Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-09-19
He was free Strange what wild, ex-
iltant thrill flashed through his heart

ultant thrill mashed through MS heart
Free No longer bound to the pretty
fashion-plate which had pleased his ar.
tistic eye, and captured his fancy with,
out really touching his heart, but who's
true nature he had discovered before i
was too late. For it was not his hear
that she had priced, she cared only fol
his gold. But he knew her motives now
and he was conscious Of thrill of graf.
itude.
"Where did she hear that story :" he
wondered, and there was an odd twinkle
in his dark eyes. ethel Fenton is 9
poor girl he went on reaectively. twill
she refuse me for lack Of goldf"
And without any further preliminary,
he carried the letter straight to Ethel.
She glanced up frankly as she saw him
approaching, and pretty pink flush
crept slowly into her cheeks.
''Good-morning. Mr.. Barton r she
said He seated himself deliberately at
her side upon the rustic seat. "May
encroach upon your time for few mo.
ments Miss Ethel p he asked. Some
how, as the question passed his lips, his
heart sank little. What il she were
like that other woman after all, aud
cared for nothing but gold The color
deepened in EthePs cheeks; she turned
to her little comrades. run away with
nurse, now, children !" she commanded,
and they obeyed her at once, for every
child loved her. Sitting under the OAK
tree at her side, Reed Barton told her Of
his love, and laying Miss Parksr's letter
in her hand, begged her to read it, and
answer his question, for he had loved
her long (though he had striven to re-
press that love while he was bound to
another, } and he wanted her for bis
wife. She read the letter slowly, and
the indignant blood flushed into her
cheeks.
"MR. BARTON" Qt said, 1.-THE news Of
your loss of fortune has just reached me
through an acquaintance. can never con-
sent TO marry poor man, so release you
from the engagement existing between u.s.
Yours, etc.
"CLARA PARKER"
"Cruel, heartless woman - painted
Ethel, for she was as frank and open as
the day "How could she act SO heart
lessly p
He bent his handsome head, land ven-
tured to take possession of her little
hand.
Would you dspise me because of
poverty 7" he asked, eagerly. ETHEL,
can you love me?'
II do love you !" she faltered, "since
you are free, there is no longer any rea-
son to conceal it. | despise mercenary
nature. Reed, I will be ysur wife. and
will work, and perhaps"
She never finished the sentence, for
his kisses upon her lips checked further
utterance.
they sat there 50 sISSisSrSsd III ssrf vettilI
that they did not hear Clara Parker's
light foot fall upon the grass until she
had reached the spot.
Reed glanced up aud his eyes were
full of exultation.
"Miss Parker" he began, am afraid
a .riae maliciously, "Miss Fenton has
promised to become my wife !! Congratu-
late US will you not /? And, by the way.
it was not my fortune that went down
with the failure Of the N Bank, but
my Uncle Reeds; our names happen to
be the same, you know! am quite as
wealthy as ever, and, indeed. am the
richest man in the round world to-day.
for l have won tho heart Of woman
who did not fail me when I tested her
affection and whose love was not in
auenced by worldly considerations, even
the lack Of goldv'
Miss Clara Parker is cross old maid
to-day, and she cordially detesss poor
Mr. Van Alstyne for having been the
unintentional cause Of her great mistake.