The Delaware farmer., 1883-12-28

wildly threw his arms about her, kissing
her again and again. Then he tore him
self away and rushed from the house.
Mary never knew what occurred at
that terrible interview. Mr. Meredith
was deaf to all her entreaties and her
lover had disappeared. The poor girl
was stricken with brain fever, and for
weeks her life hung in the balance. Re
pentence came too late to the unhappy
father, for although sought for far and
near Felix could not be found. At
length youth and good constitution
brought back health to the heart broken
girl. But alas the blooming young
Hebe of seventeen summers was no
more. In her place tall, pale girl ap-
peared, but with beauty that even the
most fastidious admired The golden
brown curls that clustered around her
temples lay in ripping waves upon
brow as pure as snow, and the soft, lus-
trous hazel eyes wore an expression of
adness that told Of the cart grief that
would be hers forever.
Mr.. Meredith travelled with his daugh-
ter through all the most attractive parts
of Europe for year. Then, at her re-
quest, he took her home. Mary had be-
come a woman, a bright, intelligent,
glorious woman, and crowds of admirers
worshiped at her feet; but the image of
Felix was still as fresh as ever in her
heart, and the VOWS she had exchanged
with him were never for a moment for
gotten. Therefore, all offers of marriage
were at once declined.
Time rolled on. Mary had now reached
her twenty-eighth year, and still re-
NAMED a maiden beneath the paternal
roof.
One cold winter evening Mary sat by
the glowing fire in her fathers drawing
room. Her small white hands were
clasped upon her bosom, and her eyes
were cast downward until the long lashes
lay like golden pencilng upon her cheek. |
Near her, in his great-arm chair, sat Mr..
Meredith, with the SHOWS of many win
ters on his head and his face deeply
furrowed by the hand of time. There |
was an expression of care upon his coun-
tenance. He looked troubled and IN
happy.
'DIary," said he, continuing a CONVEX
sation that had been going on between
them, call my life L have made your
happiness my constant study and have
given you luxurious home. Now you
are advancing in years and shall ere
long be separated from you by death.
How can 1 leave you alone in this cold
world? A home is now open to you and
you must accept it. 1t is not because I
owe this man a very large sum that in
sist upon this marriage, although if you
refuse him we will be sunk into the most
abject poverty, for I would rather endure
all the misery of the situation than risk
your well-being; but I know you will be
happy with Mr.. Ambrose for husband.
He is good and kind as well as very
rich"
Lt4C4l III W ldtt ldlLCl .
The old man started at these words !
out at length answered:
"In honor and manhood" Mary said
10 more. ''The crisis is now upon me,
continued Mr.. Meredith. "In a few
hort days L shall be overwhelmed with
Misery if you do not rescue me. Mr.. !
has asked me for your hand y
1e has seen you many times and loves !
-ou."
''And Mr.. Ambrose makes my hand
he price of your safety ?"
''No, he has not said so but he is =
ware of my situation, and, knowing it, :,
SKIS the hand of my child. 1t seems to =
ne as if God had kept you free to save 4
our old father from ruin. What an
wer am I return to Mr.. Ambrose ?"
''My heart was broken long ago." Il
larry answered, looking into her fathers "
ICE. 81 will marry this man for your Il
axe, but he must not expect affection, D
u I have none to give. Tell him this .
nat he may not be deceived" U'
81 will bring him here tomorrow -
7ening, for he is anxious that the inter-
lew shall be over. .,
Mr.. Meredith was relieved, the fear Cf 81
sgrace was removed from him, and he ir
'joiced in the prospect Of prosperous h,
arriage for his daughter. W
On the following evening Mary again
It by the drawing-room fire. She was oe
one now and calm, but her face was as III
he as Parian marble. The outer door -