Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-11-24
nut l have not forgotten him, and never

| queue tnen, tLouSn L nave Deen slhoe'
"My heart is given to Henry, but l
have lost his.
"But, Kate, if You have loved no one
but Henry Eaton, why have yon 80 often
promised to marry others? Was it for
the sake of breaking your promise ?"
"No, not exactly that, hardly know
why have done so. have given you
the reason for some of my engagements.
! did not know but l might forget Hen
nv, and love some other one-but | can
not sometimes l did it for fun, and
sometimes l was altogether reckless.
But | will never promise to mary again.
| I'll tell Charles Danforth | cannot love
him, and live nun for Henry's sake. "
"See that you keep that resolution, .
said Ann, laughing Mt Kate's sober con-
clusion.
"Oh! I'm in earnest. I'm tired of
hearing of broken hearts and dying
lovers. There is no sense III 1T. | am
tired of being called cruel and hard
hearted. I'll give no more occasions for
silly words and siokening sonnets. l
am really determined to take the veil.
perhaps you are serious, but I'll
wager diamond ring that you'll be en-
gagged again before the end of the win
ter.
81 don't think shall have much ne ed
for diamond rings in convent" said
Kate " but I'll accept your bet, for l
know / shall win and it shsll remain n
lasting witness that / have, at least,
kept one promise.
Thus the bet was agreed upon.
Kate Landon had determined to be-
come nun, and Immediately wrote for
admission TO convent in the following
spring.
I don't know but she would have
taken the veil the next day after her
conversation with Ann Duncan: but Ann
was to be married in few weeks to
Edward Leslie, and Kate had promised
to be her bridesmaid.
This, like the promise between Kate
and Henry Eaton, had been made in
childhood and ratified ever since.
If Kate was married first, Ann WAS
to be her bridesmaid and if Ann was
married first, Kate was to be hers.
Though Kate had made twenty pronli-
ses to her beaux, and broken them all j;
and though she had declared that VOWS
are things of air, yet these two promi-
ses she had ever considered sacred; and
though her promise to Henry was now
void, yet there were moments like that
in which she had conversed with Ann
Duncan, when she felt that perhaps it
was binding, and she would live in Sc
clusion rather than trifle with or break
the engagement.
The promise she had made to Ann
though of minor importance, was also a
promise of childhood, and now remained
in full force; and Kate deferred entering
the convent, in order to fulfil it.
AIMS wedding was joyous occasion
to all save Kate Landon. 1t had been
long wished for and expected.
The parties were wealthy, and young,
and handsome, and happy in each others
love.
TIE wedding party was large and
fashionable. The apartments were
splendidly adorned and lighted up. The
refreshments were rare and sumptuous.
The bride was elegantly arrayed. She
looked almost as beautiful as Kate.
The bridegroom looked better than
usual, though Kate thought not so well
as Henry Eaton.
But all this happiness, elegance,
beauty and bliss had no charms for Kate
She had dressed herself richly, and
with taste, and looked beautiful for
she could not look otherwise.
She looked happy and pleased, for
she would not look otherwise at AIMS
wedding; yet she felt that such festi-
val might have been, butnever would be
for her.
That all those happy smiles and joy
Gus wishes and bridal kisses might have
been lavished upon her who soon would
be SO lonely.
When she looked at Edward, the
happy bridegroom, she thought of Hen
ry and their sad parting, and longed for
the sad cell of the convent-the holy
cloister of the devoted nun.
Gay music echoed through the festive
halls. Youth and beauty Joined in the
"ight-toed Dance" but as Kate accep-
ted the hand of the first groomsman to
join in the quadrille, she felt that it was
for the last time.
Her partner was young gentleman
from India. He had just arrived.
Kate had been introduced to him as
Lieutenant Atwood, an old friend of
Edward Leslie's, who had returned in
order to visit his friends, and be present
at Edwards wedding.
He was tall, erect, and of fine figure;
with large, regular features, and dark,
expressive eyes.
He was noble, dignifed and command
ing in his bearing; graceful in the dance
all that girl could love.
Before they had finished the first set