Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-12-01
HOW HE LOVED HER.

JOHN EsMoND had just come home to
the Cliffs, and found another man in his
place. 1t was pretty hard. There were
plenty of bouncing, rosy-cheeked girls
in the neighborhood, but not another
| Goldie. The pet name which had been
given Captain Grants daughter in child
hood still clung to her. Plenty of girls
with bright eyes and ready smiles, but
not another so dainty, sweet and win
some.
Why couldn't Fawdon Darrell have
taken Mollie Dare, or Kate Knox, or
Belle Buxton, instead of stealing his
Darling, Goldie Grant?
John Esmond had asked himself this
question until he was sick mt heart. He
wondered if he ought to have spoken to
Goldie before lie went away; but she
was so young-only siXteen-and he had
+ not expected that his one years absence
would lengthen into two. But tins had
| been the case, and he had returned to
find Goldie fairer and taller, with new
richness III her bloom and added depth
to her sweet eyes. And at her side
Fawdon Darrell. To be sure she had
given him her hand, had smiled, but he
felt reserve in her that WAS new.
''She does not care for me, and she
loves him." was the swift, silent bitter
thought.
He watched her all the evening, his
heart breaking, it seemed to him. With
the gold waves of her soft hair-her
round, young figure, her silken blue
dress-she was picture indeed.
In his passionate worship of her, he
was filled with amazement and anger to
see Fawdon Darrell, as he stood beside
her at the piano, take up one of her fair
curls and roll it about his finger.
Goldie's face was turned from him.
He did not see her start, or the sudden
rush of color to her cheek.
''Have things gone so far as that? Is
she promised to him?" he muttered.
He soon took his leave, going out dis
consolately into the dark from the lighted
parIors of Cliff Cottage.
But Fawdon Darrell, in his determina-
ton to mislead John Esmond, had gone
too far. He saw it in Goldie's eyes
when he bade her goodnight.
"Your favorite, Duke, has just been
sharp shod, and my new sleigh came
home last night. Will You try them
both tomorrow" he said, insinuatingly.
''Thank you'll shall not be able to, i"
replied Goldie, reservedly.
He might have read his lesson from
her compressed lips and averted eyes,
hut Fawdon Darrell was not easily per-
suaded to DO anything he did not want
to do.
''Shall 1 see yon at Mrs. Graham's
New Years party?" he asked.
81 do not think you will. 1 do not
intend to GO, answered Goldie.
And Mr.. Darrell took his leave with
out an invitation to call again. Not but
what he would come to Cliff Cottage
when inclination suited him without it.
Goldie knew that very well; but she
was deeply resenttul of his familiarity,
and she had never committed an insin-
cerity in her life. And then she was
longing 50 to get away and cry about
it ALL
John Esmond had come home and
| greeted her like any common acquaint-
ance. She had been very silly, of
course; but she had waited so long
watching the ship news, and hoping
that he would write to her. And now
he had come back from under the Flori-
da suns, bronzed and bearded; he was
Eandsomer and nobler than ever.
Goldie had not been so happy III two
years as just in that little moment when
he held her hand that evening, but he
soon went away from her side and talked
to her father about Pensacola and the
Everglades. It was so sweet, and yet SO
sad. to hear his voice again.
She lay curled up, little blue heap,
on the foot of her white bed, sobbing
and thinking, till past midnight. And
then she crept, pale, heart broken little
ghost, among its snowy folds, and shlv-
cred wretchedly asleep.
Six weeks, and John Esmond never
came near Cliff Cottage. Goldie made
it pretty clear to Fawdon Darrell during
| that time that he was not wanted there.
! But the young man was not thin-skinned,
and Goldie Grant was an heiress in a
small way. He had deliberately deter
mined to keep off other suitors and
marry her.
"That Esmond used to be deuced
sweet on her, but I've got the inside
track on him now, and I mean to keep
it. he said to himself.
He was selfish, brutal fellow, but
had a knowledge of good breeding,
which kept him afoat in good society,
and prevented his being intolerable.
His favorite taste was for hunting, and
his chances were utterly lost with Col