The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-07

]
tomorrow, in fact. You VIII give me
solemn promise to wait for me- darl-
ing? l viii write often, and come home
once or twice year to see You, and
when l finish, we Will marry and settle
down in the beautiful city of p, and
i hope viii have a long and happy life
together You will wait for me?H he
repeated, looking earnestly into her
face
Il will wait until I die, Philip, she
I replied
God bless you, darling" he said.
I kissing her now pale cheeks, which again
became crimson-dyed. you shall not
/ regret 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 softly, and the
stars began to ghmmer one by one IN
their azure setting. Their words were
few, but the heart of each was filed with
love for the other. At last they parted
IN silence on the banks of the lonely
river Her checks were wet with the
| tears that were beyond her control. Lit
tie thought they of the possible severiuG
of faith, the blighting of love that
had grown with their growth, until L
| had now ripened into perfection
The uncertain future is wisely con
cealed from us; only our present duties
are plain.
Philip went to the city, and Mabel de
voted herself with her usual patience to
her home duties She heard frequently
from Philip, and was contented and
happy.
During the summer the old inn was
as usual filed with city boarders,
nrp 3 h.,
was making quite n sensation in the
neighborhood He was a widower Of
about forty-tive. For the last three
years he had been travelling abroad On
ms return, before settling down To city
life, he had concluded to rusticate in this
quiet neighborhood for rest for himself
and good time for his two little sons.
he was well educated, superior man,
OF large means and prominent position.
HIS elegant appearance and naughty
manners won for HIM the awe and admi-
ration of the people of the place and the
farmers daughters were anxious bv
their charms TO induce him to marry and
locate IN the neiClsborhood. Mabel had
heard much of Mr. Claire but had not
felt the least interest In him. One even
ing as she was returning from the VII
iage. whittier she had been making few
gentleman leading by the hand a little
boy From the description she ha(
heard. she at once recognized him as
Mr.. Claire. She felt embarrassed by the
gaze of evident admiration he fixed upon
her face. The next evening she heard a
knock on the front hall door, and on
opening 1t found, 70 her astonishment,
the gentleman there. He bowed low to
her. introducing himself as Mr. Claire,
saologizinsZ for the call. saying IN ylndl-
cation that, ''he had been informed
that Mr.. Vaughn had an idea of selling
his place, and took the liberty 10 call and
see if there was any truth IL the report,
as he was so much pleased with this
part of the country that ne had conclu-
ded to purchase a farm where he and the
boys might ruralize for tine summers.
Mabel blushed deeply at the remarks
of the stranger, and informed him that
"she was very sorry to be forced to
acknowledge that the reports were cor
rect.
The truth was, Mr.. Vaughn, who was
always in pecuniary 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 10 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 persuade Mr..
Adair 10 assist them out of their diff
culties, but this time he was iuexOrable.
Mr. Claire was delighted at the OPP
portunity of awaiting their return.
''You would regret. Miss Vaughn, he
said, "to leave the old place?'
Eyes, sir; it is our home. We children
have all been born here, and we have the
most pleasant and tender associations
connected with the dear old place. L
shall be very unhappy If we are forced
to leave it..
''You may not be forced to go. Often
when we are on the verge Of some pain.
full misfortune, a kind Providence inter
poses, and wa are extricated from our
painful position.
"Those are romantic events, replied
Mabel Owe read OF them in novels,
but they seldom occur In real life.
Reality, Miss Vaughn, is stranger
than fiction, and allow me to predict
( that something viii occur to prevent
your leaving the old place.
''That, sir, would be making us all too
happy"
On the return of her parents, Mabel
quickly withdrew. Mr.. Vaughn was de-
lighted with his distinguished guest,
who promised to call the next ia toy
look over the farm. He came not only
then, but on many succeeding days,
until Mabel began to think 1t was herself,
not the farm, in which he was most in
terested This caused her alarm, and
she tried to avoid the assiduous stranger
She had often rejoiced IN her beauty for
Philips sake. She now turned from her
/, 1F.,cr bav
greatest misfortune.
Mr.. Claire would not see her indif-
ference, but kept persistently visiting
fhe old farm, and overwhelming her with
costly presents At last he frightened
her with an offer, which she positively
declined. He expected this, and went to
her parents, telling them that he loved
their daughter, and if she could be in
duced to we'd him, he would pay off the
entire Indebtedness of the farm, and assist
them out of all embarrassments for the
future.
Mr.. and Mrs. Vaughn were at this
time very indignant at their nelghbor for
not assisting them, and considered Mr.
Claire's position as quite blessing.
cit will be all right, sir, 1 am sure, .
replied the delighted father enable Is
noble girl. She will love you as you
deserve, and in turn you will find her as
good as she is fair. -
After his departure they explained
their embarrassed situation to her, and
begged that she would accept Mr..
Claire's brilliant offer.
81 can not p Mabel cried with wall
of despair. cit would kill me. You
know that 1 love Philip, and 1 have made
him the most sacred promise. What
would he think of me? Oh, 1 should
make him so wretched, and be myself SO
Mr.. and Mrs. Vaughn could not un-
derstand her folly in refusing so grand
an opportunity, regarding it as whim
which would be followed by lifetime
regret. In urging it upon her they
thought they were not only advancing