The Penn's Grove record., 1884-01-12

dill tut aeHAAtN " q NAt~NA
heart. And when the truth broke
upon her, another followed closely
that Gilbert Lee vas also wOoing her.
But Sadie knew that he had never
touched the spot in her heart where
Charley had found a place three years
ago. The flowers, wrapping her lo
sweet incense, were telling Sadie all TIE
secrets of her heart, when Lola tapped
at the door.
"Mr. Lee is waiting, Sadie
Never had Sadie, in the bloom Of her
youthful beauty, looked SO dlgnIued
and womanly as size did when She en-
tered the little parlOr where GlibeIj
Lee awaited her. Never had he Sc
longed TO take her to his heart and
home as he did when she answered his
suit with a gentle firmneSs. Throwing
aside all geometry, she gave him his re-
fnsal with a truthful expression IN her
blue eyes. as her low voice ssld-
81 should wrong you, Gilbert, and be
false to my own heart If married
you" she said,
"You do not love me ?"
'sNot as our wife should love you,
she answered. Then seeing his look OF
pain and modification. She added
bravely-
'sHad | know you sooner, my answer
might have been different, but before
we met l had given away all my love.
"Thank you for telling me that,
he answered, earnestly. Il shall re-
spect your confidence,
Il -, $50 Ia4,Vg ~lArn ThTnHHInpf-
ed the bracelet.
81 must send it," she told Lola,
when her sister cane to her again. Then
looking into the gentle. sweet face, She
whispered
II think l was true to my own heart,
Lola"
Not long after, a white-robed little
figure, in the Old muslin, frIlled ana
nuted till it was a marvel of crisp,
snowy prettiness, came tlutterIng INTO
the parlor. Upon the bosom Of the
white dress was a cluster of Charley's
flowers, and there were more twisted IN
the nut-brown hair.
Charley glanced at them as he came
in but Charley looked grave and pre-
occupied. Never, in three years OF
counting, had Charley approached sadie
with such IA solemn air.
Lola. guessing what was coming, was
stealing away, but Charley put his
hand on her arm.
''Stay p he said, in a grave voice, Il
have no secret from you. You knew
long ago what l meant to ask Sadie, for
YOU begged me to wait until She was
older. She is seventeen tonight, and
she must know her own heart, Sadie y
his voice thrilled with Infinite tender
ness as pc spoke the name-"l love you.
VIII you be my wife ~
Sad .. somewhat aWed by his grave
man. = put her little hand in his, with
out any other answer than a vivid
blush, and doWncast eyes. In a mo-
ment the old Charley-radiant, sunny
Charley-Was there again.
'sYou do love me? Oh, Sadie, lhaYe
been 20 wretched. Gilbert Lee was
here to-day, and you are wearing MS
flowers. l saw him sending them to
yod.n
Ills flowers thought they were
yours"
mo. II didn't send flowers. l have
a confession to make, Sadie, if YOU will
near It," Charlie, holding Sadie's hand
last in his own, said
You never heard me speak about
my father, but tonight | must tel you
something. When l was a mere boy,
not more than five years old, the gold
Z fexer tnnkfast hold Of his Imagination,
and he was one Of the first Of the gold
seekers who sailed to dig wealth from
| the ground. and wash it from the va
tiers Of California. For a little time
my mother heard from him, but the in
| tervals between the letters grew longer
and longer. till after five years of watch
ing and waiting she ceased to hear at
all. | was bat twelve years old when
my mother died. My uncle took me
into his own family, and educated ne
with his boys. He was not a rich man,
and | knew that | must depend upon
my OWL eXertions for support, as soon
as | was old enough to work. Three
years ago, through afriend ofmy uncle,
| was offered a position in the bank.
Then l met you, Sadie, a little girl, but
the sweetest and most WinSOme little
girl in the world. Your sisters kind
hospitality to the stranger, the poor
clerk, enabled me to see you often to
! love you fondly followed very soon.
But l was poor, and you had often told
me how bitter and CALLING poverty was
to yOn. l had no wealth to lay at your
feet, and you were but q child, Sc
spoke no words of love, bound you by Ito
promise, hoping to win gold to offer you
before you were much older.N
What a mercenary thing you must
have thought me-" said Sadie, laugh
ing.
''Then," Charley said, colbert Lee
came. He was rich, and he was young.
too, and handsome, with a winning
tongue and a gentle courtesy of man
ner. He saw you, Sadie, and he loved
you. | did not dare urge my suit then.
| did not dare ask you to clasp hands
with poverty, when there was wealth
waiting for your acceptance. | waited.
and to-day | know Gilbert Lee had a
private interview with you. | came
tonight neryed to bear the worst, and
find you love me, Sadie. You Will be-
my wife, though Gilbert Lee offers YOU
his superb home =? Wait, little one, MY
story is not finished yet. Yesterday
heard from my uncle of my fathers
death in San Francisco. The greed 70,
money for moneys sake, hardened hin
against home, wife, and child. To ado
to his hoard, he changed his name, and
allowed his Owl family to mourn Inn
as dead. Not until death came to teal
him away from his treasure, did he r.
sumo his own name and make his WIN
by which he leaves me, his only son
heir to five hundred thousand dollars
1t is all ours, Sadie-yours, mine and
Lola's. | have no sister except Lola
you know. But, Sadie, though l didn'
send you the flowers, l did send you
birthday gift-a bracelet. VIII yol
not wear it tonight ~
Yes !" cried Sadie. son, if yol
knew how nearly | returned it to Oh
bert Lee. 1t is in a package directe,
to him, with a note Of thanks, but d
clining his gift at this moment"
But it figured at Auut Rates party
and only a few weeks later lent il,
brilliant Jets of light to beautify SalleI
wedding dress, when she became Char
ley's wife.