The Mineral argus., 1883-11-22
L MEMORIES.

And you'll manage it if yeu possibly
eah?'
"Yes, of course; now do 90. dear, I've
been here quite long enough"
"Nonsensel Come here, Madge; |
want you particularly"
"Oh. don't, RexP-the last excla'
nation having rather a smothered
sound.
. .
alice, do shut that door; those peo-
pie seem to think that every n must
be as impervious to draughts as they are
And as her younger niece rose to obey
Miss Owen said, sharply, Sand why on
earth does she call him Rex" instead Of
his own manner"
"Some love nonsense, l suppose
said Alice, with a yawn; 'they are silly
enough for anything"
And she went back to her book, while
her aunt went on with her knitting, and
thought of Alice's words.
Some love nonsense" All! she
could remember the time when she bad
stood by that very hall-door where
Madge and her lover we're now quite as
happy, quite as thoughtless and quite as
contented.
What a long time it used to take Har.
~ to say good night, ant how she used
10 watch until he wa quite out of sight
under the dark trees of the avenue! 1t
was all pure happiness until RJsamond
came. Somehow, things never seemed
the same afterward. Harry used to wait
longer and longer to hear some f~avorite
piece of music-and RosamoDd played
so beautiiully-so the good night talk
grew shorter every day; yet how could
n erumble when Harry enjoyed good
music so much?
Rosamond Was very pretty-every one
could see thai; so it was no wonder that
Harry should admire her fair complex
ion and lovely hair aud eyes, only it
was rather dreadful TO feel how plain
and unattractive n must lock beside
her, she seemed able tn do everything,
too; and every one praised her u~naffac-
ted manner.
I remember the knitting was dropped
here, ana the face above it grew hard
I remember Harry telling me he
wished | could try to imita e her
more, and making myself more gener-
ally liked. l suppose | must have made
some answer. but / don't remember it.
/ can only remember a blind, helpless
feeling of misery and wounded pride
and love.
I could not have changed so much in
a few daysand Harry had always till now
declared that l was the dearest and best
Cfall to him, and he wondered every one
didn't fall in love with me. l knew that
WAS nonsense, but what was this?
went away o o after, and cried as
though nay heart would break, and l
remember saying, over. and over, "Oh,
not Harry-not Harry" Il seemed as
If could give up everything else If l
might keep his love.
/ was dull and stupid that evening;
and though he kissed me when he said
goodnight, it did not comfort me puch,
seeing that it was accompanied by II
wish dear, you wouldn't make yourself
miserable about nothing, and would try
TO take advice instead Of sulking over
it,"
They were hard words, I thought,
but I tried to do as he said, though ev-
cry day | felt more and more sure that
the love which had been mine was Civ.
en- 10 Rosamond, and at last our engage
ment was broken of.
II is curious that the remembrance Of
that day should make me shiver now
after so many years; but | suffered very
keenlv.
Rosamond went away, and o after
we heard that she and Harry we're en-
gagged.
remember hearing that people did
not think | could Rave cared for Harry
very much. / took everything 80 quiet
ly. ] wa glad they thought so. Why
should they have anv idea Of the bitter
heartache l seemed always now to fell?
IL was a little comfort that they should
h1ap.n ~ suufaa1 80 LI.w
Then, one day, a letter came, telling
Of Rosamond's has.y marriage TO a man
many years older than herself, but very
rich.
There was no word Of Harry; and /
think ! grieved more for him than l
had ever done for myself l loved him
sull-how dearly no n guessed-and /
tormented myself day by day with
thoughts Of him and his disappoint-
ment.
/ am so thankful that | saw him again!
Ny mother came TO me one morning
to tell me a woman was waiting 10 see
me who would give 10 name or any
message, but begged / would come to
her directly.
ran down, for something seemed to
tell me the message con cerned the one
l loved so well, and l knew it was sc
the moment | saw Mrs. Lewis, Harry's
old nurae and housek eeper.
She came TO me and taking both my
hands, she said
Miss Ruth, / am come to give you
fresh pain. l do not know how to soft
en- my message. Perhaps the shortest
way is the best. Master Harry is dying
Miss Ruth, and he begs II you can so far
forgive him, that you'll let him see your
face once more"
For one moment l felt as though my
sense had deserted, and then / felt
how precious the moments were, and