Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-10-20

look very Tar ahead, there stretched
out future as gloomy as the grave 1t
self-a future uncheered by the hope q
woman needs TO buoy her mp, unlight-
ed but by the faint fiickering Of stub
born determination to endure as long
as might be. N
For now that Cyril so evidently had
put her out of his life, there could be
only an enduraDce-fo for her.
Right in to her thoughts came a
sharp, heart-brOken cfy-little four
year old Flossie's; the sound of bare
feet patterine in the hall upstairs,
from room to room. and then the child Q
voice in the half heart broken, half
frightened cry:
"Muriel! Me want you-quick-
quicki Mammals so jedful sicki'
And when Muiiel had sprung up the
stairs, and lifted the -shivering little
one in her arms, she was met by Mr..
StrettOn just at his dressing room door
I-paler. perhaps, than she had ever
seen him.
a think she is dying. Send for
DR.. Heath, il you please, Miss Fenton
at once"
And when DR.. Heath came, mother
less little Flossie was sobbing out her
fright and heart sickness, with tiny
arms wrapped tight around Muriers
| neck.
They had laid Mrs. Stretton away
for her long, dreamless rest, and the
sister of the widower, who had Volun-
teered to stay month, while things
''rig ghted' themselves--if things ever
do get righted when the mother and
wife is forever gone away, was to re-
turn home on the morrow, and little
| Flossie, her face pale and wan, her
eyes sunken and wOeful, was nesting
in Muriel's lap. aiding all her mute
arguments to what her father was say
ing.
While Muriel sat, for once too utter
ly bewildered to answer the tide Of
words Mr. Stretton launched at her.
AT frs. Thought, dare say you will
consider my proposition premature;
but"-but he smiled suggestively-
stranger things have happened. You
cannot possibly have failed to know,
Miss Fenton, the admiration and re-
spect with which have always regard
ed you. You are equally aware that
my daughter looks to You. upon you,
next in affection and dependence to her
mother. My sister leaves my house
very shortly will you remain as my
wife, as Flossie's mother?-for you are
the only woman who will ever fill that
position"
Muriel was sitting with the child in
her lap, and in her shock of smazement
she sunk back almost helplessly
against the cushions.
"Sirr'
1t was all she could say. But the
thoughts that were crowding fast and
furious over her, were almost beyond
her endurance to contain.
One month widower-snd propos-
ing marriage already.
Somehow she was Mortified out of
her usual dislike for the man, perhaps
by his very audacity, and, certainly,
he laid his case very plainly before her,
while, from sheer force Of his master
fulness, he went quietly, yet resolutely,
on with certain touches Of passion
that can never, under any clrcum-
stances, fail somehow to impress q
woman.
at seems unnecessary, so far as l
am concerned, to say i love you, and
yet know ought to tell you-not
how much, for that would not be pos
sible, only lifetime Of devotion can
prove that. Butt love you, want
you for my wife-you will not say me
nayr
And then, Muriel put little Flossie
gently down, and then stood up before
him, pale, trembling, Disconnected
Mortified.
"Mr. Stretton, l cannot tell you how
awful this is to me. For your dead
wife's sake / will consider it unssid;
for this child's sake, l will forgive il.
But cannot remain under your roof
another hour"
For answer, be took Flossie's hand
and led her to the door, telling her to
run and play somewhere. Then he
turned the KEY, and walked back to
Muriel, standing still.
"Miss Fenton, / can understand your
as well as though you had
spoken them to me. You dislike and
.despise me. you have not the remOt-
est idea Of marrying me, you are in
love with a man whose name Is Cyril
Vernon, all the same, knowing all these
facts. in the face Of all, 1
have asked you to, and / intend you
shall-marry me-"
A strange sensation Of his power, her
helplessness, ,crept vaguely, yet terrify-
ingly, over her.
Because" he went on, hiss voice
into tenderness and pity,
'wheu I have .old you, first that al
ready gossiping public have spoken
Of your stay here since my wife's death,
and that have it from indisputable
authority that, on last Wednesday, Mr..
Vernon was married TO Miss Gordon
Il think You will be wise enough to
at least think of it, and discreesly de-
eide in my favor"
She walked weakly to the chair she
had previously vacated, and almost
fell upon it crushed IS nearly 10 death
as human hope and human life ever
we're crushed. Not-and il hurt her
10 realize 1t amid all that tempest OF
so much that cruel gos-
zip had sullied her pure name, her con-
duty-acts, as--thst-Cyril
vas married. Cyril false!-her one
hope and happiness gone. to which she
had chung so Loyalty in all the dark
La .a nf fhaaf mast mnniha