Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-12-10
Winning a Bride.

| uaS ne EXPECTS 10 MAKE fortune
no doubt, but it's my opinion he would
have done better at home than ont ~
that barbarons country. The ties her,
weren't sufficient to hold him it seems.
A flush, like the hue of a wild rose
crept over Blanche Corell's pretty
blonde face.
oh, mother u she said, protestingly.
'Oh, OF course, you believe in him,
and trust him., continued Mrs. Corell
meanwhile plying her needle /; but in
my day men didn't prove their devotion
in that way. IL they wanted to marry
girl they married her, and when they
went on their travels the wife went
too. Lee IS not "a poor.man /; he has
mole than enough to give giil good
home, but he was always a wild lad
fonder of sensations and adventures
than home pleasures. It's pity,
Blanche, you eyer favored him. Now,
there's Dudley
He has gone to Texas. too,' inter-
rupted Blanche, demurely.
Yes, but to keep watch on Lee, III
warrant. You know it was old Mr..
Victor's notion, and Dudley Mesroe
has great deal Of influence owe Lee.
He will keep him in the right path il
anybody can.'
Il think Lee is capable of being his
own MASTER SAID Blanche, with a lit
tie fash in her gentian- blue eyes, 'and
he is worthy score of Dudley Mes,
roles.'
Mrs. Corell wisely refrained from
pursuing the subject, but the regret
that often stirred her anxious heart
moved her now.
From her infancy Blanche had found
firm friend and defender in Leo Vic
tor; as time passed the affection be-
tween them assumed a new guise, deep
er and sweeter, ,and then it was that the
mothers fears began.
The handsome young man, with his
careless, deb0nair way and restless ma
ture, pleased her far less than his as
sociate, whose gentle dignity and air of
content won her favor at their first
meeting.
In all outward seeming Dudley Mes.
role was loyal to his friend. but a
chance word, glance from the quiet,
brown eyes, proved to Blanche the re-
gard in which he held her. The night
of their parting he had told her the
truth.
'I'm going away he said. Il may
never see you again, Blanche, for 1
shall not return with Lee. Your heart
is in his keeping, and while I wish you
both complete joy,I could not live here
ard witness all the happiness I have
missed. Goodbye, forever
Twelve months went by. Letters
from her lover were frequent, and he
wrote in glowing terms of his life and
luck in the far south west.
At last two weeks went by without
the usual missives.
Blanche, fearing her lover might..have
grown i'll, wrote solicitous letter, but
there came no reply; then in her ankle
ty she.wrote to Dudley.
Another fortnight passed. She was
standing on the cottage porch one day
at sunset, when tall figure in a gray
travelling suit came up the walk.
Blanche sprung forward with pal
lor on her face, and her lovely eyes
dark with something akin to fear.
Dudley Mesrole. and alone = she
cried. Tell me-iee-'
He took her outstretched hands and
looked down into her face with pity
ing expression on his own.
Lee Is safe, he answered but there
was a strange intonation in his low
voice. Let Us 90 In, Blanche, have
much to say to you.'
She led the way to the little cottage
parlor and sat beside him while he told
his story.
Lee Victor was false; he had welded
a girl from San Antonia, and Dudley
had come to break the news to her.
Like statue she sat, rigid and 81.
lent, while that soft, musical voice re-
lated the tale.of treachery in a protest
ing reluctant way, and those gentle
hands held her own in friendly clasp,
and those regretful brown eyes looked
down into the blue ones that were dark
with anguish.
Il would have spared you this,' said
Dudley, 'but is it not best that you
should know p
Yes, yes,' she murmured. You
were always my friend. Dudley
FL smiled half sadly, and then went
away leaving her alone with her sol-
row.
On the morrow he came again, and
the welcome accorded him by Mrs Cor
rel was more ardent though scarcely
less sincere than that of Blanche.
In the new grief that had fallen upon