The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-11-12

al am gong to be married this autumn,
Mary" SAID. These pretty letters you al
ways thought came from my sister are from
the lady who is to marry me. She IS very
beautiful, very rich, very stylish, but very
kind You must come and see US, Mary,
when we are married. | shall tell Angelina
how good you have been to me-what sweet
little sister found out here in Vale Of Cruix.
Why, Mary"
For, MS / spoke, lclt the little hand held
grow cold and heavy In mine. saw her sink
backward, The big china bowl OF peaches
and cream slipped with crash on the ground
and shattered to pieces.
| caught the poor child In my arms. In a
moment she came to herself and said she had
overtired herself, she thought, They had been
baking all day. and 1t was warm. And now
she babe me goodnight But | did not see
her next day, nor the next. She kept her
room, and was not well enough to bid me
good bye.
Poor little Mary, | felt very miserable.
However, Angelina met me in Glasgow. She
was more beautiful than ever-more elegant
in contrast to my simple country tricnd-and
very soon laughed at myself for the thought
that had been in my heart. OF course, l said,
it was the baking that had overcome Mary-it
was not my news. had only been to her as
a brother. had not made love to her; above
all, had notlflrted with her. But l thought
OF Mary great deal, and l missed her every
hour exactly-oh, yes, cxactly-as l might a
sister.
wrote to Mrs. Stevenson, and her answer
was very brief
IL haven't much time to WRITE" she said in
her postscript MARY is sick, ard beside
being driven I'm anxious"
This letter was in my pocket on that day
when Angelina and | went together to the ba
Ear tor the benefit of the Church of St Mat
thew.
After we had roamed about the bazaar and
bought all sorts Of knickknacks, escorted
Angelina to a seat, and there sat down to wait
while one of the ladies, who ION this occasion
only" was doing good, onerous, hard work,
brought us tray of reircshment.
AS we sat there slipping our coffee, two wo-
men sat down at the next table, with their
backs toward u.s.
II am very tired; are not you, Mrs. Rus
sell" And the other answered: ..
"Yes, am tired don't think IFS worth
the while to come all the way from the Vale OF
Cruix to Glasgow sightseeing"
This was the voice of StevensOn's nearest
neighbor, and l liked her and respected her,
yet did not feel quite sure how Angelina would
like an introduction, and SO refrained from
looking around and making myself known.
I'D think we'd better have tea" said the
first voice. ats more refreshing than coffee.
Oh, how is Mary today Think Of my never
asking befOre!'
MARY is poorly" said Mrs. Russell. "Oh,
Mrs. Cullen, what pity it IS that flirting
don't know what Mrs. Stevenson was about
to let him do as he did. We all thought he
was counting Mary. She did, poor child. She
loved him dearly, and the day before he went
away he told her he was engaged to some girl
IN Glasgow. I'm afraid It's broken her heart.
She told me all aboutlt oh, Aunty RUSSELL
she SAID, Il know l ought TO be ashamed, but
cont help it. He seemed to like me So
hope shall die of this fever, Tor life Is moth
ing to me- Ashamed! Why, it's he that
ought to be ashamed. Of all things, minis
ter to be cold, cruel tlirt! And that is what
Hugh Mactaggert is"
| listened, but l could not move or speak.
| felt as though my heart was also breaking;
and oh, the shame l suffered! The women
drank their tea and left and then Angelina
turned to me with a cold, sarcastic smile:
~ see by your face that that little story is
perfectly true, Mr.. Mactaggert," she said.
Angelina" faltered, "lhave done nothing
that should give o9ense to YOU"
"NOthing but love another woman" she an
swered. Love her and let her see it, meaning
to marry me! Don't think am hurt; indeed
am relieved. should have kept my word
TO you but for this, but not so gladly as once
should. You are very good-looking man,
Mr.. S. at MlllpOrt, and he does. Frankly,
have been thinking what pity it was that l
must decline his offer. As for this-Mary, IS
it not ?-wouldn't she make a very good min
lster's wife?'
1t came to my mind that she would-that
she was the only wife for me; that Angelina
splendid as she was-would never have
made me happy.
But only said: "Mlss Melville, if you de-
sire to have your freedom, have no choice"
81 desire it greatly" she answered.
at Is yours" said, with bow.
After that, think, we were both happier
than we had been for days, and shook hands
when we parted.
That night went up to Vale of Crulx, and
| told Mary that my marriage was broken on,
that she was the only woman had ever loved.
She tried to summon up her pride and refuse
me- but failed in the attempt and let me take
her to my heart.
To-day am pastor of the church at Vale OF
Cruix; Mary Is my wife, and we are as plain
and quiet pair as you could fancy. often
help my wife PICK currants for tea, and have
taken a turn at the garden when help was
scarce. But l 90 not envy Mr.. ). his wife
nor pine for the luxurious possibilities that
lost with Angelina. Mary and my little home
content me.
But one thing is on my conscience. have
never been able to ask myself the question:
"Did fllrt with Marvs If not, what was it"'
An ex letter carrier tells some curious stories
in the Post-o6ice Bulletin. He said that the
amount of clandestine lovers Is wonderful. A
l.. Ill hx>tl hrt ann ~ m