The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-05-21

II will ask her again, he mentally ex-
claimed, ''to renew her engagement, lest
some city man should come along whilst
am away and rob me of my treasure.
As these thoughts crossed his mind
without speaking, he threw himself upon
the clover at her feet.
She started, whilst flood of crimson
colored her face, and looked shyly toward
her eager, handsome suitor, exclaiming
"Is that you, Phil? l have been ox.
pecting you.'
He was silent; he had come with story
to tell. Mabel guessed it before he had
said word.
Something has happened, she said,
gazing into his pale face. "Do not conceal
it from me.
"Do not be frightened, Mabel; father
and mother at last have given their con
sent to my going to the city Of P to
study for lawyer, that is all, he said,
forcing nervous laugh. II shall be gone
for two or three years, perhaps, and will
leave much sooner than l expected-to-
morrow. in fact. You will give me a
solemn promise to wait for ne, darling
| will write often, aud come home once or
twice year to see you, and when I finish,
we will marry and settle down in the
beautiful city Of P, and hope viii
have a long and happy life together You
will wait for me p he repeated, looking
earnestly into her face.
Il will wait until die. Philip, she re-
piled.
"God bless You darling" he said, Kiss
ing her row pale cheeks, which again be-
came crimson-dysd. "You shall not regFc,
it.
As twilight began to deepen into night
Philip arose, and, giving Mabel his arm.
they walked along the winding river The
night birds sang sof,ly, aud the stars began
10 glimmer one By cue in their azure set.
ting. Their words we're few, but the heart
Of each was illed vish love for the other.
At last they parted in silence on the baaks
Of the lonely river Her checks were vet
With the tears that Were beyond her con.
troll. Little thought they Of the possible
sevsriog Of fadh, the blishiine Of love
that had grown With their growth, until it
had now ripensd into perfection
TIE uncertain future is wisely concealed
from Us; only cur present duties arc plain.
Philip went to the city aud Mabel dc.
voted herself With her usual patience TO
her home duties She heard frelagn;ly
from Philip, aud was couteased aui happy.
During the summer the old les was as
usual Glled With city boauIsFs, amongst
whom one Mr. Percy Claire was making
quiet a sensation in The neishbOTho0d. He
was widower Of about f9rty-sve For
the last three years he had been travelling
abroad Ga his return. before settling lown
to city lie be had concluded TO rus;iease
10 this quiet usigboshooi for Tess feg him
self and a good time Cor his two little sons.
lie was \ well educated, Superior man, Of
large nsaas and proaalaeut position lis
elegan, appearance and naughty manners
wou fer him the ave aal admiration OF
the people Of Ghs place, aud the farmers
daughters were anxious by their eharms to
induce him 10 marry aud locate 10 the
neishborhood Mabel had heard much
of Mr.. Claire bat had nc. lsl' the least
interest ia him. Oue evening as she wss
returning from the village, whittier she
had beca making few purchases, she met
an elegant hooking gentleman leading BY
the hand little boy From the deserip
ton she bad heard. she at oaec recognized
him a. Nr. Claire. She felt embarrassed
by the gaze of eyideat admiration he ired
upon her face The next evening she
heard knock on the from, hall door, aad
on opeuin. il found to her as,onishmcnt,
the gentleman there lie bowed low "a
her, introducing himself as Mr. Claire
apologiking FOR the sall, saying IN vindica
ton that. ''he bad been informed that Mr.
Vaughn had an idea Of selling his place
aud took the liberty to call and see If thers
was any truth in the report, as he vas 50
much pleased with this part Of the country
that he had concluded to purchase farm
where he aud boys might ruralize for the
summer
Mabel blushed deeply at the remarks Of
the stranger, aud informed him that she
was very sorry to be forced to aekuow.
ledge that the reports were correct
The truth was, Mr. Vaughn, who was
always in pecpniary embarrassments, had
lately lost heavily, and as Mr. Adair who
was his friend in need at last had become
out Of patience with him, he would either
be forced to sell now, or the property would
be sold for him, as there was no way Of
raising the large amount due Mr.. and
Mrs. Vaughn were absent, trying to per-
suade Mr.. Adair to assist them out of
their difficulties, but this time he was iu-
exorable
Mr.. Claire was delighted at tie oppor.
tuuity Of awaiting their return.
"You would regret, Miss Vaughn, he
said, 'to leave the old place p
"Yes, sir; it is our home. We child.
ren have all been born here, and We have
the most pleasant and tender associations
connected with the dear old place. shall
be very unhappy if we are forced to leave
it.
''You may not be forced 10 go. Often,
when we are on the verge of some painful
misfortune, kind Providence interposes,
and we are extricated from our painful
position"
"Those are romantic events, replied
Mabel. 'We read Of them in novels, but