The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-12-29

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SO much devotion on the part of Mr.. Will
one else enjoy Miss Harding's society
BESIDES she added, Il want him myself"
"With pleasure, your h ghness," said
Jack with mock dignity. But | could
see he was not pleased with the arrange
ment
"Mr. Chandler" continued Miss Foster
turning to me, you will heed the royal
command and entertain Miss Harding ?"
Now, this was a little more than felt
equal to, but without an instant's hesita-
tlon, replied:
"Most certainly, shall be very happy
Another Of those fashionable lies which
we are all compelled to utter, for knew
that every moment in the presence of
Miss Harding would be a torture, the
very thought Of which froze my blood
Nevertheless | seated myself beside the
lady, and we started on our hOmeWard
trip. Fortunately we were on the back
seat, ana 50 my discomfort could not be
noticed. a few minutes passed in aWk-
ward silence, when resolved that, come
what might, | would say something, and
in d voice 50 SepuIchral that hardly rec
ognized ii, began:
81 was quite surprised to find you here
Miss Harding. | supposed you were in
London. You have certainly made fine
selection in locality, for it is beautiful,
even In the winter. which cannot be said
of all country places"
She made no reply, and when turned
to her for an answer, | saw to my utter
astonishment that She was laughing.
Excuse me- she said in a slvery
voice, "but you did look SO solemn that
could not keep from laughing. To-mor-
row will be Christmas, and no one should
be melancholy at this time # the year
My face grew hard, and lowering my
voice 81 that no one c0uld hear but the
lady beside me, answered in tone of
concentrated anguish
Miss Harding, do You think had no
cause to be unhappyf DO YOU think
mortal man could endure what have
experienced for three years and then for
set il when | meet the cause Of my suf-
fering face to face ?"
Her eyes met mine, and in 4 tone Of
entreatl She interrupted Inc.
'Harry, said she-;tnd the name spok-
en- in that voice | 50 well remembered,
thrilled me like an electric shock--''do
not blame me until YOU hear the truth
You are, perhaps, not the only enc who
has suffered DO you think it was moth
ing to NE! DO you suppose I, too, have
not ltlt the unhapplness that you have
experienced, and tar more than you?N
And then she told me the truth that
She had gone suddenly abroad without
time for informing ME that her father
had died in London. and her mother.
pyostlatc with grief had followed her hus-
band to the grave, and alone and friend
less She had come home to live with her
uncle: that She had written me. but no
answer came, and She thought she had
been forgotten.
arm ,.o,, no,o ,,,a,.,iod ~ ;,,+o,,,,n+od
r,, hrn.th r,.r,inlr nI,;ol- anI H., bnar+
Lratin@ liI,o-a triT bin,rrar '''
t.Wa7,iad," :" saiG sbo IN os4 s4on;oh,ran+
al i11~a ma,.a,. haon nlarI,iad VI in,s;t
e.,s [,o,,ad -, dlh",, ,li'', ' C0u3'l
fror II'aa noi,,, - >r,d,ia'. 0''-' "7V'
..E4r hn'.,-oliie s1I,n Il ,,a;-f o,4,,-
,a+ d.oa,', lao ,,ot ~ idi
,rora Am, III, ~ +hna.,,.a,,o th.'',l..,+
tbnt ron LnI t,'...,+to,, ~, !
I'm i ,,,,- an ,-,i.tai-o 1,d +t,a, a,l
.,,-n IovnI 81 ~ ~, "r.N' ~ ''0
Hor h,..,,i,r, +ana Till -. ,,o.+ o,a,ro,.
on. a5",ho ~ tIn -" "v', 't'9 f
that rnnn'.i,t :, No., ~ 1a,,t n,l tida "
lnvn and atfac+inn With ,,'.af,ll,. ha1I
IN cheri - Inna Inrs+ frnn' H. hands
and flied nv wholc toinr with iov and
bY,,,inos, irovnraesit,In ,rhn +;,,,o An,
bI Vjfh Iiohtning ramiditv and hnfnra ~
copId snffirientIT 9II- nyer ''ti tha nast tho
sIaioh a.ri,.nd ~ ~ honso a1d n1r p III
vas fnishad = WaInd @ q9o hono 'er r;h ~ ,ao lIo
NV bnart abr ao ir,4,S ilo,I ,,n ~, ,a, o;
vss Git,arn7't a,d I'LL nhnIo an3r,+r,. -
flooded wifll olory If ! winters snnsat
sermcd Ike f5nv lana Nv inv nas ','',(' 700
ureat r. I5st fnr almost the tiyst onestinn
nv friend asked vas
"Wel, old boy, what do you think Of
her? Isn't She perfection ?"
Then for the first time it flashed upon
me that what had brought me such hap
piness was a death blow to the hopes Of
ny friend. All 1he love ana affection he
had centcred in this woman. who had re-
turned to me in this strange manner, were
destined I'd be crushed and defeated and
/, the man in whom he had placed the
utmost confidence and trust, and whom
he considered as his dearest friend, had
inadvertently come between him and
the greatest joy of bis existence The
thoughts rushed through my brain with
terrible rapidity. What Could | DO !?
Should give up this woman after | had
learned that She was still the same to me,
and that her love had increased after the
severe trial il had undergone? :?
My silence caused my friend TO repeat
his query. "Come, old fellow, speak up:
tell me what you think Of her"
Jack" SAID at length, edo you really
love this woman, or is il but a passing
fancy that you viii forget after she has
gone away =
"Love hertz replied Jack, and here
was a seriousness in his face that was un
usual in lis natural EXPRESSION. "SLe is
everything to ME, ana II either time nor