Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-12-01

l
De Veres.i
Five years make great changes. As
the last one rolled away, Marie found
herself, young AS she was, sole mistress
of the De We're estates. Her father
had never enjoyed very good health,
and he had not survived the death of
the old marquis long, and thus Marie
was left, save for her old nurse,
Stephanie, entirely alone in the world.
Since she had come to France, a
mere girl of seventeen, she had seen u
great deal of the world, and many a
wealthy sutton had sued for her hand,
but only to be courteously but firmly
refused.
II long for England, Stephanie," she
said one day. LET us return for n
short time
So, leaving her affairs in the charge
of capable hands, Marie returned to
her early home.
1t was not long before Marie heard
of the misfortunes which had come ,ene
after the other, to the Adams family.
OF the fathers failure and death, and
of the sons noble and unselfish exer-
tons to keep his mother and sister in
the comforts to which they had been
used.
ALLAN" said Mrs. Adams to her
son, as he came home one afternoon,
"our place has been sold at last"
The old lady, greatly changed from
the worldly, purse proud woman of
former days, burst into tears as she
went on; "The lawyer sent me the no
tice to-day. Oh, my son, it will be a
sorrowful day that will see us leave
the dear old home"
At the sight of his mothers and
sisters's tears cloud dark tened Aliens
blue eyes.
1t was hard indeed that they should
have to think of leaveing the place in
which their lives had been spent so
many years.
But he had no comfort to offer, for
knew that it was inevitable.
The gong of the factory in ahich he
was employed sounded its call to work,
and dropping hasty kiss upon his
weeping mothers brow, Allan strobe
away. AS he walked along he passed
the familiar gate which led to the de-
serted grounds of the house where his
never forgotten Marie had lived. Obey
ing an uncomfortable impulse, he
| pushed it open and went in.
Some one was seated upon the rustic
bench beneath the old oak tree.
Allan could hardly believe mis- eyes;
surely that wealth Of dark, curling hair
could belong to no other than Mariel
She turned and saw him, and a wave
of color fitted over her face, then re-
ceded to leave it paler than before.
With cry of Marie! my own lost
Marie," Allan sprang to her side.
Marie shrank back. He grasped her
hands.
Marie, tell me why you left me
without one word, in that cruel manner?
Tell me that | was not wrong when |
thought it must be compulsion and not
your own free will that caused you to
treat ME thus2'
"Your mother told me of your en-
gagemenu to Miss Ward" Marie re-
| piled to his eager words, land when
waited for you, intending to ask you if
| it were true, you never came, and |
thought it was because you were
ashamed to see me- Then when my
father told me he was going to France,
| was glad to 60"
and you believed that | was be-
trothed to another and deceiving you?
| While you awaited me, ] was lying
stricken with a sudden fever, unable to
| leave the house | recovered, and
came only to find that you had gone,
no one could tell where, leaving me no
word see it all! My mother wished
me to marry Miss Ward She did not
know how far things had gone between
US, and thought to break of our init
macy in its beginning"
As Marie heard, charming color
came back to her cheeks.
"Allan." she whispered, sit is not too
late for happiness now. If you still
love me-"
The rest of the sentence was merged
in the rapturous kisses Allan pressed
upon Ler lips.
When Mrs. Adams learned that the
wealthy foreigner who had purchased
their place and the once poor Marie
De We're were one and The same pen
son, her surprise may be imagined.
Though Mary could not forget her for
mer treaehery, she determined IN her
heart to let bygone be bygones.
Disposing Of her estates in France,
the last Of the De Veles returned to
England, and there in that noble land
the land in which her fair young moth
er sleeps beneath the daisied sod
Marie lives with the husband Of heI
choice, from whom fate came SO near
parting her.