The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-05-03

her. Leila did not. She felt proud Of
it and grateful TO the artiet for the COM
After their unconventional first meet.
ing, it did not take long for them to be-
come the best of friends. Ivan told her
much Of his life in London, his successes
and hopes, the men and women with
whom he mingled, the me thods and
customs Of sOciety, and many other
things which Leila knew only as she
knew of fairy laRd-throuRh books.
The more he saw her, the more he adj
mired her, and drew favorable compare
sons between her and certain bedecked
and powdered bali room visions he had
seen. Owing to the difference in their
ages, he felt little more hesitation in ex.
pressing his admiration than if she had
been child prattling on his knee.
True love runs most appalling smooth
and rapid till it becomes beyond control,
whatever 1t does afterwards. So it was
with Leila: She loved with her whole
sequently. when Ivan, with his picture
completed, bale her farewell. and re-
turned to London, It was like q rude
awakening, a cruel shock, that seemed
to stun her at first. Life became q
weary waiting for what she dared not
hope: Her step lost its buoyancy and
her cheek its roses. She seemed to have
gone at a step from girlhood to woman
hood; and, instead of playing with Sport
and other pets, she busted herself about
household matters, or sat and dreamed
about the past.
With the coming spring she regained
much Of her old spirit, and her laugh
echoed among the hillb again, not 10
loud and careless as formerly, but still
merry and sparkling.
1t was one afternoon in June, az wan
dering alone the roadside, she met Ivan's
little brother Johnny.
"1van's coming home tomorrow"
said Johnny with startling sudden
mes.
so, soon?" exclaimed Leila and her
heart began to flntter painfully.
"Ies; and he's been married, too"
Leila looked at the child In dumb,
white astonishment.
II heard ma telling Mrs. Grove, this
didn't say married, she said welded !;
Eyes, dear, it means the same"
And she turned with ouiyerine lin,
and heaving bosom and walked rapidly
away, past the wild roses that seemed to
Look after her, grieved and surprised at
her neglect-past the mild-eyed sheep
that stared at her with gentle reproach
past blackDirds and skylarks singing
in field and hedge. past all the bright
things of nature, and that now appeared
but dreary mockery, and fell upon q
messy bank with deep, heart breaking
sob.
This, then, was the end-the end of
her first pure love, and all the visions it
had created! Somehow Leila never so
much rs questioned whether little ten.
year-Old Johnny was worthy messen.
ger of such news. What right had she
to expect anything different? Had she
any claims on Ivan, or any assurance
that he had not forgotten her entirely?
What more natural than for him to
marry?
If Leila, when she had turned from
the road, had looked far ahead, she
would have perceived just round the
bend, form whose manly strides she
would have recognized at 4 glance.
It was Ivan Kirke, and he uuickened
his already rapid pace as he caught 4
glimpse of her as she passed in among
the trees.
Her eyes were still moist, but she had
passed her first ccnvulsive sobbing
when she heard his step, and before
she could flee he stood before her.
Leila" he exclaimed, as he came
saw my little forest maiden turning into
the woods. What! you must have been
crying"
Leila made one heroic effort for self
control. Whatever might happen,
Ivan should never know of her hopeless
love. Gripping down the rising sob, and
rapidly w!nking two or three times, she
answered, II haven't"
1t was the first fib, and she went ON
to:elaborate with astonishing readiness.
II have been sneezing, oh, so hard!
Just see, my feet are wet" and she
pointed to two tiny shoes slightly damp.
But am glad to see you, Ivan. I
thought You wasn't coming till to.mor-
row."
III thought I would give you sur
prise. Have you heard the news?"
Eyes; Johnny just told me. IL sup
pose you are too happy to live, aren't
you?" Her words were uttered pleas
antly, but her hands were clinched till
the marks Of the nails were imprinted
in the flesh.
"No, Leila; the fact is l don't feel
nearly as happy as expected l shonld;"
and he poked the grass musingly with
his cane.
mot happyw and Leila looked at
him in amazement. 'Then YOU"
''rhen don't deserve my good for
tune. Pm whimsical as child. When
left here last fall could think Of moth
ing else. was q blind fool, and as the
time passed and the momentous day
drew nearer and nearer, found that
that my happiness depended upon some
thing entirely different" -
Lelia's cheek again became livid. WAS
his marriage mistake. With quick in
tuition she OWNED his meaning. He
had married another while loving her,
and already repented. But what right
had he to tell her of this! What right
had he to speak to her in that tender
tone now?
LEILA, lave come back to tell you
that love you; that have loved you
though"
With flashing eyes she :drew back the
hand he had taken.
"That will do. cir. I will not hear one
more word"
He looked at her in amazement at her
sudden anger and scorn. He would have
spoken further, but just then Johnny
came racing through the woods and flung
himself upon Ivan's neck, with wild ex-
CARNATIONS of delight.
ooh, Ivan, did you bring your wife,"
was his eager inquiry, shortly.
"What do you mean, Johnny" he ask
ed.
.Oh, / know all about it, and 80 does
Leila. You can't make fools Of tuscan
he. Leila? heard mamma telling about
It, yesterday"
A CLEAN shot into VANS eyes.
"What was 1t mother said, Johnny?"
"She told Mrs. Grove that now you d
won the prize you'd be more than ever
welded to Miss somebody"
EYES,"
Johnny, do You see that squirrel?
III give ysu half crown if you'll catch
AS Jehnny darted away Ivan turned
to Leila, and there was deep earnest
ness in his voice as he spoke.
Ibid you believe it Lelia?"
eyes IT 0idn,t know Iobp,,v