Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-07-13

key, kindly abstaining from no.
ticing Winnie, who, with burning cheeks,
left the room as soon as possible. Johns
face, too, was flushed, and his manner
tinged with embarrassment as he re-
piled to the few questions put to him by
his aunt, who told him they would look
for his answer in three days; then he
escaped to the library with his friend,
Percy Norton. There we will leave him
and follow Winnie to her room.
On entering she had flung herself
into wide, deep armchair near the
window. The rays of the setting sun
touched the bowed, golden head and
fingered there, Lighting it into still
brighter glory. Shame, resentment and
wounded pride were struggling with
softer feelings in her heart. Kind as
her uncle had always been, now could
he now be so inconsiderate How dared
he fling her at any mans head, and
least of all John Redmond'sl John
|
had brought her home. a poor little
motherless babe, and his were the only
arms in which she would rest They
had been firm friends ever since, and
the greatest sorrow and Joy of her short
life had been his exile and return.
Perhaps, whispered hope, he may love
you, and all will yet be right.
But the timid little voice was silenced
as memory brought back host of &C.
tions, all kind, but none lovelike. Long
did she sit there, and many a wild
scheme passed through her head OF
stealing away into the world and leav-
ing John in possession of the fortune.
What is to be done must be done
quickly" she said, or he will be before
me in the refusal of the property; and
I must go away aud let them think me
dead"
Then she rose, bathed her eyes, and
stole down to the garden. Her favorite
seat was just outside the library win
| dows, and it was here she went Just in
time to hear Johns voice saying:
"Yes, We have always been fond of
each other in cousinly fashion, but
tell you, Percy, under the circumstances es
never can and never will ask her to
marry me; and, poor little girl to save
for her that money, must refuse her."
Gathering her skirts around her
Winnie fled noiselessly back to her
room, but not this time to think or
weep. She was cut to the heart, for, all
unknown to herself, she loved John
Redmond with the full strength of her
woman's nature, and, womanlike, pre-
pared to sacrifice herself for the man
she loved. For an hour she busted
herself in settling the contents OF the
various drawers and boxes in the room,
making up some of the palmer articles
of clothing into a small bundle. She
then sat down, and, taking pen and
paper, wrote the following note;
"DEAR AUNT LOUISE Ere have
read this I shall be lying lthe
dark waters of the river. 1SMr.
Weston I absolutely refuse to comply
with the terms of my uncle's will.
could not; barrier greater than you
know exists to his desire. Try and
think kindly of me, and tell John not
to think harshly of his little sister.
"WINNIE."
(" 1t is better they should think me
dead" she said. "If they knew my
real intentions they would never cease
to seek for me-" Then, stopping down,
with foolishly tender thought, she
kissed Johns name where she had writ
ten it, and, sealing the note, left it
where they would find it.
Putting on her hat and cloak she took
down from the shelf her pretty garden
hat, and carrying that and the bundle
stole from the room. At the door she
paused and looked back. She had been
so happy here so happy! But sitting
her sobs she fled down the old familiar
avenue and took the path leading to the
river.
And now let us go back to the library.
Had poor little Winnie bat come a
moment before she need not now be
speeding away from her home with so
sore heart. John Redmond loved her
with love equal to her own, and the
words that she heard were spoken
under the belief that she loved him
with only sisterly affection, which he
was too noble to play upon by inducing
her to become his wife.
Percy had to return to his home,
and his friend determined to walk with
him as far as the station, as the night
| I,oz Looop,a oIouJ- o.d