Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-10-12
MISS nAKCC URT'S LOVER.

"It looks as if it we're going to snow
for weeks, Miss Elizabeth" said old
Gregory, as he touched his hat and hob
bled down the icy pathway as fast as
rheumatism and old age would permit
him.
Miss Elizabeth looked down into the
sweet old English garden, with the tang
led mass of shrubbery covered with
snow, and mist came over her eyes.
A week The slim white fingers closed
tightly over the yellow envelope clasp
ed in her hand, and as she turned away
from the door tear plast ed down up
on it.
Unjust one week the NOR gage would
be foreclosed, the letter said, and unless
the amount could be raised in the mean
while, the Gear old house where she was
born must pass into the hands of strang-
ers,
The lives ments that her nephew
made for her all proved failures, and
when, five years ago, he had come bust
ling ND from London and tcld her that
this mortgage would save her fortune,
she signed her name TO the paper, and
for while all seemed well.
How foolish she had been Why had
she not asked more about it? Ralph
Morgan had paid the interest for her as
1t came due, until two years ago, when
she received word from him, and he had
decided to 60 to Australia.
That was all, Miss Elizabeth had
seen very little of him. He was the
only child other sister. When the faith
er died, the property was divided be-
tween the sisters. Margaret took her
share in money, and went, with her
husband and child to live in London,
where she died soon after.
Elizabeth had never left the old
homestead, and with proper manage
ment, there would never have been any
need to do so; but now-she had made
another mistake.
The old clock was ticking loudly in
the great wide hall as she slowly went
up the stairs to the pleasant room whore
she had spent her lifetime.
81 am always making mistakes" she
moaned, drearily, as sfe threw herself
on the little white bed. Sixteen years
ago to-day made one, and now I have
made another"
There were no tears now in the dark
gray eyes, only tired look that strang-
ers would wonder at; for if ever a wo-
man was envied III that village Elizabeth
Harcourt was.
''She has everything one could wish
for" the poor folks said; "but she is too
good with it all.
How could they know of the business
worries, and the pinching economy, and
the aching heart that the sweet, calE
face never showed2
Elizabeth Harcourt was a proud wo-
man, and in years gone by, had
been hasty one; and now in the quiet
of her room, her thoughts went back to
long ago when, in her hot temper, she
told Jack Rainsford she never wished
to see his face again. How could he
know that In the morning she would
have given worlds to unsay the words ?
1t had started like most quarrels,
with such little thing But he had
taken her at her word, and one week
from the night she gave him back his
ring he sailed for India, and she had
never seen him since.
She did not think he would stay away,
but, In the meanwhile, no one should
ever know she cared at all; 30 she laugh
ed and talked more bithely than ever,
and grew prettier every day, until every
one said she never had cared for him
and away off in hot Calcutta, Jack Rains
ford heard it and his heart grew hard
and bitter.
A year went by and he did not come
back; then she promised to marry Phi
lip Dinsmore. After that she was gay
er than ever, until, when the wedding
day was fixed, and the villagers talking
of the grand match, she broke it off with
him. Nobody ever knew why, except
Philip Dinsmore. If he had been less
grand and noble than he was she might
have married him but looking into those
pure eyes of his, SIZE could not take
lie on her lips. So she told him with
bitter tears how the face of her absent
lover came between her and any one
else.
Brave Philip Dinsmore AS he list
ened, winter and whittier grew his face;
but when she had finished. he stopped
and kissed the sweet red lips for the
last time. In all the world he knew he
would never love another woman as he
loved Beth Harcourt, and1t was grand
er love than she had before.
stI am going to India on business next