Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-03-19

time to the girls shrinking, retiring nature.
She is growing more accustomed now to the
thousand demands and forms of society, but
they weary her infinitely.
Not one word since their parting has she
heard from her lover; but, as she had truly
told him, neither time nor place can change
her heart" and deep down in its pure re-
cesses is still enshrined one handsome, dark
face, with grave brow and speaking eyes.
What do you think Renie Andrews told
me this morning?" Ida says month later.
"Tm sure do not KNOW" Thalia replies,
looking up from the book she is reading.
"Wel, what would you say if my cor
oneted destiny were even now on his way
to England? Renie tells me that her cousin
from Ireland is to arrive in time for her
fete, and that with him is to come verita-
BILE Cresus and heir to prospective title.
Renie says that he is handsome, too, for she
has seen his picture. l tell you what
Thalia, feel it in my bones-as nurse used
to say-that this young stranger will not re-
turn to his ancestral acres as unencumbered
as he comes. Some English girl will GER
tainly captivate him; and why should it not
be your humble servant?"
BY the time her cousin finishes, Thalia's
face is full of the amusement she cannot re-
press; but Ida Is too much engrossed with
her pleasant fancies to notice or be Offend
ed. That same afternoon the postman
brings letter to Thalia, addressed in bold,
manly characters. She has never seen Har-
rvs writing and yet her fingers tremble,
and her soft cheek tlushes as she opens the
envelope; for something tells her whose
hand penned her name. Inside are only
few lines:
'DARLING THALIA-Gf l may still call
you so)-This day i'll which l write brings
you your twenty-first birthday, and the end
of the period of our, probation. If you re-
member and still adhere to the words you
said as we parted, send to me a cluster of
flowers like to those | took from you as
remembrance, and which l have worn ever
since close to the heart that beats now as
ferventy for you, and you only, as it did
then, three years ago.
HARRY"
An address follows. The next mail bears
with it Thalia's answer. What it is the
reader may surmise.
The weeks glide by,and at length, to Ida's
great delight, the day of the looked-for-
ward-to garden fete dawns Ida looks re-
gally handsome. Thalia's quaint simplicity
of dress suits the girlish style well. The
afternoon is waning, and as yet no distin-
gushed stranger has made his appearance.
1t is warm, and, little tired by game
of lawn-tennis, Thalia strolls off to rustic
seat. Throwing aside her hat, she leans her
head upon her hand and for awhile loses
herself in happy day-dream. Suddenly a
step approaches, and well-remembered
voice speaks her name.
With startled eyes, Thalia springs to her
feet to find herself drawn to a warmly-beat-
ing heart.
DO you know me, Thalia?'
"Yes." she whispered; sit is my lover
come back to me-
He laughs-a joyous laugh.
my constant darlingv he murmured.
"And you are still ready and willing to
| leave your luxurious home and become a
poor mans wife?"
1--WE will not be poor, Harry, for we shall
be rich in love-"
| A look of almost adoring affection fills the
young mans earnest eyes as they rest upon
the sweet, downcast face.
II have something to tell you, little one,'
he said, ''that will surprise you. 1 went to
Ireland expecting to find relative, old,
| poor and needy; found an uncle, titled,
| and the sole representative of rich and
| powerful family. His letter had been word
ed thus to try me. He was in need, he said,
of affection. l found him waiting and long.
ing to extend to me the fathers love 1
had never known, and l stand here to-day
as his heir, waiting to claim the wife who
loved me when poor and obscure, and who,
trust, will care for me just as much in my
| changed circumstances"
You are lucky little thingr' Ida says,
when the truth is made known to her, land
think your case proves that after all it does
| pay to be constant and true"
And much to her worldly mothers cha.
grin a year later, instead of waiting for the
often-talked of coronet, Ida gives her hand.
some self, Indifference and listlesSness left
behind, to poor young bank clerk whose
only claim to consideration is an honest,
loving heart.-ECchdnge.