Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-10-22

looked-dressed in pure white, and
with such an innocent countenance
There was no question as to her suitinl
the people. Cosgrove felt vastly re
lieved. He got on excellently will
Miss Folsom. She had no "guirks'
about her, as have most musical indi
viduals. She left everything to his
Judgment.
1t was the most natural thing in the
world that they should become friends
And as they became friends, it was
quite as natural that she should tel
him about herself. She was an or
phan; she had been supporting herseli
as music-teacher in the great city. She
had practiced the strictest economy
that she might continue to study under
good teacher. She was poor
The summer had slowly drifted by.
Happy hours are not always swift
Sometimes so much occurs in short
space that one cannot realize the actual
length of time. They are days that
seem like months-so full are they oi
strange surprise and Joy.
That was the way JOY Folsom found
it. IA the late August days she
walked with quick step and bound
ing pulse. She sang with new thrill
in her voice. She was nineteen and
tasting the happiness of first love.
All, yes! In all the after years moth.
ing half so sweet or pure may come
to woman. One never again may
know the same feeling of perfect trust
and security. Look back to it through
tears, o ye who have since lived and
suffered, who have learned to doubt
and to dread, who have stood face to
face with selfishness, heartlessness, be-
| trayall
He loved her. They had not as
20 a;Ss,----a '''orri age but he loved
her. That was sufficient.
/ Joy had made any number of friends
since coming to Pottersville. Or, to
| speak more accurately, had accepted
them. For she was by nature too shy
and retiring to make advances in any
quarter. The Misses Asher had called
upon her, and she had dined with
them twice or thrice. But they were
all so much older than herself and so
stately in dress and manner that she
had not become very intimate with
them. She felt q certain awe in their
presence, which was by no means les
sened at the thought that they were so
friendly to Clinton Cosgrove.
Among others who had made kindly
overtures to Miss Folsom was an elder
ly soul named Bisbee. She was a
widow, and something of gossip.
Perhaps she had her eye on the soprano
and the organist. Pehaps she had n
vague notion how Trinity's organ loft
stood yelled in shadow those still mid
summer afternoons, when Joy Folsom's
slim white-clad figure III the gloom
---~--l - -s-, 4 60. liz IN -
Clinton Cosgrove played soft interludes
and whispered tender sentences while
playing. At all events it was Mrs. Bis-
bee who met JOY that morning-a morn
ing she never afterward could put out
of mind--a horrid morning of shock
and darkness. Mrs. Bisbee had walked
joys boarding-place. And there Joy
had gone straight to her own room,
dazed and choking
Mrs. Bisbee had naturally enough
spoken of church affairs; of the music; ;
of Mr. Cosgrove; of the boy-choir ; and
of the Misses Asher's devotion to the
organist.
Every one understands it, of course"
the willy widow had said, carelessly.
"And really it is very good arrange
ment, you know. He has nothing but
his salary; he is as poor as any one."
"You mean Mr.. Cosgrove is poor"
said Joy, sudden color creeping up
over her cheeks. Il don't quite under
stand what arrangement you mean,
though"
"You don'tP Why / thought every
body knew mean about Fidelia, of
course. She is year or two older
than he is, but that doesn't matter
much considering her fortune. O, yes,
Miss Fidelia will be the making of him.
L don't quite know wien
the marriage is to occur"
Miss Fidelia to marry Mr.. Cos
grove" JOY repeated slowly, as if the
intelligence were too stupendous for
comprehension.
"Why, supposed every one knew"
the widow made answer.
Then, as they had reached joys
home, no more was said.
The girl went slowly up the board
walk to the house. It was as if
thunder-cloud had settled upon the
fair world. Everything was black and
hideous. All the sweetness had gone
out of the flowers; the very tree leaves
seemed to hang stupidity, as if death
had touched their life source.
Suppose it were true. Then he had
only been trifing with her. He had
never asked her to marry him, because
he had meant to marry Miss Fidelia
Asher, who was rich. He had amused
himself with Joy Folsom, because she
was poor. All, yes she was poor. In
the city her home had been an attic
chamber, bleak in winter, sitting in
summer. Her work had been hard and
incessant. Her progress had been 50
slow. o, life had been pitiful strug.
gle. And now the cup of happiness
was dashed from her lips. The world
was made suddenly dark and terrible.
Joy remained all day in her room
to suffer. Pride came to her assist
ance, and, though it made the pain no
easier, was something of n prop. The
young all have this pride; as they grow
older they get over having it. Some
times they get over il too much
know q woman whose husband has de-
serted her and swears he will never
live with her again, and tells her he
wishes she would die, because he never
loved her, but married her against his
will. And yet that woman keeps writ
ing to him and pleading with him to
come back. That woman has gotten
over having pride-too far.
Joy felt that her life was wrecked