The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-05-24
MILLY'S LOVERS.

one of which little Milly Wayne sat, toying
with one of the fragrant blossoms whose
coloring matched the blush upon her cheek
pretty, blue-eyed Milly, who, on this
lovely morning, looked like some bright
spirit to the man who stood unebserved
among the trees, Watching her and wonder
ing if there was a happier man than he as
he gazed upon his own true sweetheart.
1t seemed but yesterday to the honest,
good-hearted fellow that Milly came, lit
tie, black-robed orphan, to live with them
at the old farmhouse, when he had taken
her into his loving heart, never to put her
out again.
Since then he, too, had become an or
phan. and was heir to comfortable estate,
while Milly, dependent upon his bounty,
shared his fortune as sister would have
shared brothers.
ssThere is no one in all the wide world
whom love better than you, Howard, )"
she said to him one day, in her pretty, i'm
pulsive way. '.If you win only let me stay
in the dear old home still, feel so happy
and grateful"
And, in that wild, passionate moment
his love has found voice, and she, raising
her sweet coral lips to his, in an answering
kiss, promised to be his wife, never dream
ing of the tangled web in which she was so
soon to be held prisoner-the letters
that, in after days, seemed like rods of iron
burning to her heart.
1t was during the days of their betrotEal
that MillY went to visit schoolmate in
New York, where, on the day of her arrival,
she first saw the dark blue eyes and hand
some face of Lance Fielding.
And she at last found herself wondering
fnx ucfra no craooobac CHI heard from
this courtly mans lips would sound from
poor, honest Howard Cramer's, whose
simple " love you !" seemed to have CON-
prised all the words in his loye-making
vocabulary, and yet it had satisfied her
heart until the day she had met Lance
Fielding. Could it be it no longer salts
fed it?
81 wonder if am doing wrong in keep
ing this little secret from Howard p she
said, toying with the pledge of her be-
tfothal that glistened upon her tapering
finger. 81 feel strange presentiment of
evil, and yet"
She drew back from the window where
she stood, her heart beating wildly, a look
of glad surprise upon her face as she saw
the manly form of Lance Fielding, but that
look suddenly died out as she caught sight
of the young girl at his side, whose merry
laugh reached her ear through the open
window like blow and she then fed for
refuge to her own little room to sob out
her hearts bitterness, wringing her hands
fantically until:
She sprang to her feet with low cry of
horror, her eyes riveted upon her finger,
where her engagement ring no longer glis-
tened.
"My ring Oh, where is it ?" she cried
nj T
could only find it'll"
Could it be presentiment to warn her
of that fierce, cruel pain Juggling at her
heart? Poor Milly never thought Of that
How frantically, yet vainly, she sought her
ring, while her heart yearned to be free
once more-free to win the man who had
played such wild havoc with her heart al
ready.
s'But am fettered to poor Howard, and
] dare not bridge the gulf that yawns be-
tween Lance Fielding and me. Oh, to be
free once more!"
And then, with heavy heart, she re-
turned to the dear old farmhouse, with it's
sweet home comfort and quietude; and
Howard, all unconscious of Milly's secret.
watched her on that lovely morning, and
found her greatly changed from the bright
little creature who had left him only few
weeks before.
She dreaded to tell him of the loss of her
ring and the evil it threatened. If she
could only find some pretext to ask him to
give her back her troth.
"But, oh, know his heart is truth and
goodness to the core, and yet / yearn to
change him for another" she thought,
YEARLY. sob, Lance, Lance, I wish for
poor Towards sake that had never known
you"
But before our heroine could creep back,
In her repentance, to her true lovers arms,
and confide to him the secret weighing
down her heart, Lance Fielding came to
the old farmhouse, eager once more to see
the bonny, blue-eyed Milly; and, for the
first time in his life, Howard Cramer knew
how fierce and cruel were the pangs of
jealousy. .@
'sHe means to rob nae of my little sweet
heart, he thong t, bitterly, as he noted his
rivals marked attention to Milly. ssBut,
oh, if she loves him, why should inter
fere? If another has stolen her heart, why
should claim her as my bride? And it
was only last night noticed her engage
ment ring was missing from her finger.
Why has she discarded that? Oh, what
does it all mean? Fate surely sent her to
New York that day when she first saw
Lance Fleldings handsome face--Lance
Fielding, who, in winning little Milly,
wrecks my life forever! !"
Returning home from the field one even
ing, Howard saw Milly and his rival stand
irg upon the vine-wreathed veranda, and
the wind, blowing in his direction, brought
their voices ts his ear before they were
aware of his approach.
"I implore you to leave me, Lance, and
let us meet no more" he heard Milly say
in trembling voice, !" for, even if / were
free, I ann no wife for you. am poor
Towards promised bride, and now must
give him the love he merits by sacrificing
the possession of yours. Leave me and
But the words died on her lips as How
ard strobe up and stood before them.
eff you really love each other. why
should you part 2" he asked. "Do not
think me cruel enough to hold you back
from your happiness, Milly. If find you
worthy of her, turning to Lance Fielding
"she shall be yours.
And thus both true love and false were
offered to our little heroine, and as SO otter
happens, the glamour of the false outshont
the true for the time.
Lance Fieldings attentions toward th'
pretty country girl were only meant as
mere Irritation. but when he II cognized
rival in poor. honest Howard Cramer, op
position and jealousy added fuel to tn
flame. ard he felt that he would rather
marry her than give her up to another.
But even in her freedom now Mllly was
not happy, and reproached herself for the
sorrow and pain she was causing Howard.
sHave Lob, have done right 4 sh
thought, bitterly. Glance will never low
me we'll enough to sacrifice his happines
as Howard has done for my sake"
All, the poor, romantic little creatur
scarcely knew her own heart, never IuiI..
realizing hos aer dream OF gloe
happiness wa at an end until one after