The Labor enquirer., 1883-02-03

fathers lonely home, bis sweethearts
breaking heart, Coleman Lee turned his
back on L. to win a name and position
in the world,
Four years rolled away. The meek
widow, whose needle had known but
little rest for many weary hears, lay at
last in the little church yard !, the old
schoolmaster, who had lost his son, had
taken into his lonely house the widows
child and Coleman Lee was still far
away from his village home. His letters
to the fair-haired girl, whose heart he
had won, were at first long and frequent
then they grew shorter, and came at
longer intervals, and at last they ceased
altogether. and she had learned the bit
ter lesson of neglect. To his father he
wrote frequently, and she knew that he
was rising in his profession; was admit
ted into the best society the city afforded;
was becoming known, and earning a
competent support; but no word of re-
turn to his father, or his old home, ever
crept into his letters that were read with
such sad hearts at L.
From the time when Helen Montgom-
ery had turned from the Vine-wreathed
porch to enter her poor home, she had
made a new resolution, which, through
hard STRIVING, she had kept She had
felt, bitterly, that her education and
manners were far below the standard
which he would seek in his wife, after
he had lived in the great world outside
of L., and she had tasked her mind to
reach the ideal image she had erected
for a model. For six months her life had
no change from the monotony of house
hold drudgery, and aiding her mother
in the weary routine of sewing then
she was orphaned, and the old school
master opened his home for. her. He
had known of his sons engagement, and
he easily persuaded the gentle girl to
come to him in his lonely cottage. From
the day when her foot first passed the
threshold of her new home, new life
opened for Helen. Relieved from house
hold work, only called upon to superin-
tend the labors of the tidy servant, she
gave her whole heart to study. The old
schoolmaster, who had saved modest
income, and given up his school to a
younger pedant, was only too glad to
pour from his fountain Of learning a
stream into this young, eager mind; she
grew more engrossed in her new studies;
more eager to stife the sorrow Of her
heart in the expanding intellect and cul-
tivation of her mind. So the four years
crept away.
1t was summer again, and in the
schoolmaster's little cottage there are
again changes. A gentleman from New
York, a man Of refinement and taste,
has come for a few days fishing to L. and
has persuaded the old gentleman to give
him Coleman's room for a short stay.
The days heightened into weeks, the
long summer drew to a close but the
visitor fingered Then sorrow came a
lingering fever seized the feeble frame of
the schoolmaster, and he sank to rest in
the arms of the girl who had been his
sons promised wife. -Four years, and
the young girl stood in the parlor Of the
little cottage, listening to another lover
pleading for a place in her heart, the
right to comfort her sorrow In the
room above her lay the cold, stiff form
of her only protector. This was how
the postman found them. This was the
missive he brought to the doubly be-
reaved girl, orphaned for the second
time.
"DEAR HELEN am writing to ask a
release from the childish engagement
which has, doubtless, become irks0me to
you long ago. We were mere children
when we parted, and doubtless you have
ere this met with some one who will
make your life happier than can. For
your long devotion to my father, beg
you will accept my heartfelt thanks
and under all circumstances believe me,
Ever your friend, COLEMAN LEE"
Two hours later, the answer was sent;
"Your father was buried this morning.
I shall be married tomorrow, and sail
for Europe with my husband in a week.
"HELEN MONTGOMERY"
This was how they met.
Mrs. Everard Curtis, leader of fashion
frivolous and empty-headed, was to give