The Delaware ledger., 1883-09-15

stay with Aunt huth Tor tne present.
that is all, Mark"
She truely said she did not know why
she felt very traitress, thus openly to
blame Wilfred Hare. She did not re-
alize, poor Saidee how pleasant Mark
Vale's devotion had suddenly become
to her-how plain she was making this.
But he could not see. He walked on
beside her silently, little dreaming he
was aught to her to-day beyond what
he had been before. Never had life |
seemed so dreary to Mark Vale-not |
even that black morning when he |
learned she was to marry Wilfred Hare.
Then his unselfish soul found solace in |
the thought that she was happy now
he stood in presence of her misery |
he, who, had he the power, would not |
have permitted the winds to blow
roughly on her-and could not save her
its least pang.
He understood Wilfred Hare better
than she; it would have been easier,
perhaps, to resign her to another man.
1t was not strange, that in this hour,
realizing his own legality and tender
ness, he should rail at justice as the
veriest of myths.
The days passed slowly, drearily, to
Saidee with each, her love for Will
fred Hare, growing deeper, her grief
sharper more uncomfortable.
"Come what will, no power on earth
shall separate me from you"
Morn, noon and night these words
came back to her, and with them hope
to feed upon. Surely all would be
right, she thought. He could not give
her up; he was only angry with her;
he would come to understand and for
give her, and then all would be well
again.
These were uneventful days, till, one
morning, the news was brought to Sal
dee that Aunt Ruth could not live
that, contrary to expectation, the pc
culiar troubles that had resulted from
her injuries were developing fatally.
Her gentle heart smote her, for often,
often, this latter time, she had regretted
her promise in her anguish, wish she
had broken it. Awhile, remorse BAN
ished all else from her thoughts; but
love is a mighty king, and poor Aunt
Ruth had not been long under the sod
ere it regained the mastery.
He would surely write, now that
Aunt Ruth was dead he would surely
understand.
l So she was musing one twilight,
when there came knock at the door
and letter was handed to her. At tht
sight of the familiar writing she coulc
t not repress a rapturous cry, despite thu
: presence Of the new servant, who knew
l nothing of Wilfred Hare ;her trembling
1t fingers could scarcely break the seal
is And when she did
l. Only wedding card, the little not
'e she had written him, and the line :
N "It is but right should restore t
you your pledge"
E. Wilfred Hare had proven himself.
She read it, she broke into fit
/ hysterical laughter, and then, not know
I'd ing what she did, she cropped it, an
went down and out over the lawn, ia
at into the maple grove. Looking ahea
ed dreamily, she saw Mark Vale comm
toward her. He had heard of this; !
h was coming vaguely, with only Il
re thought that he must comfort her.
nv She waited for him, she stretched Of
re- the hand which still held the card vii
Ny dreamy smile. ,...
VS.. sMark," she said 'sdid you kno
yer Wilfred was married Did y
re. know"
nd She could say no more, the full re-
be ity had broke. .-.
He had endured much, he could I
5or endure the look on her face. With
.;Iv sudden, uncomfortable impulse,
hor threw his arms around her and drew
to his breast.
sbe "Oh, Saidee forgive me, forgive
vho but cannot see you so ]"
a. So cried Mark Vale quite terrii
raw at his act, striving yainly to loose
,m arms. To his surprise she did not re-
tba him. He even fancied she clung
like him.
"Do not sent me away p' vo
,cad fioated up to him. 81 have only got
alb to love me, and know you love me
much"
Was this delusion, or was she me
W ing him in her despair
ing "Saidee, " he murmured, bewildere
edo youmean that-that you could \
'en- ry me ?"
He He was all she had. Hers wa
time nature to crave prop it seemed to
liked that moment, that never a love wa
and sweet to woman as Mark Vale's wa
Vi her.
Inns 81 loved Wilfred," she answe
!, brokenly. sBut l have lost
'neio and 1 must have love or my
suon will break. Dear Mark if you
"no love me SO, will be good VIII
- nos you"
No. "Saidee !" YH
loyal With the one Woro wherein "a
! will soul, he drew her gently, almost
erentially, closer to his madly-be
M, not heart.
.ngely And so he married her, an
e did, is content. For she never rel
o, and him, his love seems always
to her and sometimes. of her