New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-06-01

well; but fritter away my youth, health
and strength in struggling against the
whims OF woman will not. Let me
60 out to India; let me have something
to do, and will do it,
No, cannot hear of your entering
the army, Ross" said Sir Austen
"There is no need for you to leave home
Never mind the beeches. l will make
you and Lady Cumnor friends in some
way
mo; cannot any longer sacrifice
my independence, father. I should
soon be unmanly, as Lady Cumnor
called me, if remained here. will
make one proposal to you, father. You
said the other day that you should
have to send an English agent to Spain
for the next two years. Let me 90
instead. shall have far greater inter
est there than a stranger; and it will
lessen the pain at leaving home. It
seems less shameful to say that I am
going to manage your property in Spain
than to own that l am leaving home
because my step-mother has driven me
away
8 l tell you what, Ross; your going
to Spain will be the finest thing in the
world. The new Madrid Railway Com
pany want to buy those vineyards near
Lubluna; and we ought to make large
sum OF money from them. 1t will be
the finest thing in the world for you to
be there during the next two years. 1
had thought of it; but did not like to
ask YOU"
:" am pleased that you approve,
father" said Ross.
He was glad to escape from the
thraldom, from the persecution and mis-
cry of home; but it hurt him sorely
that his father should part with him so
lightly.
"You will return in two years: and by
that time Lady Cumnor will have for
gotten her odd little ways, and all will
be well again.
Ross thought that in all probability
he would be almost forgotten in two
years, and that his fathers wife would
have attained her hearts desire. It
hurt him that he should be so easily
dispensed with; but the new love out
shone the old
Il am glad that you are willing for
me to go. But, father, you will not
forget me OF learn to love me less while
am away?''
my dear boy, while your mothers
love shines in your face, how can /
love you less? Shall I tell you one
thing which have never told you be-
fore, Rossp'
elf you will, father.''
ut is this-that l love you far better
than any one else in the world-far bet
ter. [ have to keep peace with my
dear wife; but, Ross, as your mother
was dearest, so are you dearest in all
the world to me-"
No one but Lean understood the sOr-
row and pain that made Ross heart so
sore. 1t was not loss of money or land,
nor was it that he saw his inheritance
in jeopardy. 1t was because he was
leaving all who loved him, and going
abroad among strangers. He believed
implicitly what his father had told him
that he loved him best; but he saw
also that he had not the courage of
his opinions, that he stood in awe of
her ladyship, and did not care to thwart
her.
Ross thoughts were sad ones as he
stood that summer evening gazing on
the countless beauties Of his beloved
home.
Elbow little one knows what life may
bring!' he said. 'sTwo years ago,
when stood here. could never have
dreamed but that I, and no one else,
should succeed to Larchton Mere. How
happy we were, my dear father and I!
The shadow of a stranger had not then
darkened our threshold; and now I am
leaving home to save my independence
and manliness-I am leaving it, all un-
certain of my return
| A warm, white hand touched his,
lovely face bent over him, and a sweet
voice said:
Gross, let me look at your face, at
your eyes. All, you dare not! There
there?''
Il have been SO happy all my life at
home, dearest he answered, 'that I
cannot help feeling sorry to leave it,
and everything is so uncertain as to my
return. feel that 1 shall never return
to the glad old life that knew no care.
The only light that comes to me in my
darkness comes from you, Leam.'
The dream of his manhood had come
true. He had won for his wife the girl
he loved. They had told Sir Austen;
and it was settled that, when Ross re-
turned from Spain, they should be
married; but in the meantime, for many
reasons, Lady Cumnor was to know
nothing of the arrangement.
eff she knows it, father" Ross had
said, 'sshe will annoy and vex Lean in
every way, because she is mine. Moth
ing need be said about it until my re-
turn; and then no one shall hurt her,
So that their betrothal was known only
to themselves and Sir Austen.
The girl drew nearer to him.
''Do not lose heart, dearest she
said. ''Would that I could place N.Y.
self between you and every troubled"
forget my troubles, Lean, when
/ look at you. / can only hold your
sweet hands in mine and thank Heaven
that you have been given to me.''
II thank Heaven, too, if I am any
comfort she answered.
''Comfort? Oh, my darling, that is
a weak word! You are hope, Joy and
gladness. You are everything that the
world holds bright, beautiful and dear.
Oh, Lean, do not feel any jealousy of
my fathers. wife-none! But l. can
not help wishing that no stranger had
ever crossed the threshold of our happy
home.''
"Then I should never have corue.
"True; and wou1d rather have had
. thousand times more pain with the
happiness you have brought me than
have had no pain at all and not such
happiness. But, Lean, fancy--if my
dear father were the Sir Austen of three
years ago, we could be married now
and make Larchton Mere our home.''
Yes; but it is of no use thinking of
what might have been, Ross. Let us
fix our thoughts clearly upon what is
and what will be. Do you 60 Us you in
tended, early tomorrow
Yes-early tomorrow, 1ny darling.
How shall leave youp''
'With a light heart and full of hope"