Little Falls transcript., 1885-04-24
An OLD TIME LOVE STORY,

The afternoon sun was glowing on
the old portraits in MRS. Knights low
wainscoted parlor as she sat gossiping
with her friend. Why's is it old Ladies'
do Not wear changeable gray silks now
Nothing can be prettier, and Mrs. Eana-
i pie looked we'll in hers.
We'll, my dear Const ance, whichs do
you tEink she will havef"
Indeed, "said Mrs. Knight, "I do
not knew, but strongly suspect it Will
be the captain, and wish I liked hir9
! better. He hasn't good eyes and has q,
furtiye way Of looking at one, as if he
had something to conceal. It may be
because he knows his eyes are not
much to look at. I have observed that:
persons who are convinced that their
eyes are ugly do not show them much. ,"
tim sure~" responded Mrs. Temple,
ito quote nay Aunt Patty, I've nothing
agin the madl,' but it's true that we
know nothing whatever about him."
Except" edded Mrs. Knight, 'that
he is q handsome stranger and appears
o'have money"
"Yes, and there is Eustace Tracy
poor, tits true, but so we'll connected
and so much in love with Caroline -
really, quite as good looking as the
Captain. too: Alas if we could only
choose husbands for our friends!"
"1ndeed." said Mrs. Knight, IT
wouldn't dare take such tremendous
responsibility on my shoulders. There
is Caroline out riding with Captain Al :.
dine now She grews more beautiful
every day"
Both ladies' rushed precipitately to
the window to- see the subject of their
conversation: dash by in han dsome
| turnout.
Well, Caroline. Claiborne generally
had her own way. and did intend to
marry the Captain. A handsome, ele-
CANT girl she was--petted and admired
in her aunt's family Yet unfortunate-
ly she had no male relative living She
was an orphan, quite alone III the world,
but left with sufficient income to dress
we'll. and was the pride and darling of
her old aunt, whons Captain Aldine,
with his false, HatteEing tongue" had
fully convinced: that he was a most
brilliant match for' her niece.
| Eustace Tracy. 1t was true, has long
loved her in. silence, seeming to regard
her even i'll church as "the saint OF his
deepest DEVOTION" But he was poor,
briefess barrister and had never "told
his love-" Eustace, tao, felt that vague
distrust of Captain Alt}ine. but WIS too
noble by far to say ohe word in disfavor
of a successful rival. In his heart of
hearts he vowed to. retain his friend
ship for Caroline and make her inter-
ests his own, although sore with jealousy.
He felt that having loved SO peerless a
woman he could never think Of another |
AS l said before, it was pity tie girl
had no male relatives
It was significant fact that none of
Captain Aldiile's family either wrote to
the bride or appeared at the wedding
(presents were not In vogue in those
days. all of which her lover smoothed
over with plausible excuses which com.
pletely deceived Caroline md her aunt,
Miss Harriet: but these facts were the
cause of many rnisgivings to the tSEo
ladies' who. were their mutual friends.
Caroline was radiantly lovely in her
bridal robes of white satin, with her
mothers oid point lace and diamonds. |
Her lovers gift was an opal bracelet.
"Don't wear it, honey" said her old
Nurse apprehensively. "Tve heard
them stones don't bring no good to any
! body"
Which very negative assertion Caro-
line merely laughed at, saying it was
pretty and she meant to wear it, wheth-
er the omen were bad or good.
After the wedding, which was gay
one, Captain A}dine had to say good
by to his fair bride, being ordered to.
sea, but had he not secured his prize?
Caroline had decided to remain
with her aunt until his return. Only
day or two after he sailed package
arrived through the mail, sealed and
addressed to Captain Aldine in
lady's hand. Caroline had just fin
ished writing a long letter to her hus-
band to be sent at the earliest opportu-
nifty, and said to Miss. Harriet: II
must open it and see if it is of import
| ance, and can send it with naine."
The letter was covered with post
marks, as if it had travelled far in search
of him. Miss Harriet was feeding the
| canary and did not observe Caroline un-
til she had broken the seal she was the
next moment startled by a shrek, and
Caroline fell fainting to- the floor.
my poor child, what is the mat
ter" she cried, and seizing the
letter she read, "Mv dear hus-
band" She turned hastily to the sig
nature-"Y Your afectionate wife, Frances
Aldine." There was no mistake about
| it, Captain Aldine had another wife, who
begged him in piteous terms to return
/ to her. ""@. ~4 ~.-..- I, ~
Poor Caroline had by this time recov-
ereo conscionsness-but, alas! con.
sciousness of perfdy in the man whom
! she had implicitly trusted.
1 II shall never willingly look upon
his face again." cried she, passionately.
| 'Yet, how shall escape him ?"
/ Her aunt soothed her as well as she
| could, and promised all the protection
| in her power. IL
1 Years passed. Captain Aldine re.
turned and had the audacity to seek
| Caroline and claim her for his wife,
declaring infeigned rage that the let
ter was forgery. The contrary had, !,
/ however, been conclusively proved, and
1 Caroline resorted to all sorts OF strata
gem in order to elude him. 4. 8.sss.3
! It was strange, indeed, that she did
I not resort to the law, but i never
!. heard that she did. At one time she
was compelled to escape on the roof
4 Of the house at dead Of night, and take