The Penn's Grove record., 1885-01-10

all the misery that came after.
What need is there to tell again the
dear old time worn story which has
been written so often in poetry and
prose, and is being enacted in real life
every day 1t is enough for me to say
that, after six of the happlest weeks of
my life, Harold Broughton asked me to
be his wife.
| was sitting at the open drawing
room window listening to Helen's clear
sweet voice singing, and thinking, as
she sang of hopeless grief and sorrow,
how very far off and distant all trouble
seemed to be, and that life and love
had not always a dark background of
angry s~torm-clouds to creep up and blot
out the blue sky.
The gentlemen were pacing up and
down the terrace, talking earnestly.
Tom was smoking, and the scent of his
cigar tloated in Pleasantly at the open
window as they passed backwards and
forwards. Then, as the evening shadows
deepened, they paused and stood look
ing in upon us, and Tom called Helen
TO come and take a turn with HIM. l
rose to follow, but a hand was laid upon
my own, and the voice that brought
the quick blood to my face whispered
low and earnestly
"Please stay 1 have something to
say to YOU"
Then they went /; and we two were
left alone in the fading twilight.
Later 10 the evening Helen came TO
my room and kissed me, saying
"Oh. Nora darling, | Am so glad
Harold has just been telling us, and,
dear, he is 50 fond of YOU'D
I dare not trust myself to write of
those days of more than happiness,
when to fulfil my highest wish seemed
the sole desire of a brave noble heart
those days when, side by side, we paced
the shady ltnes and thought that life
itself was too short for love gilded all.
and earth TO us seemed nothing short of
a Paradise. That happy time of light
and sunshine, how it seemed to fly
how the glad sunny hours glided by
But afterwards they dragged slowly
ard YEARLY enough-those long sum-
mer days and still longer nights. 1t
seemed ia the dark still hours that the
dawn would never break and disperse
at least the outer darkness !; and in the
long warm days | used to think the sun
would never set behind the purple
mountains for the lenethening gloomy
twilight was more grateful to my weary
heart when the sun of my life was set
for ever. Yet for all that followed
can blame no one but myself =; never,
even in my inmost thoughts, have | suf-
fered myself to cast q doubt upon him.
The fault, the folly. call it what one
will YVES all mine. And surely l have
suffered enough for one foolish word
1t was all a chapter of accidents from
beginning to end but it blighted two
lives aid struck the death-biow TO all
our bright hopes and fancies.
We were playing a spirited and long
contested game of croquet one lovely
afternoon, Helen and Harold against
Tom and myself /; our side was nearly
victorious, and Tom was triumphant.
He was a bad player and L, being a
''rover,n was helping on my unlucky
partner and taking a peculiar delight
in sending Harold, the rival rover, ,
bowling to the other end of the ground.
There is no need to send me quite
so far,"he said, laughing 4; 81 am quite
tired of walking up and down after my
ball. Now stand back every oneI Here
comes the winner ~
"Well done There's a good shot ~
cried Tom, as Harold's ball came flying
over the ground straight as a die, and
hit mine, which was unfortunately near
the winning post.
"Now, then, | shall put this danger
Gus character out of pain /; and then,
Tom, you had better retire gracefully
from the contest" said Harold, hurry
ing up.
mo, no-don't; it is not fairl Har-
old, it is horribly of you to put
me outi"
But l pleaded in vain. He was mer-
CHESS, only saying, as my ball hit the
stick and bounded Off
Cant help it, Nora all is fair in
love and war; Then suddenly, with
a laugh that had more of annoyance
than mirth in it, he added, II wish we
could put an end to all doubts and diff
culties as easily as / have put an end to
this game"
What did he mean? His eyes were
fixed on me so earnestly that 1 colored
beneath his glance and turned away,
saying, as | knocked about the balls I'M
easily
Don't talk nonsense I"
perhaps it's not nonsense" he re.
piled.
Now, Tom, confess that you are
thoroughly beaten |" interposed Helen,
coming up triumphant with success
and quite patronizing. Here are Nora
and Harold fighting over the rules OF
croquet. But never mind, Tom il
your poor little rover had not been
finished so cruelty, you would have
won.n
sit was all unfair" l said, halt
cross, half amused, as we all sat under
the lime-trees and talked about the
match.
you have a great deal of determine
ation," said Helen to Harold. II shall
never forget Nora's beseeching face.
One would have thought that the fate
OF nations hung on your reply.
There are moments, /" he replied,
''when one needs all ones determine
ton ; but l assure you it is quite allow.
able to put an enemy out of the game,
Don't you think 30 yourself, Nora ?"-
smiling up into my face. "But it's not
worth an argument. For PHYS sake
don't let us fall out about tr ies ; rea
trouble may not be 81 far off from any
one of u.s."
Don't talk in enigmas. Harold you
are very cross to-day ! Charlie vas the
best croquet. player | even knew anC
he never did anything half so mean
"And who, may | ask, is this great
player? Is he a myth, a character in Z
book, Oh what Charlie ! Who can ht
be
Harold was laughing now, and trying
as | thought, to keep his temper. W.
were fast drifting into a foolish quarre
about nothing but. had known ther
the doubts and fears that were on hi
mind, / would never have spoken as
did.
"Who is this great authority on GRO
quet 2'i he went on. II am dying Il
know"
"There he isi'' / replied impetuously
opening a locket at my neck which
contained the likeness Of my favoriti
brother Charlie.
"Who is it 2" he asked, taking TIN
locket from my hand.
Helen broke In with a peal Of laugh
ter.