Smyrna times., 1882-05-31
& Woman's Heart.

IL was Il Wllu, stormy, November day.
People hurried across the common with
their . c0mf0rters mp to their noses, and
thought, with little glow at the heart of
warm fire in cosey rooms at home.
In the parlor of the large, white house
facing the common there was as stormy Il
scene i'll progress as that in which the
elements were engaged outdoors. 1t WAS
comfortable room, richly-not extrava-
gantly-furnished. A bright fire burned
in the crate, casting a rich, warm glow
over the room.
Between the Two windows stood Il man
of perhaps % or - Years, and remarkably
handsome. Ills features were perfect ::
a straight ariStocratic nose, a beautiful
nodded chin and just a curve Of full. red
lip. underneath soft, brown mustache.
This was Charles West.
Half-a-dOzeh PAGES from him stood a
young girl, clad in 4 simple brown dress.
Hers was striking, not handsome face /;
the mouth was too large, but her eyes .
You forgot while looking into their depth
| that she was not beautiful. They were
| black now with excitement as she listened
to her companions words
And yet you loved me once Janet" he
said, with low smile creeping over his
face and lighting up his deep eyes.
Loved you Yes if it will be any sat
isfaction to you to hear rae say it, I
loved you, heaven knows how madly and
blindly! | wOrshiped you! l would have
knelt and kissed the very ground where
you walked | would have died for YOU
My life was one vast field of pure, un-
broken bloom until you came, and with
ruthless feet crushed all my flowers until
they were dead. | hung on your every
word and look, and waited hungrily fol
your smiles, which you gave me; Just as
in charitable moment, you would toss q
handful of pennies to beggar. And you
stand there with your iRsolent, smiling
face, when you know THAI you have been
the means of making all my life unutter
ably wretched. Heavens If | were :
man l would strike you dead at my feet =
1t was the day previous to his departure
for London, and he called to say good
by" He thanked her for the pleasure
her friendship had given him said it was
just likely they might meet somewhere
again he hoped they should. She sal
and listened with a white, still face. She
understood him perfectly. He meant
that the past was to &c for nothing. But
when he arose to go. and laid his hand OF
hers with the hope that they might alway;
be friends, all her anguish and wounded
pride flashed upon her face, and throwing
his hand from her. she cried: Friends
Never-never! You and l can never be
friends! Oh, may 1 only learn to hate
you as you deserve 2"
And then he said: And yet you loved
me once, Janew
Her answer | have already given.
Three months later Charles West mar
ried slender, delicate girl, with a fortune
He fell in love with her money. Six
months after, his bride was laid in hel
grave, victim of consumption.
Some three years passed away, and W
among the mountains of Cumberland
Charles West again met Jane Venner.
When they met she recognized his bow
by slight inclination of her head, and re
PEELED all his attempts to renew theil
friendship by her cool, quiet dignity.
One evening a party of gentlemen nae
in one of the private rooms of the hotel tC
play cards. By some chance Miss Ven
ner's name was mentioned, and West
flushed with wine, caught at it.
"Jane Venner? Egad, boys! did yOu
know she was sweet on me once? Was
'pon honor! She really told me so, anC
accused me of breaking her heart or some
thing Of that sort. 1t was quite romantic
l assure you ;" and he laughed loudly anC
began to shuttle the cards preparatory tt
dealing, when across the table there cam,
voice with thrill of indignation in it
Charles West, any man who wOulC
speak of lady as you have spoken o
Miss Venner, deserves to be hOrsewhip
ped"
May be allowed to inquire if Captain
Knowles intends to be personal in his re
marks?" said West, with sneer.
"Sir," returned Knowles, in that sam,
low voice, you are mean, contemplate
puppyp
There was q breathless silence for a few
moments, and then West said, in a low
musical voice: {" will meet Captain
Knowles at any place he may appoint, to
morrow at sunrise, and we will settle thi
affair. Major Graham, will you do mt
the kindness to act as my second? Per
haps Howe will do the same for you
Captain Knowles"
The two gentlemen assented, and step
ped aside to arrange matters.
The next morning Jane Venner arOs'