Weston weekly leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 1878-189?, 1885-07-03

81 thank yon for the homer that yoa
do me, Mr.. Meridith." she faltered;
"but-I cannot accept; for I have no
heart to give, and will never marry
without leye-In
The old man started to his feet, pale
and painting with anger.
81 know!'' he sneered derisively; "you
are too much in love with young Ray
mond! Yeu haven't heard, Isuppose,
that he is to be married soon to his rich
cousin. Miss Steele, from the South"
Eta fell back o step and her face
grew deadly pale.
She knew that Miss Steele had ar.
rived week before on visit to her rel
atives, the Raymonds-and -yes-it
was true; Will had not called upon her
since his cousins arrival.
She made no answer to the cruel
werds, but there was an awful pain in
her heart as she stood there.
It is said that the evil one always
helps his own, tnot that am certain Of
his claim upon Mr.. Meridith, but it
seemed so at that moment) for just then
down the street there dashed an open
carriage, and seated within were Will
Raymond and beautiful, dark-eyed
woman. elegantly attired.
Mr.. Meridith laughed a mocking,
sneering laugh.
"There they go now," he said; CLOCKS
as it there were some truth in the ru-
NOR, does it not?"
But Etta's mind was made up past al
teration.
81 cannot be your wife, Mr.. Meri-
dith, she cried, whether he be true or
false; / cannot premise to 1eve, honor
and obey a man for whom cherish
neither honor nor respect"
MIR. Meridith's face was ashen white.
He bowed freezingly.
Gas you will, Miss Leigh" he said
coldly. Then he bade her adieu and
was gone.
Eta Leigh was very sensible girl.
Will Raymond was her betrothed hus-
band. She had right TO know the
meaning of his conduct. This was no
time for false pride. The happiness of
her own life, perhaps his also, was at
stake.
Sc my unorthodox heroine did not
follow the usual precedent in such cases
and write her lover cold letter, return
ing the engagement ring, and severing
all ties between them. On the contrary
she wrote VIII Raymond a friendly
note, asking him to call, if convenient,
that evening. The term 'tif convenient"
being the only outlet to her wounded
pride which she allowed herself, for she
was snlarting under sense Of injury
and neglect.
Will came-blue-eyed, fair-hairad
Will. as handsome as Greek God, but
a triiie cooi il. his gzeetiBs 4
Eta, pale bat determined, told him
quietly the story which MIR. Meridith
had repeated to her, and demanded to
know if it were true.
He faced her. pale to the very lips.
'.Before I answer yeur question:" he
said, little sternIy, 81 beg the priv
lege of asking another. Eta, is Mr..
Meridith anything to you?"
"Nothing-but" with half smile
50 rejected suitor."
Will caught her in his arms.
'Aud I, in my foolish pride. was
avoiding you" he cried, "because Meri-
dith told me himself that you were look
ing upon his suit with favor. just
think Of it, ,Etta-you are my betrothed
wife!'
"And-what about Miss Steele?" que.
ried Eta, slyly.
"Cousin Nettie? Why, Eta, didn't
you know that she is engaged to my
brother?"
IF l had known / should not have
been jealous of her, whispered Eta.
"Oh, Will, how much better it Is in
such a case as this, between two loving
hearts, to slay ones pride and ask the
truth. How much sorrow and separa
tion might be avoided in life if every
body was brave enough to take this
course"
And Willis answer, though not in
words, was quite satisfactory.
When the wedding came off, Miss
Steele's gift to the bride was simply
magnificent A pretty home Of he
own and a set Of lovely rose diamonds.
But Eta says (an1 SO do u that al
the wealth in the world is not to b,
compared with the love of one tru,
heart. And l, too, agree with Eta tha
much trouble, much sorrow and separa
tion might be avoided if one had onl,
courage to slay ones pride and self-cen
ceit and go bravely to the loved on
and task the truth
| His Usual Advice.
There was another Cincinnati
riot the other day. A young mar
who had lost about $4,000 on
wheat speculation went for a broke
with:
"See here, didn't you say tha