The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-10-17

sconful looks could cause me to cry i'll
their presence; kept control over my emo
tions, and wept only when alone.
cried and sobbed, and longed for any
fate that would free me from this thraldom.
Finally must have fallen into an uneasy
slumber The sense that tells us some one
is near awoke me. Standing motionless.
looking down upon me in silent pity, was
Mr.. Shields.
| hurriedly started up, muttering some
kind of apology, and very much ashamed
of my tear stained face and rumpled hair
| requested him to be seated and he sat
down, not on the chair near him. but be-
side me on the sofa. | was confused, and
knew not what to do or say. | suppose he
had perception enough to notice my agita-
ton. He was all calmness and ease.
wondered if it were possible he could hear
my foolish heart beat and see the tremor
tions.
'1ou are in trouble tonight, Mona %
| shall remember co my dying day the
inexpressible sweetness of those sympathiz-
ing tones. | thought as | always have
since. that it was the most musical voice
had heard in all my troubled, dreary life
''You were sobbing in your sleep when
came in; what was it Are you lonely ?
Aunt and cousins are gone, aren't they /?
Well cheer up; I will stay here until they
return. They are not unkind to you, are
they?"
could not tell an untruth now, with
the tear stains still on my cheeks, so | an
swered, miss Geraldine scolded me be-
cause dropped her fan and broke the mir
ror, and Aunt Hester, too
Here broke completely down, and cried
as if was never going to stop. He sat
awhile in silence, and let me sob undis-
turbed; then he said, laying his hand upon
my head, Don't give way to your grief;
come, cheer up; you are hurt by cross
words and reproaches. but there is sun
shine after rain. Mona, tonight you and
| are drawing very near to each other; |,
too, have been stung by ingratitude. |
have sounded the depths of bitter waters
and by the perfidy of one person was
sunk to the depths of despair But l am
out of this slough of despond, and am now
far happier than | would have been had
affairs gone differently. | am now in a po-
sition which perhaps should not have at
tanned if | had gained what coveted above
all else at one time. | outgrew my disap-
pointment, and in my work | found a
panacea. Now | am in very tranquil
state of mind; and Mona, little friend
have observed you, and am aware that You
are not happy. We will sympathize with
each other, and in our mutual friendship
dispel part of the gloom.
His kind words, so mildly spoken the
most gentle that it had been my good for
tune to hear since | was an inmate of my
aunt's house, went to my lonely heart like
soothing balm. | rallied, and soon we
began to talk. The hours flew by rapidly.
You and | are only beginning to know
each other, Mona" said my new-found
friend at last. ''We are going to be capt.
tai friends, and"
No more was said, for aunt and cousins
came in, and our evening together was cut
short.
They were profuse in playful reproaches,
and Mr.. Shields was scolded in a playful
way for not attending the party.
He said, well. you see, was detained
by important business until | feared it was
too late; then dropped in here, thinking
perhaps some of you were at home. |
found Miss Mona, and as she was all alone
thought l should be doing my duty to
stay with her So | stayed, and we have
had quite delightful talk"
Aunt Hester made some reply, and Ger
aldine shot a glance i'll my direction calcu-
lated to annihilate me. They all seemed
to want to box my ears. So just folded
away"
The next morning / had my orders. I
was given my dismissal. | was soundly
reprimanded for my forwardness, and my
dulll anu CpuSiits tooh tulhs III tduiittiis
me. Then l was spirited away in the
nighttime to my aunt's farm far out in the
country, exiled, abandoned, driven away.
One evening went to a neighbours to
get a book. The short winter day was
closing in on my return. A waggonette
passed me. Its occupant, man, was
muffied up; he looked at me as he passed,
then the ejaculation, Mona came out in
a very emphatic manner. l looked up, it
was Kenneth Shields.
Hurriedly he jumped out
''Mona, where are you going? Is this
where you have been all this time | made
bold to inquire your whereabouts, but your
aunt gave me very unsatisfactory answers.
You did steal away in dreadfully mys
FERROUS manner From standing at my ell
bow you fled into the vast unknown"
l could hardly speak for joy; for the
light in Kenneth's eyes was clearly that of
love- no longer accused myself of vanity
when | confessed with delight that he
really did think of me.
Well, it is the old, old story. The next
day | babe adieu to the dreary farm, and
with my promised husband started for