The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1884-04-09
)EPPEN'S CLOTHING HOUSE,
Cor. Of Fourth and Market Sts.. Louisville

l thought you were too pure aud proud
for that, Neva. But as to its being u
mistake" he added, ia n different tone.
your own good sense must show you
the impossibility Of that. There is the
whole affair In black and white, so you
see II must be true. was sorry to be
the one to bring you this intelligence
but :" HEHf
"Ieave me. }" interrupted Neva stern.
ly. ~ do not believe II, but whether
IL be true or not, I do not want your
sympathy"
Her face looked scornful and deter.
mined through all its sorrow, and the
man was too artful TO spoil the effect
ofhis startling news by arousing her an
ger and disgust. So, with look of
well assumed anxiety aud compassion
he left her to he: own reflections.
Once more alone, she eagerly sean.
ned, again and again, those fatal lines
vainly hoping to find some word that
might prove it all a mistake. But no.
Il was all there In plain black and
white, rs James Hudson had declared,
her lovers own name and the name of
the vessel to which he belonged. There
was no mistake there could be none.
"Oh, Godv" murmured the unhappy
girl, covering her white face with her
hands and sobbIng aloud Ia the anguish
of her heart, "my last hope Is gone.
Oh, what shall dol"
Nova felt that she would rather die
than inform her mother of the humili-
ating fact OF Franks marriage TO anoth-
er. 1t was bitter, oh terribly litter,
after ali her patient waiting, all her un-
waverlng faith.
Mrs. Browning prof, ssed To be very
shocked and iudignant,an tried to dis
play some consideration for her daugh-
ter's feelings. But, IN her heart, she
rejoiced at the turn affairs had TAX en-,
and determined that Neva should mar
~ James Hudson ut no dist ant day
They were poor James Hudson was
comparatively rich, He had managed
to place them under obligations to him.
with the understanding between him
self and Mrs Browning that Neva's
hand was, II possible, to be the reward
of his generosity.
But the glrl had been true as steel to
her own lover. the handsome super.
cargo Of the No'thern Star, and though
he had been months away, and she had
not heard a word concerning him, they
could not shake her faith in him, nor
make her believe that he was dead.
Nov II was all different. She could
no longer cling to her belief Ia Frank,
with such proof Of his inconstantcy be-
fore her eyes. So she gradually yield
ed to her mothers uncessing entreat-
les, and the day was at last named up
on which she would become james
Hudson wife. N
1t was the evening before the dread
ed day, and Neva sat in the little par.
Tor all alone. 1t was somewhat too
early for the accustomed visit of he r
affianced husband, yet step In the hall
made her start aud shudder, 80 much
did she shrink from his unwelcome pre-
sence. t.I GOV tFtI|...|
She sat by one of the windows, her
face half shaded by the curtains, look
ing out into the moonlight. She did
not change her position, for she never
met her bridegroom elect with loving
smile, aud she vowed to herself that
she never would.
"Nevaw t.lfi'.
Like one awakened from the dead,
the despairing girl turned At the sound
CT that voice. In the doorway stood
not the man she dreaded aud disliked--
but Frank, her Frank, with the same
old lovelight in his handsome eyes, the
same sweet, sunny smile upon his lips.
Frank, oh, Frankw
With one glad bound she was in his
arms, sobbing for very joy. Nj sin
gle thought of her past doubts, OF his
reported Australian marriage. Instinc-
lively she felt that all was right, or he
would not DO there calling her the old,
fond names. while he held her so close
ly 10 his throbbing heart.
In u little while she had heard the
story Of his shipwreck, and Of the long
cruise be had been forced to take IN an
other vessel before he could set his face
toward home But as to the Rev.
William Westou,snd the pretty widow
Alice Lovejoy, he had never so much
as heard OF them until Neva showed
him that little scrap Of paper.
Suddenly another step sounded In the
hall.