The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-01-21
INTERESTING STORY.
FAIRY'S PUNISHMENT.
=" You love me, Fairy ?n

" Yes, I love you," say, with sigh.
But love won't keep us, Robin; SO the
best thing we can do is to forget our pretty
dream of love in cottage, and think of
something more sensible"
My lover is stretched full-length on the
grass at my feet, and as speak my hand
falls on his bright young head with linger-
ing tenderness. 1t is hard to give him up
but hate poverty even more than / love
Robin.
We are so poor at home, and there are SO
many of us, and we girls are always shabby.
don't know when have had new dress
or when can expect to have one and il
married Robin it would be the same, of
course, for how could he afford to gratif,
my taste for pretty things? So il is best for
me that our engagement, such as it is,
should be broken off. He will think so, too,
some day, and thank me for being SO wise
but at present am afraid he cannot see the
wisdom, but only the cruelty of the thing.
" Fairy" he says, looking up at me with
eyes that are dark with pain, AZ will work
hari--so hard-to win home for you, il
you will only wait"
/" Wait II say, impatiently. Robin,
how can you talk 80 foolishly? What pros
poets have you? 1t is impossible that you
can be rich man, and have made up my
mind never to marry q poor man."
How long is it since you have arrived
at this decision ?" asks Robin.
His name is Robert, but always call him
Robin. He is getting up now, and his
handsome face looks white and drawn. But
there is new dignity about him that awe,
me little. The boy seems to have changed
10 man in the last few minutes.
Chow long! began, confusedly, while
the color mounts to the roots of my hair.
Don't say any more )" and Robin puts
his hand on my arm. :" ! know it is since
Lord Westwarren had been visiting the cot
tnge that you have found out your mistake.
You are going to marry that old man for his
money, Frances"
Perhaps he hopes will contradict this
assertion, for he looks at me longingly as he
speaks but I cannot, for ii is true that
mean to marry Lord Westwarren.
Frances !"
I look up quickly, pleased at the inter-
ruption, for do not wish to hear my Low er'a
reproaches, and see my little sister looking
down at me with her grave, dark eyes.
Well, Dolly, what is it ?" ask, while
Robin tears up the grass by handfuls.
"That horrid old man has come, and lie
asking for you"
Don't talk like that of your sisters fu-
ture husband, child" cries Robin, before !
can speak and Dolly stares at him in as
constituent, Unable to grasp his meaning,
and o little startled by the harsh laugh that
accompanies the words.
How white he looks, and how miserable
l can't leave him like this. We must part
friends, or his pale face will haunt me all
my life.
Say you can't find me, Dolly" unmind-
full of the bad example am setting my little
sister and the child runs off to do my bid
ding, with her shabby hat hanging at the
back of her neck, and her short frock max
ing very unnecessary display of very thin
legs in black cotton stockings.
Pray, why hive you dispatched your
elderly admirer 2" Robin asks, bitterly
What would he say if he came to the pad.
dock to look after you 2"
As if he would so far forget his dignity
AS to walk through this long grass /" I say,
almost laughing at the idea miserable as
I am, / hate him, Robin"
You hate him. Frances /" and Robin
gives me passionately reproachful glance.
" You hate him, and yet you are willing to
sell yourself for gold. Ihope you will be
happy"
How can you breathe such a wish wher
you know l shall be wretched ?"
At know nothing but that you have made
your choice in life," Robin answers, sadly.
Your parents could not force you to marry
this old man against your will"
We are both standing up now, and he
holds my hands tightly, looking into my
face with eyes that seem to read my soul.
5"I love you," / tell him, in faltering
tones; 9 but Robin, can never marry a
poor man." aEh8 gksasFEf
Kiss met is for the last time" he
Iays. 10.
o, the pain ana passion in his voice
il That kiss When my time comes I shall
remember it as I float into the unknown
sea. o, Robin, it is hard to let you go
But how can bear to be poor and shabb,
all my days, to trudge along in the dust
raised by the horses and carriages of the
rich, TO soc my face grow prematurely old
with care and worry? No, 1t would never
do, and some day Robin will como to my
way of thinking. All this try to tell him
but he checks me abruptly -almost rudely.
He is sick of that best for you, best for
me " twaddle, he tells me for it cannot be
best for him to lose me, and he will never
think 30. s' g tNf
What is the use of lingering over our part
ing, or repeating all Robin says in his bitter
disappointment 1t Is over at last, and
go back to the house to find that Lord West
warren's horses are still standing at the
gate.- 1t seems that he will not leave with
out seeing me. enter the shabby drawing
room without waiting to look at, myself or
smooth my hair. Lord Westwarren must
take Frances as he finds her. am not GO
ing to adorn myself for his benefit. How
hate the old wretch, with his yellow, wrink-
led complexion and bloodshot eyes!