Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-12-06
TBE SECOND LOVE.
Isn't she lovely? =

Isn't she loyely?"
Tom Charlesworth spoke enthusiastic
eallv. HIS WAS nature not often stir
red. but very deep and earnest; and
Fernand Wallace looked into his face
and wondered, with half smile, how it
would seem to feel things below mere
surface depth.
He was very handsome. this Fernan
Wallace. with soft, treacherous eyes,
features like the Apollo Belvidere, and
a lute-sweet voice; and Tom Charles
worth, who read every one according to
the keynote of his own noble nature,
loved hi1a as if they had been brothers.
"She's well enough" said Wallace,
debonairly. "Nose Just trlfie too
short and the lips too full, but otherwise
what the world calls beautiful. So
you're hard hit, my boy, eh?'
Il love her dearly" sad Tom, in a
quiet unimpassioned voice that meant
so much, "and, Goi willing, 1 will be
good husband to her; and you'd better
remain to be my best man. It's hardly
worth while to return to Exeter, for
three weeks.
"'Wel, perhaps you are right. cd tel
low" said FerEand Wallace: but any
one a trifie more observant than Tom
would have noticsd that the handsome,
restless ewes eyaded his gaze with strange
subtlety.
..Do you hear. Elsie?" said Charles
worth, exultinglg. Fernand viii stay 10
the wedding. 1 knew We would per
suade him"
Elsie AIordaunt looked suddenly up
from her fancy work, and something
wild and piteous il her gaze attracted
Toms attention.
Elsie, are you iI'F
Elsie laughed a little hysterically.
No-what nonsense, Tom; I'm sell
enough.
Don't get any absurd notions into
your head"
The night before the wedding Tom
Charlesworth strobe over the fields to-
wards Eisie's home.
The little room where she was won't
to SIT ana wait for him was dark, and
the window vas open. Tom leaned his
elbows on the easement and looked IN.
"Els1e-dariingl"
Bat there came no answer. Elsie YVES
not thee.
lie went around II the orthodox en-
trance. feeling little disappointed: he
scarcely knew why. Ms MordaUht
met him in the hall with white scared
face.
"Oh. Mr. Charlesworth, We were Just
goins TO send for you?" she cried,
.sTo send for mel Toms face blanch-
ed "What has happened9 Is Elsie lip
Mrs. Mordaunt's lips trembled, but
gave forth 10 sound, as she placed IN
Cbsrlesworth's hands a note stained
with her own tears-a brief note WIT
ten by Elsie:
..Dont blame me, mamma, nor le'
him blame me, because Icould not heip
loving Fernand the best. Tell him not
to feel bad: for indeed, indeed | was not
worthy of his love, and he Will be hap
uier without me-poor Tom!
And If was signed with the one Wor''
elsie"
Cnarlesworah quietly gave back the
note and walked forth into the starry
silence of the night. No eyes but those
of the All seeing should witness the Sc
cret anguish OF his heart
Mother thought you would come
SIR. if-n you knew how poor she was
ana that father was dead, and
A burst Of tears checked the child S
voice as she stood. with dropping head
ana hands tightly clasped together, In
Mr.. Charlesworth's library.
but my child, you have not told me- $,
wbo YOUR mother is, nor who you are
sI am Margaret, and mother Is called
Elsie Wallace"
Mr.. Charlesworth arose and tooA 'i'e
child's hand IN his.
Come. child, ami take me 10 your
home" was ali he said.
1t was Elsie-pale, sallow and wan
the ghost of her former self, her VOICE
interrupted bya cough, her hands trans
parent and not with feyer-yet Eisi'
still"
You have forgiven me, Tom?' "oh'
Tom could not have died without you
words OF pardon.
~ forgave you freely, long ago
Elsie. ,
Thave expiated my iolly on the al
tar of repentauc. Oh, Tom. he was
fend IN human shape, she adoe'
shudderingly, "but now
She muteIy motionei toward the scan !!
tily furnished room, tie dYln8 nfe L
the CRATE, aaIl the child shiyering L
her rags at the front of the bed
1T is not tor myself" she faltered
Heaven knows 1 have not long u
suffer, and l am well Injured to IT. oa
my poor little Margaret, what Is 10 DC
come O. herr"
''Shall take her, Elsie?"
For my own," Tom answered qne.i'
i. a