The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-05-05
HE LEARNED TOO LATE HIS FOLLY.

He LEAnN1D lVO AA1E 1A1S EVLL1.
The summer was like no other summer
the world had ever known. Never was
June SO sweet; never were mornings SO rosy
! and radiant, never were twilights SO ten
der.
A young and beautiful girl stood look
ing at the sunset, as the last farewell glow
bathed the blue waves with golden radi-
ance. To look at her face no one would
ever dream that her position in life was not
among the proudest; but a glance ct the
simple dress would dispel the illusion.
Flossy Thayer had been brought up by her
grandfather in a quiet, secluded country
| neighborhood. The old gentleman was
| wealthy Flossy the darling of his heart,
and great pains were lavished upon her edu-
cation. 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: MI
honorable man alive; he returned home;
! paid his liabilities to the last farthing;
sold the beautiful country seat where Flos-
sy had spent her childhood; established
| himself in an old farm house, by the sea,
with hardly enough money to live upon.
So for four years Mr.. Thayer and his
granddaughter had lived quietly enough in
their retreat. So far as the old gentleman
knew, Flossy had been very happy, but in
truth she was always waiting for some won.
derful change, which was to free her from
the humdrum life in which her youth was
passing. But it was nevertheless tue that
no palace ever sheltered 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
la,s u
by soft mustache, Mark Norton was Just
fitted to win the fancy of young, inexpe-
rienced girl.
so you have been waiting For me7 Hap
Ply man that am to have won the love of
one so fair and sweet"
A glow Of crims0s. tnged the girls face
| as the eyes uplifted to meet her lovers told
plainly what was in her heart. While the
young people convcrsed, Mark took Flos-
sy's hand in his and told her something
which made the tear drops quickly start.
do not grieve, dear F]ossy; 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 ad-
vice, had come 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 shrink
ing, it had been the work Of long time to
establish himself upon friendly terms with
the girl, whose beauty surpassed anything
he had ever seen. It was not long before,
with thrill If vanity, Mark could see the
hold he had gained in her innocent heart
One day in answer to his whispered eues-
ton, Flossy acknowledged that her heart
was his, and he placed a golden band of
betrothal upon her slender finger.
For a while after his departure letters
from her lover came regular to Flossy; but
after while the letters came less frequent
ly, and then when three months had passed
the looked-for letter came. It read, oh,
how coldly! and contained his farewell: II
am going abroad. shall probably be alb
sent several years. Our immediate mar
riage is now, OF course, an impossibility.
could not ask you nor do I feel it right to
hold you through an indefinite time to your
pledge; therefore 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 till the flame crept SO close
that it blackened the tender flesh, and the
letter lay singediand charred under herfeet
That day she went into her grandfather's
room and laid her head on his.
Don't talk to me grandpapa, she said,
'tand don't ask me any questions; but We'll
keep house alone-you and land we'll
forget that we ever intended to let any
body else in"
"The scoundrel! If you had been rich,
my child, this sorrow would not have come
upon you. But, mark my words, some
time you will have your revenge"
-Four years have swiftly passed. Seated
in a 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
~ woman! Dou you know herr"
II should think that J. did, and think
myself honored that do. She is the belle
Of New York, and the most beautiful girl it
has ever known"
A smile curled Mark Norton's lips as he
turned from the window. You speak
warmly, Aubrey, he said.
"You would not blame me for speaking
warmly if you knew her," he answered.
"Her history is q romantic one. If you
like. I will tell it to you:
"Her name is Miss Flossy Thaver. When
first knew her she was not wealthy, though
in my eyes even than her beauty surpassed
any that had ever seen. It was not long
after you went on your travels that an uncle
Of mine, who had purchased place by the
sea, invited me to spend the summer with
him. 1t was very quiet, out-of- the-way
village, and soon became acquainted with
Flossy. Not long after that the old grand
father died. and my kind aunt took the