The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-07-14
HE LEARNED TOO LATE.

the world had ever known. Never was
June so sweet; never were mornings so
rosy and radiant; never were lights so
tender.
A young and bea utiful girl stood look
ing at the sunset rs the last farewell glow
bathed the blue waves in golden radiance.
To look at her face one would never
dream that her position in life was not
among the proudest; but glance at her
simple dress would dispel the illusion.
Flossy Thayer had been brought up by
her grandfather in quiet country neigh
borhood. 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 a great
deal, often spending the winter in the
South. They had been there when the
crash came; Mr.. Thayer lost his money.
He returned home, paid his liabilities to
the last farthing, sold the beautiful
country seat and established himselfin 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, Flossy 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
ewes and mouth Swallowed by NOUS
tache, Mark Norton was just fitted to
win the fancy of a 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. 90
"Do not grieve, dear Flossy. l 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, it 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. 1t 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. 1t
read, oh, how coldly. and contained
his farewell: II am going abroad. l
shall probably be absent several years.
Our immediate marriage is now, of
course, an impossibility. l could not
ask you nor do l feel it right to hold you,
through an indefinite time, to your
pledge, therefore l free you"
Once, twice she read the letter through;
then, with white face and fearless eyes,
held it to the match with steady hand,
nor let it fall until the flame crept so
close that it blackened the tender flesh
and the letter lay singed and charred I'M
der her feet. That day she went into
her grandfather's room and laid her
head on his.
Don't talk to me, grandpa" she said,
."and don't ask me any questions, but we
will keep house alone, you and l, and
wen forget that we intended to let any
one else in"
"The scoundrel! If you had been
rich, my child, this sorrow would not
have come upon you. But, mark my
words, sometime you will have your re-
venge."
Four years have swiftly passed.
Seated in room in one Of the popular
hotels in New York were two young
men. Suddenly one of them, looking
out of the window, exclaimed:
"Look, Aubrey! See if you know who
that lady is. What lovely woman. Do
you know her ?"
81 should think that did, and think