The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-01-24
thev had told me that it was me he

loved.
1 don't know Just what came to
me in that hour, that moment, but
though | realized, or thought | real
lied, his baseness. yet l could not
snatch from my lips the cup whose
sweetness slaked their thirst. 1
held it there and drank.
We spoke no word of love, but
every day found him by my side !
was no longer listless; | was bril-
liant, even merry. | laughed and
sang. as one might laugh and sing
at the feast of death.
And SO a fortnight passed, and
still he fingered; but his return was
fixed for the morrow. On that last
last evening we wondered down upon
the beach, silvered by the moon
light. Standing in It's rays, he turn
ed and faced me, clasping has hand
over mine as it lay upon his arm.
Mabel" he said, Il love you,
child. You are but a child, and l
am~ man who has outstripped you
in the race of life by twenty years.
But will you give yourself to me,
! dear? Has it been my own blind
farcy which has given birth to the
sweet hope that | alone might make
your happiness?
J He paused then, waiting for my
answer. Only a minute passed, but
[ had Weakened from my dream. |
had not thought his bAseIress ever
could find world; had not thought
INV sister would know his perjury.
Oniy a minute, but | had torn out
ms heart and trainpled it beneath
my feet. | turned upon the NAH
with hot, fierce passion; forgot
that | had led him on; | forgot my
own haseness. my own love. What
burning. scathing words used |
know no., but when | had flushed
he ,,tfered me again his arm, irom
which | had withdrawn my clasp,
and we walked back IN silence To
the house. Yet, as he left me, still
without a word, | felt, strange TO
say, only my own guilt. He bad
moi t,orue himself like one convict
ed of a wrong.
Inc next week | went home. Al
ice was the Grottomeet ne, and that
hight she crept into my room. aud
knelt down beside me al she had
done once before.
Darling" she whispered, next
month | am To be married. aud you
are TO be my only bridesmaid"
Il cannot" | answered. Don't
ask me, Alice. 1t would kill me-"
iDo you really love me so well,
dear? But you will not refuse me
this? 1t would man all my happi-
ness. Mabel, and | am SO happy.
When you have seen Harry-when
YOU learn to know and love him fer
himself-you will understand"
Harry" | gasped. who is he?"
"Harry-Harry Stretton; the man
I am to marry. Why, Mabel, you
told me you knew it all. Is it pos
sible YOU did not know"
And then she told me of the en-
gagement which had been entered
into during her Christmas visit-an
engagement finally ratified and APP
proved by her guardian whilst was
SO i'll.
Ii had been this she had been
about TO tell me-this | had refused
To hear.
Oh, the bvrniagsname with which
| listened at last. And then a wild
Impulse seized NE TO tell her adj the
truth. She should know how mean,
how pitiable | had been, eve though
| bought her hate and contempt, as
doubtless 1 had bought Geoffry's.
/ did pot spare myself as told
the story. IN silence she heard il
through, and then she sealed my
lips with the kiss Of love and par
don.
All night | battled with my mis
ery aud remor-e. Alice expected
her lover the next day. | telt | dare
not meet him.
In the a~fternoon sine came int
my room.
Someone wishes to see you Ia
the library dear she haid. "Will
you go down."
She spoke so quietly that | sus.
pected nothing, and asking no ques.
lions went dogn stairs, and crossed
the hail TO the room designated.
| thought ii empty fof a moment
as | closed the door behind nae, but
at the sound some one stepped from
the window recess-someone who
advanced one step and then stood
with wide open arnis waiting to
close about me.
No need for me to .ell the story,
as | hid pIy f,ce upon hi, breast.
and felt his kisses rain upon my
hair. Alice, my n9ble, darling sis
ter, had told it ali.
Did deserve my happiness? Per
h.aps not, but it was mihe-mine at
last, as was the great, noble heart OF
nv sisters guardian.
Alice had her wish-I was her
only bfiieamaid; but after the cere.
mony was ended which made her
Harry Stretton's beloved wife, | took
her place beside the altar. 70 longer
bridesmaid, but bride. Henceforth
my sisters guardian was mine.