The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-08-03

Marie, through all these weary months
my faith in you has never faltered. 1
have said to my heart, She may be
dead, but she is true to me as l have
been to her. But-can it be possibleP
Marie, my cousin, Captain Ellis, is en-
gagged to Marjorie Hare. Can it be that
you have confounded him with meP"
Your cousin! Captain Ellis" she
repeated, slowly. '.But she called him
Thornton?n
"Yes, it was foolish idea to give US
names alike; but, you see, we had
rich old uncle by that name, and both
our mothers were determined we should
stand equally in his favor. It's got
poor Thornton into lots of trouble, since
he had to shoulder all my boyish
scrapes. But he got the old man S
money, after all, so he can't complain;
and he's been like brother to me- But,
little girl, tell me you didn't mean what
you said just nowr'
Tightly she pressed her hand against
her heart.
s'I-I meant it all!' she murmured.
''Oh, Thornton, if you have ever loved
me, go away and leave me! II am
going on the stage first for year, and
Lnen am 10 pc married.
"You are going ON the stage? Your
promise to me, Marie-did you forget
that?''
''No; but thought all was cancelled
between us. must go now. 1t would
take thousand pounds to forfeit my
engagement. Neither you nor have
that amount"
'.But Ellis would lend it to me- Oh,
my darling! do you owe me nothing for
all that have suffered?'
"You forget that there is another. en-
gagement no money can release me
from. know now that I did very
wrong, for the man is worthy of good
woman's all, and 1 can give him moth
ing but my worthless self. Go away,
Thornton! II can bear the future bet
ter now, since know have only my
self to blame. Go, Thornton-go."
Eyes, Marie, I will go; but only until
tomorrow. We shall both be calmer
then. We will find way out of this
cruel labyrinth
He bent and took her in his arms
For moment she lay there, unresist-
ing. 1t was so sweet, SO perilously
sweetl
Then she family murmured, "GO!
and he obeyed her. ....
That night, a servant brought her q
note. With trembling hand she broke
the seal. 1t was very short, but it gave
her back her freedom.
81 heard ALL" her lover wrote. "I know now
why could waken no response in the heart
you told mo was dead. You would have kept
your word, Marie; but it would have been too
cruel to us both. Child, told you once to love
you was to love you always knew my
words true then; know them true now. But
my love will never wrong the man who calls
you wife. Yet, dear, ask but one last favor
at your hands. am rich; let my money buy
you some little happiness. 1t IL the forfeit of
your engagement, ask you to accept 1t as my
wedding gift. You will not refuse me this,
Marie? My path is very dark just now. Let
this one ray of sunshine gladden. II, until am
brave enough to bear more light; and believe
me always your friend, FRANK FERROL. o.
In that moment she was nearer low
ing him than in all the months he had
pleaded for her heart.
When Thornton came next day she
put the letter i'll his hands. His own
eyes were misty as he refolded and
handed it back.
Then the joy of the present enwrap-
ped them in its sunshine. Is it always
thus? Do we purchase pleasure only
at cost Of pain? In the happiness for
which both had waited SO long, which
was theirs at last in its perfect fulness,
they forgot to ask or answer the grave
question. After all-for them was the
sunshine-the cloud was in another
mans sky. ... ..s.s