Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-04-23

He understood Wilfred Hare better
than she; it would have been easier,
perhaps, to resign her to any other man.
It 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 unendurable.
"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 coI not give her up !;
he was only angry with her; he would
come to understand and forgive her, and
! then all would be s.-.ll again.
THe5s were gres-ezStful 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 resulted 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.
lie 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 vas handed into her. At the sight
of the familiar writing she could not re-
press a rapturous cry, despite the pres
ence of the new servant, who knew
nothing of Wilfred Hare; her trembling
fingers could scarcely break the seal.
And when she did
Only a wedding-card, the little note
she had written him, and the line:
1t is but right | should restore to
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 of
this; he was coming vaguely, with only
the thought that he must comfort her.
She waited for him; she stretched out
the hand which still held the card,
with dreary smile.
Mark" she said, "did you know
Wilfred was married. Did you
know"
She could say no more, the full reality
had broke.
He had endured much, he could not
endure the look now on her fac. With
sudden, uncomfortable impulse, he
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 at
his act, striving vainly to loose his arms.
To his surprise she did not resist him.
He even fancied she chung to him.
Do not send me away" 81 voice
floated up to him. 81 have only got
you to love me, and | know you love
me very much"
Was this delusion, or was she mock
ing him in her despairp
Saidee," he murmured, bewilder.
edly, "do y?u mean that-that you
could marry meP"
He was all she had. Hers was ma
ture to crave a prop; it seemed to her
that moment, that never a love was so
sweet to woman as Mark Vane's was to
her.
81 loved Wilfred," she answered,
brokenly. 'But l have lost love, and
must have love or my heart will break.
Dear Mark, if you can marry me so,
will be good wife to YOU"
Saideew
With the one word wherein lay his
soul, he drew her gently, almost rever-
entially, closer to his madly- beating
heart,
And so he married her, and he is
content. For she never repulses him,
his love seems always sweet to her, and
sometim' s, of her own will, she comes
and, twining her arms about his neck,
kisses him ten derly.