The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-06-22
Owing to circumstances it was two


weeks before again saw my friend
Miss Allison. Then riding out to spend
an afternoon and take tea with her, 1
came suddenly upon her in the fields,
walking very fast and nervously, and as
if with no special aim. She warmly
welcomed me, but not in her old bright
happy way, and I noticed that she was
looking badly.
"Where is Mr.. FieldP' inquired.
:" In the house."
"What, by himself ?"
"Oh, no; Alethia is with him. Did
you not know that she had come Been
here nearly two weeks"
had, in fact, forgotten Alethia's ex-
pected visit, but presently approaching
the house, saw Mr.. Field bending over
the shoulder of an extremely pretty and
delicate-looking girl, apparently di-
Glancing from them to Priscilla I saw
her lips unconsciously contract into an
expression of repressed pain which at
once revealed the whole story.
It waa wonderful what self.command
she exercised during the evening. am
quite sure that neither Arthur Field OF
Alethia suspected that she was suffering.
But, indeed, they appeared too much
absorbed in themselves and each other
to bestow much notice on other people.
repeated my visit on the following
week. 1t was now the young people
who were looking miserable. Arthur
was seated beside Miss Priscilla, duti-
fully reading to her from a newspaper,
scarcely glancing at the young girl who
stood with her back to him, looking
from the window. By-and-bye she went
out.
"Take this shawl to her, Arthur"
said Miss Allison "she has gone to
walk in the garden, and fear it is
COOL"
"I don't think it is COOL" he an
swered, duly, "and I would prefer
staying here, if I am not in your way"
But saw, and so did Priscilla, that
his glances involuntarily wandered from
the window toward the slender figure
lettering amid the rose bushes in the
garden. Perhaps she expected him to
follow, but he conscientiously resisted
the temptation.
On the Sunday following I met all
three at the country church. Miss
Allison was looking very badly, pale,
nervous and hollow-eyed but both the
young people were radiant. They were
remarkably handsome couple as they
sat one on each side of their older COM
panion, who looked older than ever from
the contrast. Yet both were most ten
derly solicitous for her comfort, and
Arthur conducted her on his arm to her
old. fashioned carriage with an almost
chivalric devotion. I rode home with
them at her earnest request, and after
our early tea we walked in the rose.
garden together, leaving the young
couple to themselves.
"What day have you fixed upon for
your marriage ?" I inquired.
She drew quick, sharp breath, but
answered calmly:
"That is broken of. I shall never
marry"
was almost prepared for this.
1t was an absurd notion from the
first" she continued, "and I am
ashamed of myself for having dreamed
of it."
Has he said anything-?'
She interrupted me quickly.
"No, no; not word. On the con-
trary, he insisted upon it until until
succeeded in making him believe that
l had never really cared about it. You
see, he held himself bound in honor.
But they were so unhappy, he and Ale
thia-poor child; and how could be
so hard-hearted as to separate them?
So talked to them both, and" here
she broke down into little gasping
sob-"they are to be married at Christ
mas"
"Does Alethia's father eonsent?"
I" He did not at first. He came down
for day or two, and had to talk him
over to it. 1 mean to leave everything
of mine to Arthur; and shall meantime
make over to him sufficient to prevent
its being said that Alethia married a
beggar. And in every other respect
he is her equal, if not her superior"
The generous, unselfsh little old
maid I could have kissed her in my
admiration and sympathy, and l quite
agreed with Arthur Field when he SAID
to me again, with great fervor and GER
tain moisture in his fine eyes:
"She is an angel"
was not at the wedding, but Pris.
ella herself sent me piece of the we'd
ding cake. She wrote few lines cheer
fully, telling of their plans, and of how
she had purchased few acres more Of
land to make the farm larger for Arthur
But do not believe that the little old
maid, though she makes first-rate
aunt, ever got entirely over the first
love that had come to her-too late,
alas, to be to her Joy and blessing.
Oh, youth, youth, what an inestimable
treasure thou art; so often lightly dis
regarded to be afterward lamented in
vain re egret and yearning.-,Susan Archtr