Daily Republican., 1884-07-02

BY CATHERINE. z. LEsHEB.

BY CATHERINE. z. LESHEB.
The rain hal been falling all day
long; the wind was still bowling with
almost human passion in its voice;
leaden sky hung low overhead, and not
a sign of social companionship was to
be seen up or down the road that
wound between the fences each side Of
the old fashioned farm house, where,
on this depressing day, Elma Varian
sat beside the dimity.curtained win
dow of the sitting-room, with her hands
clasped in her lap, as she looked up
into the handsome blue eyes OF the man |
before her.
"What true hearted woman eyer yet |
feared poverty when 1t went hand In
hand with love?'' she said, slowly.
"But, ali, Clifford. now even that path
| Ii not left for me 10 tread, for, alas,
am not free. l did not even know that
you were still alive, for It was five long,
weary years ago when we parted on
that dreary winter day, and no word Of
you ever reached me.
"rbey all Knocked at me here for my
lfaithfulness to you-yOu who, they at
last succeeded In convincing me, had
forgotten your little sweetheart and
SO i promised to become Hubert Ho
mer's wife oh, Clifford, alas why did
you not speak? The konds that would
have brought us both our happiness are
broken forever between us. 1t Is, in
deed, the end of our dream ~
And so Clifford St. Lawrence left the
lsweet, pretty little creature whom he
still loved 80 madly, aud YEARLY went
his way, his honest heart still singing
bitterly under the horrible disappoint-
:, ment and cruel heartache that her be-
/ trothal to his rival had caused him
while she, clasping her hands wildly
over her deathly-pale face, sent uI
agonized prayers for endurance and
= strength, realizing, as she had never
done before, that she had sold her one
I only chance Of happiness. and already
the purchase-money was being turned
: into bitterness beyond endurance.
| But she does not love the man sh'
: has elected to be her lord and master,
4 sort Of savage consolation in the yer!
I. m idst of his Jealous misery. Huber
b II omer has won my little sweethear
from me, but he can never make he
N happy for she has acknowledged TO m
n that, with our parting, all the light Q
her life goes out forever" :,
And then, just at this juncture, d
- received news from abroad Of his "a
theirs sudden illness and so he lei
New York hurriedly for his home, witt
Iout a word Of farewell to poor little e
ma. whom he still loved 30 vainly
while she, when the news OF his depa
ture reached her, cried for hours, h'
scalding tears falling on the magnil
" cent solitaire Hubert Homer had p'
- on her engagement finger. ~
"Oh, If had only known that W
ford was still alive and true to me, l
never have sacrificed my happiness
keep the wolf from the door," d
y thought, bitterly. Nov the only ma
l ever loved has gone, perhaps, ft
over from my sight, and now l mu
struggle ON through the darkness tb
has crept around me. But, an ! wh
makes me shudder 80 when 1 think
his words 70 me the day ! promised
become his wife: Little Elma,
said, let us keep our engagement
secret, beg of you. Let no one knt
H Won are to be my bride until our VI
ding .day, when I'll take you to 1
home in the city and surprise tn
Id ALL And now, with that yearnii
s pitiful light In her dark eyes, "opi
lew DAYS Of freedom are left to me.
Poor. innocent Elma little dream
why he wished to keep their Detroit
He was rich and influential, and
knew that il the rumor got abroad &
he had proposed marriage to pre-
~ little country girl, 1t would cause
VA great stir and talk, and u
for his own interest OF least, 1t wo
was best to keep quiet.
But all this time fate was working
. our heroine's behalf.
She received one day an invitation
visit q friend in the city, ana ahA'
to drown her sorrow, she went.
When. on her arrival, she was shc
Id into the beautiful drawing room OF
line, old schoolmate's home, the first u
THAT attracted her attention was q
q ltrait of Hubert Homer, her betrotl
~ and she stood gazing at 1t IN surpl
when . merry, ripping laugh star
her. =.
naay nicture any longer, Elma, my de
said her yivacious little friend,, .
Ga. ing her arms about our heroine,
'ofula kissing her impulsively. And,
yea, as how glad l am to see yon. OF co,
,Sysi. you'll stay now till after my wedo
~ for YOU must promise to be first b
Irk. maid You know told you In my
n me ter that had delightful secret tt
. aSeS you. Well, now. since you have &C
scepded to visit me, I'll tell you
enn. about my betrothaf to Hubert Ho
seass' That il his portrait caught yon
lmiring when came in, and-oh
Ia. ness me, what on earth is the matt
third For poor Elma, with wild,
lied look in her dark eyes, and De-
pallor stamped upon her face,
DE drawn back pace at pretty Lisa
,ceipts 81 W m"1 .,,.aon aba ora
terials your petroeneu
1T cushioned chair for support n
Del. Uomer your betrothed, Lisa, and
- so soon to claim me ~ his I
ONE oh. what does it all mean Surel.
phia. nos cent me here to save me
cement. -, -,
address hin ur,,art I;omars re,