The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-07-03
A BROKEN HEART.

only for her pretty brown eyes, wavy
golden hair, and trim little figure, but he
kind heart and amisbls disposition a
we'll, You might look the world owe
from one end to the other and never finG
q girl to compare with Dora, either II
point Of beauty or sweetness OF disposl
ton,
Dora loved me, too, She not only sale
30, but her every action showed it; and
everybody in the town said 1t was remark
ably fortunate-being poor young doc
tor-to win the love Of such girl, who
could have had her pick from the besl
in the land, as her father was the wealth
lest man in all the country round,
About this time Ralph Clayton wealthy
merchant Of high standing, met and LOST
his heart to Dora, and became a constant
visitor at her home,
While was assured OF Doras love and
esteem / was positive that her father held
quite a different opinion Of me, and be
soon made II evident that my attentions
to his daughter were distasteiul to him.
Clayton was q pompous man, some half
dozen years my senior, and on account OF
my inferior financial position in the world
he always treated me with considerable
condescension,
One day as we returned together from q
visit to the Merton mansion he said TO me
"Conway, l think Dora Merton one Of
the incest girls l ever met. She would
make 9 model vile, and | am going to
marry her, What do you think Of that ?"
"Why," replied, while the hot blood
rushed to my face, ~ think she will never
be your wife, because she loves and Is
engaged to me-"
20, that Is nothing" he Coolly answer
ed "her father approves OF me and 1t Ia
very plain desires me for a son.in.law.
Dora fs a very obedlent and dutiiul girl,
and do not think the old man will have
any trouble at all in gaining her consent
to marry me-"
had always disliked the man; now
fairly despised him, and 1t was with q
mighty effort that restrained myself from
striking him.
Dora had always been in the habit Of
meeting me when called under q spread.
ing maple tree some distance from the
house. The next day after my CONVEX
sation with Clayton she met me at the
usual place. told her what Ralph Clay
ton had said to me.
20, Paul." she exclaimed, ~ fervently
pray that my father will not desire me to
marry that man. For Paul, do not love
him-I cannot love him but II my father
bids mo marry him | dare not disobsy.
But let us pray that he will not make any
such request, for | love you, Paul-only
you | and ] believe i should die II we were
separated"
returned to the village feeling every
way but buoyant, and passed q restless,
sleepless night.
Anew days after that received a note
from old MIR. Merton, also one from Dora.
Tho old man In a few words informed me
that his daughter was soon TO marry
Ralph Clayton, and babe me To discontinue
my attentions to her.
Dora wrote me fearful little note, re.
turning the ring | had given her, and cay.
ing she loved only me, but duty and ODE.
dienCe to hor father compelled her to re.
nounce me and marry Mr.. Clayton; that
she thought 1t best never to see me again
and closed by beseeChing me to forgive
her.
Neither Of them stated when the mar
riage was to take place, and / took nc
particular pains to find out. That night
entered a train bound for a distaut town
where intended to locate and strive Il
forget the heartess girl, as l then thought
her, who had treated me 80 cruelty.
Ibid well in my new home, and, though
the wound In my heart was past healing
1t was not 80 sore as at first; time In {
measure mad deadened the pain.
A year and more had gone by, and in al
that time | had never had any tiding
from Dora.
One night as l sat alone in my Office
wrapt in thoughts Of the past, a boy enter
ed and handed me q telegram. l lost nj
time in reading 1t, and found it to be from
old Mr.. Merton, and contained thesI
words:
''Dora Is very Ill and deaires to see you
Come Immediately"
1 did not stop TO think over this strang
message. I only knew my darling-mint
in spite Of the past, was III, probably dy
ing, and wished to see me. never ono
thought Of her being another's wife.
would 20 10 her, OF course.
AS the bitterness had felt toward thu
poor little girl left me, and the love for he
that had partially smothered surged owe
and through me with renewed vigor.
II was early morning when started o.
my journey, and the darkness Of nigh
was settling over the world when ! reaChet
my destination.
| No one was OF the station to meet me
and, without losing the time to hire
vehicle, started out to walk to the Mer
ton mansion across the fields. My wa!
would take mo by the old trysting.trel
where Dora had met me 30 often In tn
happy days Of the long ago.
My mind was busy as / walked over tn
old familiar pathway. Thought Of thu
girl-now probably lying within the pail
Of death-who had wandered over thes
very fields, Clinging trustingly to my arm
and uttering VOWS Of eternal love for me
thought, too, Of the man who had com
between US with his accursed gold AM
parted US forever, well.nigh wrecking m.
life and breaking the heart Of poor Dora
! was now near the .old tryst-tree, ant
In tho fast gathering twilight saw o sigh
; that sent the blood rushing through IN!
veins like q current OF Ere.
Leaning against the trunk OF the tree
fUlad In dress Of spotless white, l saw th,
outline Of fragile female form.
II was Dora. There could DO no doub
} about that. l knew the graceful figure 10
well, and the attitude was Just the sam
m aha tiAhd 10 RaatitnH when abe wAikAd 10