Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-09-27

ana tore 1t open. Something small
and glittering rolled from the en-
velope and fell to the floor. He
stopped and picked it up and his face
grew slowly pale as he recognized his
ring.
"What does it mean ?" he cried.
But hurried perusal of the letter
revealed its meaning.
He was free! Strange what = wild
exultant thrill flashed through his
heart. Free! no longer bound to the
pretty fashion-plate which had
pleased his artistic eye, and captured
his fancy without really touching his
heart, but whose true nature he had
discovered before it was too late. For
it was not his heart that she had
priced, she cared only for 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 poor girl" he went on,
refectively; "wlll she refuse me for
lack of gold ~
And without any further pre-
liminary, he carried the letter straight
to Ethel. She glanced up frankly as
she saw him approaching and a
pretty pink flush crept slowly into
her cheeks. .
"Good evening, Mr.. Bsrton" she
said. He seated himself deliberately
at her side upon the rustic seat.
"May encroach upon your time for
few moments, Miss Ethel?" he ask
ed. Somehow, as the question passed
his heart sank little. What if she
were like that other woman after all,
and cared for nothing but gold. The
color deepened in Ethels 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. Sit
ting under the oak tree at her side,
Reed Barton told her his love, and
laying Miss Parker's letter in her
hand, begged her to read 1t, and an
swer his question, for he had loved
her long Though he had striven to
repress that love while he was bound
to another,) and he wanted her for
his wife. She read the letter slowly,
and the indignant blood flushed into
her cheeks.
MR.. BARTON Git sald): The news of
your loss of fortune has just reached
me through an acquaintance. can
never consent to marry poor man, SO
l release you from the engagement
existing between us. Yours, etc.
CLARA PARKER.
"Cruel, heartless women!" painted
Ethel, for she was as frank and open
as the day; elbow could she act so
heartlessly?"
He bent his handsome head, and
ventured to take possession of her little
hand.
"Would you despise ME because of
poverty? ?" he asked, eagerly. "Ethel,
can you love me?"
81 do love you !"she faltered, "since
| you are free, there is no longer any
reason to conceal it. l despise a
mercenary nature. Reed, 1 will be
your wife, and will work, and per-
haps-"
She never finished the sentence,
for his kisses upon her lips checked
further utterance.
The moments slipped by, and still
they sat there SO absorbed in each
other that they did not hear Clara
Parker's light foot fall upon the
grass until she had reached the spot.
Reed glanced up and his eyes were
full of exultation.
"Miss Parker" he began, l am
afraid trifle maliciously, "Miss Fen
ton has promised to become my wife
Congratulate US will you not ? And
by the way, it was not my fortune
that went down with the N Bank,
but my Uncle Reeds; our names
happen to be the same, you know
am quite as ever, and, indeed, l am
the richest man in the round world
to-day, for have won the heart of a
woman who did not fail me when
tested her affection and whose love
was not influenced by worldly con-
siderations, even the lack of gold v'
Miss Clara Parker is a cross old
maid o-day, and she cordially detests
poor Mr.. Van Alstyne for having