The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-03-10

luctance to go and hunt him up; but she
answered simply that she could not af-
ford it. All her money was required for
the voyage, and, Besides" she added,
quickly, blushing like rose, 81 wanted
to give him the JOY of the surprise" )"
"And it," said, reluctantly, "if he
should not be here, or anything, have
you not money to return ~
"But he is bound to be here; nothing
like that could happen. And if he were
away I should wait till he returned. I
have no money to go home if 1 should
want to, but there's not much danger of
my wanting"
Heavens what trust, what exquisite
feeling, what beautiful belief in love
And if he should prove unworthy!
When we stepped ashore, Lola and L
got into q carriage, which l ordered to
take us to q hotel. She let me arrange
everything Just as L chose, and we had
agreed to go together to the hotel, and
then 1 was to find her. lover and send
him to her.
|. 1 saw her safely seated in her little
parlor, and then, as it was early morning,
L ordered dainty breakfast there and we
ate it tete-a-tete. L don't think either
had much appetite, though taxed my
wits to the uttermost on the menu and
had even given lavish order for flowers.
I tried to think of everything that
could give her pleasure, for l
felt almost certain of a impending
calamity and 1 looked again and
again into her sweet face trying to
fix its look of happiness in my mind.
And she was happy! Her voice was joy
Gus as lalk's and her face as radiant as
day. / would fain have fingered while
to bask in this bright sunshine, but she
was feverishly impatient and eager that
! should be gone. 1 think she grudged
me the boon of seeing him first, for she
made me promise that 1 would not tell
him of her presence, but bring him back
with me under some pretext if | found
him we'll, and return and take her to him
if he was i'll. In either event, she had
settled it in her mind that they were to
be married that very day.
When / was ready to go / went up to
her and took her hands in mine. lola, y
[ said, whatever lies before you,
whether JOY or sorrow, remember that
YOU have Inc always for your friend. You
must rely upon me as you would upon
your''-I paused and then said" father.
, It was an effort, but / forced myself tc
say it. Then, before leaving, / stopped
, and kissed her sweet lips. 1t was the
first time and would probably be the last
and valued it as people do value what
can come to them but once
When / reached the house, the address
of which Lola had given me, | inquired
for her lover--he was gone. The woman
who kept the house could give no intor
nation except that she thought he h0,
gone West.
. / was mfeignedly distressed. LII thai
! moment l rose above self and thought
only of Lola. How shall | describe tn,
e scene that followed my announcement L
= the little creature? The heart-rendlng
o grief. the wild denial Of her lover!
: faithlessness! She utterly refused t'
y believe it, She would far sooner, sh,
t said, think that he was dead. After he
= first outbmst OF passionate grief wa
h over she calmod herself and said, stand
k ing up: 81 must go away; l must no
Y stay here"
e The sight OF her agony almost killo,
F. me.
l. " Oh. Lola" | said, "where 2"
= She flung herself back ON the loung
l. with a motion of utter despair. L Wen
e TO her and threw myself on my knee
=. beside her and folded both her tremI
|, ling hands i'll mine
" lola, be brave" I said. Face th
II worst. 1t is a bitter thing to say but
q believe he is false to You. l believe til
y illness was a feint, and / believe he
!, willfully lost to you. Ny little darling
II it is hard [ know, but not so bad as if yo
l; had married him and found it out aftel
Il ward. But do not despair. L will nc
2, leave you, and you shall tell me just wh3
d YOU would have me do. l will take yo
Y back to Spain if you want to CO."
II 81 cannot could not bear it An
u / have no money"
le "Never mind that / said. Il hay
20 plenty, more-far more than / want.
2, would give my life TO comfort you.
l. will go now, if you say so, and take pa
II sage on the next returning ship"
n 81 could not bear it. never will 9
TX back" she said; "no one loves me there
" am only a useless little burden. Ineve
d will go back !"
., "Then stay" L said, passionately-
l, "stay with me. Let me love and con
fort you. Stay with me always, Loli
u NO one can love you as l. Will.
y At first / think she did not understan
L my meaning, but when she did sll
E. wrenched her hands from mine an
sprang to the middle of the room.
d Chow can you? How can you be S
20 cruel ?" she said. "Doyo think / coul
e ever love any one else after having give
* my love to him? No; / have loved hil
II only-I have given him all my love-an
N worthy or unworthy, he has it still"
II "Lola, my little child" L said, "yo
e, must face the truth. You cannot liy
2 in this strange country all alone. Yo
II have neither friends nor money. 70
g cannot work, and if you could you mu
,e not be alone. ] cannot help you an
l. maintain you unless you take my nan
e. and occupy the hoRorable position
q my wife, But will not force it on 70,
q For the present will find some safe plaC
a to put you in, and we will see whi
a can be done. At all events, whether yo
st can love me or not, / love you and wi
always love you"
le "Do you love e?" she said, facin
G. me and speaking with eager vehemenc
70 "Oh, L do, do p Isaid
D1 "Then find him for me p
81 | could not speak at once. For OF
y moment wild hope had budded in N
a breast, and it would not die without
l. of,. TI,n,, I loo1ro1 Il -