The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-06-24
HE LEARNED TOO LATE.


The summer was like no other sum-
mer the world had ever known. Never
was June so sweet never we're mornings
so rosy and radiant; never were lights
so tender
A young and beautiful girl stood look
ing at the sunset as the last farewell
glow bathed the blue waves with golden
radiance. To look at her face one would
never dream that herposition IN life was
not among the proudest; but a glance
at her simple dress would dispel the illu-
sion. Flossy Thayer had been brought
up by her grandfather in quiet,
secluded country neighborhood. The
old gentleman was wealthy. Flossy was
the darling of his heart, and great pains
were lavished upon her education The
grandfather's health was not good, and
they travelled great deal, often spend
ing the winter in the South. They had
been there when the crash came: Mr..
Ihayer lost his money. He was the most
honorable man alive he returned home,
paid his liabilities to the last farthing,
sold the beautiful country seat where
Flossy had spent her childhood and es-
tablished himself in an old farmhouse
by the sea, with hardly enough money
left to live upon.
So for four years Mr.. Thayer and his
granddaughter had lived quietly enough
in their retreat. So far as the old gen
tleman knew, Fiossy had been happy,
but in truth she was always waiting for
some wonderful change that was to free
her from the humdrum life in which her
life was passing. But it was neverthe-
less true that no palace ever sheltered a
maiden more royalty fair than she. And
so thought some one else as he drew
near her with quick, light footsteps.
Tall and straight, with dark, laughing
eyes and mouth shadowed by nous
tache, Mark Norton was just fitted to
win the fancy of young, inexperienced
girl.
$50 you have been waiting for me
Happy man to have won the love of one
so fair and sweet"
A glow of crimson tinged the girls
face as the eyes uplifted to meet her
lovers told plainly what was in her
heart. While the young people con-
versed Mark took Flossy's hand in his
and told her something which made the
teardrops quickly start.
"Do not grieve, dear Flossy. / shall
only be gone short time, and you know
that if it were not necessary nothing
could take me from you. You are not
afraid that absence could alter my love
Flossy, you do not doubt me?'
She was young and unused to the
world and it is no wonder that she
trusted Mark Norton, who, to her, was
the noblest and grandest of men. They
parted. Mark Norton, following his
physicians advice had come that sum
mer to the quiet country town by the
sea to regain his health, which had long
been delicate. In one of his rambles he
had met Flossy, and being shy and
shrinking, il had been the work of long
time to establish himself upon friendly
terms with the girl, whose beauty sur
passed any he had ever seen. II was
not long before, with thrill of vanity
Mark could see the hold he had gained
in her innocent heart. One day, in an
swer to his whispered question, Flossy
acknowledged that her heart was his,
and he placed golden band of betrothal
upon her slender finger.
For time after his departure letters
from her lover came regularly to Flossy;
but after awhile the letters came less
frequently, and then when three months
had passed the looked.for letter came.
II read, oh, how coldly, and contained
his farewell 81 am going abroad.
shall probably be absent several years.
Our immediate marriage is now, of
course, an impossibility. / could not
ask you, nor do feel il right to hold
you, through an indefinite time, TO your
pledge, therefore l free you"