Daily Republican., 1884-10-31

death, would cost him Dut little thought
now, but months hence he shall re.
member keenly, in poignant regret
/ did not think such piece Of i'm
pertinence possible with me-" he NUT.
tered, a., just before rising from his
chair, he drew q heavy black line
through the name Of Mrs. Amy Ag
nero.
An hour later, on his way to Sea.
bright and lovely Nellie Langdon,
he had forgotten entirely the whole oc-
currencs.
1t was one Of the last days in Sep.
tember, and golden haze was hanging
over the sea. 1t was also the last week
of the Lsngdon's stay at Seabright.
Mr.. Eugene Merritt had gone down
every saturday to their cottage, and
stayed over until Monday with Mr..
Langdon, his daughter, and few other
well.selected friends, and his affection
for her had deepened every hour.
On this September day he had gone
to Seabright with the settled intention
Of asking her to marry him.
"You love my daughter ?" Mr.. Lang
don said, In a pleased, questioning tone.
a. together they paced the garden, with
Nellie juet ahead, laughing under her
white sunshade at something Lester
Murray, the young barrister firm
Boston, was saying to her.
well, am glad Of that; I like
you"
He held out his hand and grasped
Mr.. Merritt's warmly. (Was he not
worth miliion-ay, almost two?)
You have my good will and good
M fahau Thu dnnanAs Malta -
Mr.. Langdon did not hint that he
had hoped for this fiuals for months,
nor that he had done his best to over
come Nellie's Indifference to him, mil.
lionaire AZ bs was.
~ do not care for Mr.. Merritt,
father |" she had often said. "Some.
times almost dislike him imagine
he could be very cruel"
"Pshaw What 9 hoolgirl fancies
he will make q splendid husband, aud
will give you n position far above your
present one, tor am comparatively a
poor man to him. 1t is plain that be
loves you very dearly, and should be
ask you to be his wife 1t would grievt
me beyond measure If you refuse. You
know what suffering has been caused
by one foolish love-matGh. Don't you
think II your sister could undo the past
she would not have disobeyed me and
followed her own perverse, romantic,
fapcies?"
Then Nellie would turn away with
tears In her eyes, which the memory oil
that other long absent one recalled, and
Il no other remonstrance would cross her
lips.
EuganeMerritt waited for favorable
opportunity. II came at last when
Nellie went down to the sea alone, just
~ the moon was rising.
1t mattered little to her middle aged
lover that her hand lay cold and unre
sponsive In his own, and that the rap
ture of true loves betrothal was absent,
a. long as her lips gave him mechani.
cally the promise he pleaded for.
my darling |" he whispered, draw
ing her TO him, and kissing her brow
lightly +" shall teach you to love me
l-you shall see."
81 shall see," she repeated, absently
1t 10 good to love ones husband, and
since have promised 10 marry you,
will try and care for you, as doubtless
you deserve"
But ah, what bitter, bitter tears she
shed when late that night she sat alone
4 looking her future In the face, and try.
i Lux w VCbb uOWh OEONOx buhb Obu0l
sweet love story with Lester Murray
which had begun and ended with sum
mer. w mld he care very much
Would 40 think her only = mercenary
coque.te ? Or would be understand
tina: IL was for her fathers sake, ani
lonly for his, who had no one left nov
j! but her
i They returned to the city, and tb,
days went by Ia much the same fasbior
as they had done every other year, unit
!, the beginning Of November, when 8
strange letter found its way to Mr.
Langdon's house.
Father and Nellie.-If you wish u
seo me before die, come to Bellevue
Hospital to-day. Come at once
j AMY AGNERo."
Il News from the wanderer at last
!, But ah, mono could be sadder!
On one Of the beds in the hospital ,
band Of light was shining, and around
the young sufferer propped up by pill
lows 1t fell like y touch of heaven
glory. Consumption had act its mari
, heavily upon her when we saw her last
, In Eugene Merritt's Office, but now i
, had run Its course, and she only waitet
for the death whose cold breath was
coming nearer with every passing sec
ond.
When Nellie and her father reachet
that bed, they were only just in time
1t Is such long, long story" sh
> managed to gasp, when her head Ia!
on Nellie's heart at knew 1 could
not tell 1t to you when the end was sc
near-but under my pillow you viii
find 1t written" They were her las
words.
il With a sigh CT peace her head SAM
lower, and the suffering of years wa
ended.
Amy's coffin, heavily draped, stoo,
. In the silent library Of the Langdo'
mansion where Nellie opened the lette
sisters short aud Inflated life. Sh
l only raised her head once during tina
earnest perusal, to look at the peaceful
/. face with fearful eyes whose compass
r sionate tenderness was great.
4 But there was a new expression Of
, her face when ut length she folded tn
a papers up.
I Resentment, contempt, and fixet
: purpose characterized tho set mout
Q and accusing eyes. Peace, Amy Yol
did not make that prayer to Eugen
Merritt's fiinry heart in vain without
3 speedy retribution following.
i You have my hearts sympathy, n
? said to Nellie that night, as she cam
forward to meet him, from the roou
: where the dead girl lay.
GLOW pale you look In that blac
d Idress. But do you know I never knew
d until your fathers letter reached m
II to day, that you had q sister. 1 though
you were his only child"
=. "she had q story exceeding any
Q ever heard Of for sadness. Would 20
o like to hear 1t ?" she asked, shortly.
i" Assuredly, If it does not pain 20
!, too much"
q Mr.. Merritt would rather hay