The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-01-25
SELECT STORY.
AFTER FIVE YEARS.
A woMAN's LOVE STORY.
CHAPTER I,

CHAPTER |.
DEAR FLORENCE Come to me at
once, if you can. 1t seems an age
since | saw you, and one cannot write
news intelligibly, at least l cannot
but then | am not clever, like you are.
The old house is desert, Florence,
and have been the unhappy female
Crusoe. Fortunately, Walter and
new friend of his arrived yesterday,
but Walter has been called away on
law business for few days. Poor
mamma is more nervous and cross than
ever. Dear Florence, do 80 try to be
patient, but is such hard, hard work,
you don't know. Mr.. George Trance
ford (Walter's new friend) will meet
you at Mos,yn on Thursday evening,
at 7.
'Evcrs, dearest Florence, yours,
"ADA DEIGH."
"Fair Grove, Thursday evening""
This hurried epistle was from my
school companion and earliest friend,
but not my conhdant. Good as she
was, and Trustworthy, doubtless, l had
never felt inclined to impart my secret
joys and SORROWS to her. Had she pos.
sessed my confidence she would have
known that Mr.. Tranceford, whose
name flowed so freely from her pen,
was an old friend of mine, and rejected
suitor. Five years before George
Tranceford had asked me to be his
wife, and | had refused.
AT IS did not know my own mind,
and | found that George-no triher
himself-had fancied my nature as
deep and earnest as his own, and took
my "No' TOR an answer. didn't
quite mean it at the time but /
thought perhaps he would ask me again,
fool that | was l liked George Trance
ford, but | did not tell him that when
he asked for my heart.
"No, Mr., Tranceford," | said, 81 do
not love you,
"Miss Lincom," he replied, "you
have trifled with me-"
His tone hurt my pride, and l said,
rather tartly:
81 have right to do as please
"No, Miss Lincoln, you have not
he observed ''if you intend to be a
good and noble woman you must study
others feelings rather than your own
pleasure"
"Your edifying conversation reminds
me of Aunt Gussys lectures" l said in
as sarcastic tone as could command
81 should not like husband who
treated me to daily doses of moral say
ings and wise saws so wish you good
morning, Mr. Tranceford."
l bounced out of the room, after
making bow that would have won
praise from a member of the house of
Grandson and that was how we last
met and parted.
Imagine the leap my heart gave
when | real the calm, unknowing, un-
suspecting announcement, "Mr. Trance
ford will meet you at Mostyn !"
l was thankful Ada knew nothing,
for l should be subjectedto no teazings
or cross-questioning, and that was a
great comfort to me.
| had repented that "No" many
times in the course of five years. When
George Trancetord left England it
seemed almost as if light had gone out
of my life forever, and that was only a
month after l refused to be his wife.
Looking back at him when he had
gone, with the loungipg eyes of love,
how his virtues were magnifed how
his feelings dwindled to nothing or be-
came virtues to my too partial view
He was frequently silent, certainly +;
but then he was thoughtfut man, and
| talked so much and then he was so
earnest, and tender and true. Many
slight attentions that he had paid me,
and many phrases he had spoken, be-
came things to be treasured in my
heart now that l loved him, and he was
gone. And now but one short day and
should see him again, be near him,
clasp his hand, and hear him speak to
me in those low, tender tones, the
memory of which still lived in my
heart
"Nonsense, nonsense, Florence" |
said to myself, "you must not give way
to these sentimental fancies. George
Tranceford may be married. "No,
no, that cannot be, something whisper
ed "you would have heard of it, or
seen it in the newspapers He may
be very much changed y "What in
five years ?" said that something within
me.
EYES," | thought, 81 am changed ~
and | got up and went to looking
glass, and shook down my hair and
curled it in ringlets and flung them
over my shoulders and tied blue rib
bon round my head as l used to do five
years before. Then l sat down
and put my elbows on the dressing
table and looked long at my reflection,
thinking was / really changed-or was
| not
"Are you satisfied with the result OF
that lengthy contemplation e? Vanity
of vanities, saith the preacher, 'all is
vanity"
| knew the sharp, quick tones well
enough, and when | turned was sure OF
seeing Aunt Gussy's tall, straight figure
behind me, with her black mtteneG
hands crossed placidly before her Bu
| she was not the wild girl of five years ago
and | was used to Aunt Gussy's pecu
liarties and inclined to look upon then
with leniency.
81 was calling up the memories o
old times, aunlie, DEAR" said, and
glanced at the curls with a flushed
face, and began untying the blue rib
bon.
"a very bad thing to do" said Aunt,
Gussy. "Remarkably stupid, Thu
present and the future are the only tw,
senses that ever trouble me, or ough
to occupy any ones mind"
"Auntie," said, "Ada Leigh ha
sent for me to come to her tomorrow
Canyon spare me ?"
"Yes, child, lean spare you wei
enough she replied "GoOd-night,
i Aunt Gussy kissed me, and left tn
room to me and my thoughts.
CHAPTER ii.
To-morrow-the always coming tC