The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-09-28

teaux en- Espagne were beginning to
stand on substantial foundation
Perhaps this might. have made him
happy. Naturally he felt thankful,
but being a very warm-hearted and
Tin some things) a very unscientiic
M. d., he could not feel quite restful.
The truest of all truths is that what
ever we love we can forgive, and
whatever we forgive it is not difficult
to love. Bessie Ashby had refused
Captain Housted. Why had she done
it? Could it be that her foolish little
heart was subdued at last? 1t is easy
to be magnanimous when one has
injured, and it is hard not to be mag
unanimous when the injurer is pretty
girl whom one has loved. If this were
more than simple record l should
certainly decide that my hero could
not forgive my heroine under any cir
cumstances, and consequently should
doom them both to misery and de-
spair. But, as it is, / am compelled
to say that Tom Halifax, M. D., for
gave Bessie Ashby, for the simple rea-
son that, in spite of her faults, he loved
her.
And Bessie? During her cousins
illness she had learned the extent of
the NJ. DIS power. She had found out
that she could look up to him and rely
on his strength, that she could trust
him implicitly. She began to discover
that he had higher object in view
than the regard for self, which had
been the one ruling power of her life,
and his example taught her the true
nobility of generous sacrifice. Still, in
spite of the change in the hearts of
both, they had not advanced much out
wardly from the old coldness. But in
the second month of Captain Housted's s
illness the denouement came, as a de-
nOument always comes, unexpectedly.
One evening there had been slight
return of the fever, and after a heavy
sleep the patient awakened, restless
and wandering. Bessie was standing
at one side of the bed and Dr. Halifax
at the other, holding the captains hand
as he opened his eyes.
at was you she loved. after all
Halifax" he said, smiling family. 81
am 'only Cousin Fred"
The blood rushed into Bessie's face.
The handsome eyes told her they un-
derStood-told her with one glance
that burnt her cheeks and set her heart
beating swiftly. The next moment
she brushed by him and left the room
Half an hour after DR.. Halifax
| came downstairs and walked straight
into the parlor, as though he had some
object in view. A very pretty figure
stood revealed in the dusky light by
the window-a pretty head, with long
shining curls, resting upon an equally
pretty hand. 1 wonder if Miss Ashby
knew what was coming? Certainly
her pulse huttered very fast, and she
looked out into the garden quite
reSolutely.
"Bessie!'
She did not move.
| "BesSier'
He certainly was determined gen
tleman, this DR.. Halifax, for he drew
the pretty hands away and turned Mis-.
Ashby to the light.
"Was it true?" he whispered, bend
ing very low over her.
The long curls dropped littl'
nearer. 1t really looked as if Mis-:
Ashby was going over to the enemy.
"I-I think it was" she said, yer,
softly. 81 think it has been true for ;
long time, DR.. Halifax
1t was dreadfully undignifed, bu
Miss Ashby positively made an uncon
ditional surrender, and the curls lay il
a shining heap against DR.. Halifax
broad shoulder.
my dear little girl" he said, ten
derly kissing the pretty, tremulou
face. "My dear, dear little girl, how
happy you have made me-"
What more have l to say? 1 hav
ended my record, bringing both her
and heroine through their adventures
and leaving them in a properly dra
matte position. have only to tell yol
that Captain IIousted has proved m,
theory of the elasticity of hearts, and
recovering from his sickness, recovere,
from his disappointment in very sen
sible and decOrouS manner. In al
probability he forgot his penchant fo
brown eyes and married blonde. l
he did, could there be better proc
that love is a lottery, and "variet
the spice of life ?"