Daily Republican., 1885-11-20

"Rita, are you here? Rita"
Pausing abruptly, as passing by the
little green clad arbor, he caught o
glimpse of q pale pink robe. He crossed
the threshold quickly, aud stood beside
the little figure curled up In detected
attitude on the low, rustic seat. A pair
OF white srlc:s. revealed by the loose
sleeves, were thrown above wealth Of
auburn curls, and the fsce was hid be-
ueath but, at the intruder's touch,
Rita Arden raised her head " it'll pou.
Oh her lips, land her brown eyes flashing
through her tears.
Cant be alone moment ? | wish
You wouldn't bother me, Archie"
+" won't bother you long, Rita"
The young mans tone was half re-.
proachful, and his eyes met hers ear
nestly. Rita, having brushed away
the tears and assn med a cheerful coun'
tenance, now sat erect, and thrust back
her disheveled locks.
"Have you heard the news 2" Archie
went on.
Eyes. 1 don't think you ought to
leave us like that"
Rita looked severe quite regardless
Of the fact that not ten minutes previous
she had been in tears over the same
event. 1t was the humiliating know.
ledge that Archie Bradon had found her
In the role OF a second Niobe that caused
this severity.
"Just think" she continued; when
you we're lett an orphan, Archie, your
uncle did nothing for you-disreRarded
you entirely. You had a small beg uest,
and, desiring an education above all
things, you came here as fathers pupil,
aud now, ere the time has come, you
receive word TO leave us, and spend q
year with your uncle-on probation.
If he likes you, well and good, II not,
you can do for yourself. Oh, Archie,
you have not a spark of pride"
I" Ny ambition Is greater, l admit, !"
Archie returned. " Rita, please con-
slider the matter as do. There 10 no
reason for my uncle to be dissatisfied;
/ shall try TO please him and conform
TO his wishes. Then, at the end of q
year, he will start me on my profession
and 1t will be easy sailing with his,
wealth."
Wealth, oh dear, you are as grasp
ing as-as-'
!. My fellow men, Rita, dear. You
would not have me ruin my bright
prospects, little sweetheart
The youths voice had grown low
and tender, and one arm encircled the
little figure, while in his dark eyes
shone the appeal and affection Archie
Brad on really felt
RIA ceased to pout, and changed her
argument.
"Please don't 60, Archie. 1t will be
so lonely"
"why. there are Jack Cameron and
Ellis"
Don't, Archie, don't You know
they are not my friends in the way
you have been. We have had 30 many
ia ppy times together, aud now l may
never see you again.
ooh, yes, you will, Rita. / will
come back ere long. Do you think
fcould ever forget you? Ny little sweet
heart YOU have been, and 80 yol
shall always be-. You will not forge
me?"
+" Never, Archie"
"And You will waltz"
/" Yea
The Young girls answer came fal
Iteringly, aud there WAS a sound as OF
lsuDpre ssed sob. IL WAS the first rea
sorrow Rita Arden had ever known
La child OF twelve when Archie BradoI
lcams To her fathers home, she had im
mediately claimed him as her play -fel
How; as time went on the bond OF ar
lection grew stronger between them
land now, after four years Of close com
paulonship, II seemed that all the sun
lshine OF her life would X, with him.
On the morroN Archie Bradun tool
his departure, bcsilu1 with him th
! mem ~ OF HIS sweethear; rs he ga" he
last, standing On the pofch OF the q ualh
little cottage, the summer sun shinin
down on her wbite-ro bed figure, he
laleaming auDlrn car land wistful fac
Letters cane frequently 70 Rita fruI
ther ab.uaJl Net, Iirays kind. alHai
kthou ylI,a,l. a.vyaYb full Of briGh6 ho.;t
, Ian. planb for he .lture; then one ID
isse ralt Jais Asragrop1:
~ S,A souag Nth my uncle 10 Ent
Hand. we IoAy Ia Duuc three months [
, La wear, / cannot tell, but as soon n
o | return, l,tt!e sweetheart, l will come
Iyou." -
That was the last letter that eve
ic,ms to the cottage from Archie brat
Rita waited patiently till sewers
lmontus had passed, then hope died an
she ceased Ia expect any word from u
absent one.
There could be but one reason, 81
\ Itbouaht-hrchie had forgotten her.
If au,ht had happened to him 81
Z would nave heard in case of his deaf
wouid not his Gncle have written
Tine year had passed, he had been /"
tcspffd Az ht4 uncle's hoir, and had l
J ithou2hts 10 Oestow upon the daught
sot his old tutor.
IL was then this. Rita realized no
suuch she had rea ly cared for him, ho
Idesolate her lilo would De witho'
shim.
She made TO complaint, but trio
yday after day TO bear her sorrow brav
-5Iy bnt IL left its trace. Tho gay, car
, lless s,rlishness OF old gave way to a
( tsuclsd cheerfulness, fittul buoyGnt
ltha. yelled but did not conceal u
melancholy beneath the pretty av
face lid not lose its contour nor deliea
Icolor. but shade settled upon 1t tn
diln1ned it's bright beauty; the lips wo
= q pathetic curve, the dark eyes SCENE
20 droop with look almost nourniu
IL was the subtle Influence Of inwal
emotion more than any apparent ou
ward change, and her father, who fair
z idolined his one child found his ankle
lIureing him 10 that e7er'serving
, euurcs, o change of scene. He DIoach'
70 the subject one day to RitA.
II have been thinking OF leavii
lour homo 10. Q few months, H'ts, al