The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-02-23
HE LEARNED TOO LATE HIS FOLLY.

AL, Oh oAC 6OA01 IAC OAA AAAAAAAISA laNSS'
Charles A4s:cb.
HE LEARNED TOO LATE HIS FOLLY.
The summer was like no other summer
the world had ever known. Never was
June SO sweet; never were mornings SO rosy
aud radiant, never We're twlhghts 50 ten
der.
A young and beautiful girl stood look
ing at the sunset, as the last farewell glow
bathed the blue waves with golden radi-
ance. To look at her face DO one would
ever dream that her position in life was not
among the proudest; but 9 glance at the
Flossy Thayer had been brought up by hel
grandfather in a quiet, secluded country
neighborhood. The old gentleman was
wealthy Flossy the darling of his heart
and great pains were lavished upon her edu-
cation. The grandfather's health was no,
good, and they travelled great deal, Otter
spending the winter in the south. They
had been there when the crash came; MI
Thayer lost his money. He was the most
honorable man alive; he returned home
paid his liabilities t., the last farthing
sold the beautiful country seat where Flos-
sy had spent her childhood; established
himself in all old farm house, by the sea,
with hardly enough money to live upon.
So FOR four years Mr.. Thayer and his
granddaughter had lived quietly enough in
their retreat. So fur es the old gentleman
knew, Flossy had been very happy, but in
truth she was always waiting for some Won
derful change, which was to free her from,
the humdrum life in which her youth was
passing. But it WAS nevertheless tIus that
20 palace ever sheltered maiden more
royalty fair than she. And so thought some
one else as he drew near her With quick,
light footsteps. Tall and straight, with
dark, laughing eyes and mouth shudowed
by soft mustache, Mark Norton was just
ht:ed to win the fancy OF young, inexle-
Eenced girl.
30 you nave been waiting ror me? Hap
~ man that I am to have won the love Of
one so fair and sweet"
A glow Of crimson tinged the girls face
as The eyes uplifted to meet her lovers told
plainly what was in her heart. Willie the
Young people convcIsed, Mark took Flos-
.y's hand in his and told her something
which made the tear drops quickly start.
DO not grieve, dear F]ossy; shall only
be gone short time, and you know that if
it were not necessary nothing could take me
from you. You are not afraid TINT absence
could alter my love? Flossy, you do not
doubt me?" She was young and unused to
the world, and it is no wonder that she
trusted Mark Norton. who, to her. was the
.ohlest and grandest of pen. They parted.
Mark Norton, following his PHYSICIANS adj
ice, had come to the quiet country town by
the sea to regain his health, which had long
had met Flossy, and 5eing shy and shrink
ing, 1t had been the work Of long time to
establish himself upon friendly terms witt
the girl, whose beauty surpassed anything
he had ever seen. It was not long before,
with q thrill cf vanity, Mark could see the
hold he had gained in her innocent neart.
One day in answer to his whispered ques-
ton, Flossy acknowledged <Aat her heart
was his, and he placeda golden band of
betrothal ::pon her slender finger.
For while after his departure letters
from hex lover came regular to Flossy; but
after while the letters came less frequent.
~, all then when three months had passed
the looked for letter came. It read, oh,
how coldly and contained his farewell; Il
am gong abroad. I shall probably be abb
at several years. Our immediate mar
Rage 10 now, Of course, an impossibility
could not ask you nor do feel it right to
hold sou through an indefinite time to YOU
f}sNEs; therefore tree YOU.
Once, twice che read the letter through:
Ken, with white face and fearless
eyes, held it to the match with q steady hand
nor let it fall till the fame crept 50 close
that 1t bhckened tho tender flesh, and tho
letter lay singsdhnd charred under her feet.
That day she went into her grandfather's
room and laid her head on his.
Don't talk to me grandpap she said,
and don't ask me- any questions; but we'll
keep house alone-you and land we'll
forget that we ever intended to let any,
body else in"
1.-The scoundrel! If you had been rich,
my child, this sorrow would not have come
upon you. But, mark my words, some
time you will have your revenge"
-Four years have swiftly passed. Seated
in q room in one of the popular hotels
in New York were two young men.
Suddenly one Of them, looking out Of the
window, exclaimed: "Look, Aubrey See
if you know who that lady is, what = love-
~ woman! Dou you know herr"
II should think that did, and think
myself honored that do. She is tho belle
of New York, and the most beautiful girl it
has ever known"
turned from the window. "You speak
warmly, Aubrey. ke said.
1You would not blame mo for speaking
warmly it you knew her," he answered.
Her history is romantic one. If you
like. will tell it to you:
~Her name is Miss Flossy rhayer. When
1TSs knew her she was not wealthy, though
in my eyes even than her beauty surpassed
any that had ever seen. It was not long
after you went on your travels that IN uncle
of mine, who had purchased u place by the
sea, invited me to spend the summer With
him. 1t was very quiet, QUITO the-waJ
village, and soon became acquainted With
Flossy. Not long after that tho old grand
father died, and my kind aunt took the
sorrowing girl into her house. My uncle
had tho papers in his possession of some
mining shares that the old gentleman kae
long deemed worthless, and which sudden
ly rose, first to par, and then 50 widel;
footing in tho world. As before, all that
the grandfather had had crumbled into
powder, now all that he had left was con-
verted into gold. Miss Thayer came int>
possession OF the largo property, which in
five years from the moment the tide in his
affairs had turned her fortune was regained
and doubled"
As Mark Norton listened, varied ex-
pressions fitted over his face. He knew
that the maiden whose heart no had wo1
and cast aside for his ewn amusement, an6
his beautiful beiress must be ono and thu
same. Might it not be that, if he exertet
his art of fascinating to the utmost, hi
could soon regain tho love he had once
held2
Aubrey" he said. II should like t.
met this Miss Thayer. Gould you no
manage to present me to her?"
That night the two friends entered tn.
drawing room in which q brilliant part,
was assembled. A little later Mark Morton
stood before Flossy. She had never looked
more beautiful than she did then In he
creamy costume OF satin and aesey lace
looped with diamond stars.
Miss Thayer, allow ma t. present 70 ys'
NJ. Eon4o.s -