and paused in his walk TO
learn the cause.
Adelaide was pale and trembling, but
it was only for moment; she laugh
ingly assured him it was customary with
her, the result of fatigue.
The bridal array had arrived before
them, and was already spread out upon
sofas, chairs and tables. 1t was asplen
did trousseau. Robes of such beautiful
fabric that it seemed dangerous to touch
them lay in juxtaposition with laces
which an empress might envy. Jewels
cleaned from their crimson cases like
stars, while lying upon the bridal veil,
itself not more pure, was coronet OF
pearls of the rarest quality. Ah, Mr..
Thornby had shown his taste as we'll as
his liberality. After allowing Mrs.
Fairfax due time to admire them he ex-
planned to her that he wished for a
moment to speak apart with Adelaide.
my poor girl" said he, when they
were alone, "did you think l would
J take the advantage of circumstances to
! wed an unloving wife9 Did you think
| was monster enough to drag, you to
the altar, and force you to take upon
Adelaide looked up into his face be-
wildered, but she did not reply.
1 II confess" he continued. "there
: was time when my mad passion and
your obstinacy almost turned my br,.in,
when my heart grew dark, and felt
capable of almost any wickedness to
secure to myself my priceless treasure
my peerless Adelaine. That time has
passed. l have seen you trying hard to
conquer that feeling against me, trying
5 to like me and amuse me, and make
l some amends for what you knew mu It
| be suffering. / determined you should
have your reward. 1t was hard to give
l you up, for, as l told you then, I loved
you as never before man loved woman
but your sweetness and patience have
triumphed. There is your bridal para.
pherndlia, here the deed of AN estate
1 settled upon yourself and children, and
3 now resign you to your younger and
1 earlier lover, and may he make you as
l. happy as would have tried to do"
!, " Resign-uot your wite-marry
$ William Beckett! Oh, you cannot mean
> it, you would not be so cruel!' eX-
|, claimed Adelaide, who had sprung up
. impatient OF all restraint, and thrown
herself at his feet.
a The eyes of Mr.. Thornby burned with
q a triumphant fire, but he merely clasped
;. her two hands, looking down into heI
!, frightened face.
' 81 will not leave youl" she cried
:, "you shall not cast me off. do love
+ you; never knew how much till now
r l am not ashamed TO own it. / am
: proud OF it. l am ashamed of thai
# childish folly which passed for love
t AS you love me, so love you, with al
n the strength, power and force of my
: being. l will be your wife, and so being
i will devote the rest OF my life to YOU
: happiness"
r Mr.. Thornby waited to hear no more
s but, taking her in his arms, folded hel
s TO his breast, which was ever after Il
t be her home. Another week and they
e were married, and Adelaide says it may
t be that men have second loves, but sh
e is very sure women never love bu
d once. So much for her romance.