Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-10-26

her son-in-laW in the south, my cousin
Edith's husband, and it was arranged
for the widow and her only child to re-
turn to her old home. This rendered
my presence even less necessary than
ever, and made it all the more easy for
my dear old friend and doctor to pro-
pose scheme he had formed for the
mutual benefit Of his wife and myself,
as he kindly put it.
1t was for me to live with them as
companion, housekeeper, and in fact
daughter, for they had never had
children Of their own, and his wife
was a confirmed invalid. With this
new home health returned to both
body and mind. For some years had
lived in world Of my own, with but
one object and one END in view. I
thought that I tried to do my duty
to bear patiently the monotonous rou-
tine of my uncle's house-not to reply
to my aunt's often harsh words. !
taught in the schools, made fiannels
for the poor; and yet I lived really and
truly for myself, with but little sympa-
thy for those Immediately around me.
There was a different atmosphere in
DR.. Fanshaw's house. His noble, un-
firing work among the sick and suffer-
ing filed me with wonder and respect
full admiration, and so did the patience
and unselfshness of his gentle, lady
like wife, who had been confined to
her couch with spinal complaint for
many years.
In few months, however, came
great trial. The strong man fell sick
and died; / nursed him to the last, and
promised never to leave his poor wife.
1t was a sad blow to her at first, but
borne with her usual quiet resignation.
Now she is quite cheerful again. I
know she thinks her time here will be
but short, and the hope Of a happy
meeting with him she loved is her
chief solace. I, too, am resigned and
happy. The doctors will has removed
one source Of anxiety as to the future,
and am now eight-and-twenty, and
feel that I can settle down thankfully
in that state of life in which it has
pleased God to place me.
1 can even write calmly Of Harry,
who is alive and getting on well. Of
course he is nothing to me now, and /
dare say has almost forgotten me in
all these years. Well, such tn ings will
happen in the chances and changes of
life, but I shall never forget him. He
will choose some other wife, and hope
they will be happy, but she will not
love him better than the Nellie Of old.
Here I was interrupted by the ring
Of the bell and a note. To my great
surprise it was from Mrs. Leedon
(Harry's mother, J, asking me to call
upon her in the afternoon. What
could she want? Nine years ago she
and my aunt broke off the engagement
between Harry and me.
Ali it was hard and cruel timel
We were, as they said, foolish, penni-
less young creatures; but then we
loved each other, and he was willingto
work and to wait. But that was all
over now.
After our early dinner I made the
invalid comfortable for her afternoon
nap and started for my two-mile
walk.
A bright winter afternoon, clear,
pale sky, hard roads, and glittering
hoar-frost lying on trees and hedges.
1 soon reached Mrs. Leedon's cottage.
She looked, I thought, much aged, and
there was an unusual nervousness in
her manner.
After a little attempt at converse
ton she said: Ellen, I hope in what
happened some years ago you gave me,
at least, credit for conscientious mo-
tives."
"Mrs. Leedon," 1 replied, hastily,
shat time is long past, and have no
wish to recall it,
"But, my dear, you must see now
what an imprudent thing an engage
ment would have been"
| rose to go. "It is all over Mrs.
Leedon, l repeat. Right or wrong.
what was then done can never be
undone."
"Stay a moment, Ellen. What l
have to tell you is Of such Importance
that 1 must beg you to hear me pa
tiently.'' She took my hand and drew
me to the sofa by her.
cat that time I acted, as / still
think, Tor the best; but two years ago
l fear 1 made mistake that is your
aunt and I. Soon after your engage
ment to Mr.. Denton L received a letter
from my son.. considerably after date,
inclosing one to you. He told me
that he proposed coming home in a
few months, and as he had now an ap-
pointment which would enable him to
marry he hoped to persuade you to-
return with him as his wife. AS your
uncle had forbidden any correspond
ence, he inclosed letter for you in
mine."
l sprang to my feet. "And why did
7 L. Ia