The Penn's Grove record., 1883-09-15

ate protestations, the solemn oath of
this fond lover their truth was to be
tried. In the fifth month Of their EN-
5agement, Aunt Ruth-of whom Saidee
was a special pet and ~protege-was
thrown from her carriage and received
injuries which, though it was not be-
lieved they would prove fatal, left her
in a very critical and apprehensive
state.
True, the wedding day was named
and Wilfred must go true, there were
loving hearts besides Saidee to care for
poor Aunt Ruth, but it seemed to
her tender nature most a crime to leave
her, at least, until danger was posi-
lively past. And when, one morning,
the old lady drew down the fair face
to hers, and whispered, ~imploringly,
"You will not leave me, pet, while
there is a doubt of my getting well ?"
she promised u~nhesitatingly that she
would not.
Perhaps if she had known Wilfred
Hare better. she could not have prom
Used so readily. But she knew him only
as the tender lover, the man who had
sworn that, come what would, no power
on earth should ever separate him from
her. 1t could be easily settled, she
thought he, as she, would feel very sad
and disappointed, but he, as she, must
see the impossibility of her going now.
They could be married, and, as soon as
Aunt Ruth was out of danger, she would
go to him.
All this in full trust and faith she
confided to Wilfred Hare. She was i'll
prepared for the reception her words
met, the imperious workings of this
mans will. What right had she, with
out consulting him even, to make a
promise to any one that cOntlicted with
| her own to him ? His love gave him
the right to command her if she loved
him she would obey. She must marry |
him and GO away with him, else their
present relations must cease.
81 am SO glad, she said softly, THAT
| am not one OF those who think Il per-
] feet object is necessary for loving |
do not think a perfect object is a test
| of love. | am not blind Wllfred is
very tyTanical, selfish, very, very IN
kind, but, but, as never till to-day have |
| fully realized it, so never has he been
50 dear To me-"
This realization awoke a tender re-
solve.
81 can never let him go away so ; |
must prove to him how dear he is and
must ever be to me-"
From this came the tender note that
found its way next morning to Wilfred
Hare -
'Icannot let you go away, dear, with
out one little wGrd. | know you are
angry with me, and | am very, very |
unhappy, for never since our engage
ment have | loved you as to-day. My
little word is that | must always,
always love you, and that | will never
marry any man but Wilfred Hare.
Perhaps some day you will understand
and forgive me, and then you will be
glad to think of this"
Very sadly she dropped the tender
little note in the mail-box, very drearily
she went back the familiar road to her
home.
So absorbed was Saidee, that she
did not see the man walking ahead, who
suddenly turned and paused, as if
awaiting her. She started as she drew
closer and perceived him, her first i'm
pulse was to flee she shrank from the
sad face that she felt now was so like
hers.
But it was to late. He had retIaced
his stepsto meet her and was now walk
ing at her side.
"Saidee, - he said softly, ''there are
not many days now. Do not send me
away from YOU"
He made no effort to cloak his ten
derness, either in word or look. He
had loved her from the happy time
when as children, they had walked
this road together she knew it, and
it had once been the great sorrow OF
her life that she could not return this
love.
Despite the sting of his words, there
awoke in her heart a pity for him, such
as she had never known before a wild,
regretful longing that she could not
have loved him a sudden, strange
realization that she had wasted her
affection, that this mans stanch, loyal
heart was worth a hundred such as Will
fred Hare's
This last she battled quickly down not
so the pity OF the longi ng. Strangely
moved, scarcely knowing what she did,
she placed her hand on his arm, and
, answered, gently =
There will be many, many days for
us to walk together, Mark ~
. He could but have "a presentment of
her meaning, so sadly earnest was her
tone.
"What do you say, Saidee ?" h
asked, with pity for her, and a joy he
could not repress mingling oddly in his
4 look and tone.
: THAT | am not going to be married,
d Mark-that is, not yet awhile. Will
fred is angry with me but | must not
; tell you'll do not know why l 50 for
got myself. 1t is only that l am to
! stay-with Aunt Ruth for the present
that is all, Mark"
She truely said she did not know why /,
she felt "a very traitress, thus openly to
blame Wilfred Hare. She did not re-
g alize, poor Saideel how pleasant Mark