Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-06-30
HIS BROTHER's SWEETHEART
BY CATHERINE L. LESIIER.


to-day, and regret that you did not take
his advice"
But Charlie Auchester shook his
ead slowly as he leaned back in the
velvet cushioned chair, his frank, hand.
some face grave, and a resolute look In
his dark eyes that told his brother only
too plainly that it was useless to think
Of gaining his point
"Ah, Guy, my dear fellow" he said
earnestly, III you only knew how
dearly love her, you would never
think of asking me to commit such a
sacrifice. I'd sooner give up my life
than part from her. knew you would
feel displeased about it, and 30 l meant
to keep our betrothal a secret from you
until our wedding day; but now that
you have discovered it, l may az well
be frank with you. As for foolish
fancy, Guy, you should recollect that !
am older than you when you fell In love
with Gertie Thorne, and yet, though
you never married her, that foolish
fancy proved to be your last one, for to
this day you regretted that fate ever
parted you from her,
Guy Auchester rose from his chair al
his brothers words in evident agitation,
and, stepping forward, laid his hand
upon Charles shoulder.
Z" God knows" he said, slowly, grave
| ly, {" if your love is as true as mine was
would never interfere with it. 1t is
| five long, weary years ago when stalk
ed lay happiness on pretty little Gertie
Thorne' = love and lost it," his voice
| trembling despite his effort to quell it.
" Fate was against US two fond lovers.
| can never blame poor Gertie, for she
| was true to the one faithful love Of her
life. If you care to listen to the story
Charlie, I'll tell it to you now.'
The romance of my life began five
years ago. was poor young clerk In
the, employ of John Thorne, one of the
richest men in B.. He had only one
child, Gertie, a sweet. pretty little crea
ture, whom dared to fall in love.wfth
OF course we both knew only too well
W hat the consequences would be ii the
old millionaire knew of my love for his
heiress, and no Gertie and resolved X
keep it a secret from the world until
fortune showered her gifts upon me. We
were true to each other,an waited con-
tentedly.
g AT last q letter came to me from a
foreign city, offering nue. position there
at good salary, and eager to leave tn.
slow and plodding means by which !
had strugg led on in the world, eagerly
accepted it, and left my own little
sweetheart, feeling brave aud hopeful,
with her vow of faithful love to cheer
me.
; "My letters to Gertie, as afterwarc
discovered, were intercepted by bel
| father, and 80 the poor, trusting girl
| wondering at my strange silence, never
guessed the truth until 1t was too late
| was fairly maddened with anxiety
over her negligence in answering my
letters, and So In those dark days, tate
was turned against us.
| "Then late one stormy December
afternoon, while returning from 8
nei shboring town, the train on which
was travelling went over an embank
ment. lay for days in an uncon
scious condition, and while in tina
state, a report reached here, as you re
member, Charlie, that L had been
killed. How the mistake arose l nevel
knew
"Gertie believed me dead, too-pool
Gertie, whose troubles had been gather
ling around her thick and fast since the
day her proud old father had acknOwl
edged to ner that he waH 80 financially
embarrassed that she must, to save hln
from utter ruin, accept the hand OF
James Ashmore, to whom he was heavl
ly indebted.
I" She married this man, and wen
with him abroad. 1 know she woulI
never have broken her faith with mt
had not she believed that ! was dead
Then year later, by the death Of my
employer, | suddenly became veiS
wealthy, and returned home to claim
Ger ie as my own for life.
| " But she had gone, no one knew
where, and have never seen or heart
of her since. She may be dead, bu
still | can hardly credit it. That WAT
the one love Of my life, and, for thu
sake of it, l shall go single to my
grave" .
He leaned back in his chair with q
heavy sigh, his handsome dark eye
still liked upon the glowing Goals in the
silver. barred CRATE, whi.eCharlle, laying
his hand gently upon his brother
shoulder, said in CHEEKY voice:
"You may yet meet your little sweet
heart again, Gay, my poor tel low, and
perhaps, freed from the bondage tina
was placed upon her young life. Hel
husband, l have heard, was old enough
TO be poor & rites father and 80 truth
may prove, in this case, to be indeed
stran ger than fiction, and res ore you tt
yonr old love again. And, Guy, by the
way, my sweetheart's name Is Thorne
| If we were only living in story booh
it would not surprise me if you found
Gertie again.
GUY Aucbester smiled at his brother
words.
81 hardly dare think the romance
of my lite will end so happily as that
he said, slowly, while he silently prayed
to God that it would. " suppose yor
want me to see this pretty country cir
whom you have fallen in love with
Where is it that little paragon OF per
lection lives, Charlie, my dear fellow?
elm Oakdale, with ii relative who II
a widow, still young and handsome
enough TO marry were she not 80 tsltn
full 10 the love she has lest. Her lltt
has been darkened like your own, so
Guy, charming woman like her ough
to be appreciated by you vt least VINO
have soue through the same ordeal. Gt
to Oakdale and talk over this atfall
with her"
And true to his promise, the follow
ling day found Guy Auchester at Mrs
lAshlnorr's pretty white cottage, pa
tiently awaiting the return OF It's ms
|tress, who would arrive home presently
the pretty, biue-eyed girl had Informed
him who had answered the ring at tint
door, aud whom he at once surmised tt
be his brothers sweetheart.
He did not have long to wait, FOL
|prcseutly there was the rustic Ut Wo
Iman's garment in the hail without, and
Then graceful, young creature, IL
heavy mourning, entered softly WIN
basket of flowers, which she ploceh up
on the table as she spoke TO him
al am Mrs. Ashmore," she said, IL
"a low, sweet voice. :" believe yor