The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-03-02

bic life we should have led, / would
have found out sooner or later, tn t
he did not love me" Then sh,
grew almost happy thinking over ;
little plan for a wedding present tC
aunt Alice of life interest in the
farm. 'They will both be so hap.
py here she thought, ''and l viii
lind a home somewhere else," she
added, with big lump in her throat
and striving to keep back the tears
Little did Flora dream that Paul
was laboring under mistake, and
instead of at last resisting the temp
tation to marry for money, he had
been overcome by it, and she never
knew it.
The wedding day of Paul AID
Miss Leslie drew near, and Leslie
place, as the farm was called, was
alive with hustle and preparation foI
the event.
| 1t was the day of the wedding,
and Miss Leslie stood radient and
beautiful, looking not n day older
than twenty-five in her rich bridal
dress-a present from Flora. She
had with her own hands given the
finishing touches to her aunt's bridal
toilet then she slipped a note into
her hand, and silently left the
room.
Miss Leslie glanced over it, then
uttered a little cry of delight. Paul
had just approached and stood in
the doorway. She flew to his side
and slipped her hand through his
arm.
"Oh, Paul Just think, how kind
and good of Flora We shall not
have to leave the dear old place after
ALL"
"Why should you expect that we
would ?" he inquired, almost petu-
lently.
"Why, of course you know dear,
everything belongs to Flora. She
has allowed me to live here, and go
on with everything, just as if were
mistress instead of her. OF course l
could not expect a home here after
| was married; but the dear little
thing has given the farm to me dur
ing my lifetime, and oh, Paul, we
shall be 50 very, very happy"
A death pallor stole over Paul's
face and an icy hand seemed grasp
ing at his heart, and he reeled as if
he were going TO faint.
why. Paul, you ELL, )" exclaim-
ed Miss Leslie in alarm.
'Itis nothing but those tuberoses,"
he said, his voice sounding strange
and hollow. Il always did hate the
smell of them"
1t was too late TO turn back now.
Already the guests were assembled
and the minister in waiting, and
Paul Ridgeway, Ike one in a dream,
descended into the parlor and list
ened to the words which bound him
to Alice Leslie for life, instead of
Flora, the heiress and woman he
loved.
After the wedding the married
couple went on short wedding
tour. Flora remained at Leslie
place to welcome them back, and
then went to spend the winter with
q cousin in the city. While there
she became acquainted witha young
DR.. Aimes, and within a year they
were married. They lived so hap
PLY together that the old love for
Paul seemed only like dream.
As for Paul Ridgeway, he wisely
made the best of his bargain, and
like Flora, his wife never knew he
had supposed her the heiress. He
never stained his hands much with
actual labor, but he made good
oyerseer, and kept everything going
along smoothly upon the farm.
His friends often remarked that his
marriage with energetic Miss Leslie
was the making of him. After all,
he had married a loving wife, and
could live at his case, which was far
"better than he deserved"