The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-11-05

oiJ WDeD ue Nentufeu llSlue tnell
house.
Spring.time came, and trne to hil
wotd Paul retarned; he stayed
only a day or two this time.
III am going away in a few weeks
to Italy, 10 study" he said. 81 shal
be gone two years, aud then | shal
claim you for my BRIDE"
They renewed their VOWS and
parted with tears and tender, loving
words. He put a tiny ring on hel
finger and cut Il little curly tress
from her brown hair, and telling
her TO he always true and wait fol
him, he went away.
The month went by, and Matte
was trying to make the time seem
short by studying to improve her
self, so that she might be worthy
OF her lover, when he should return
to make her his wife.
at must be about the time he is
TO stalt," she said to herself one
day.
And by and by, as she glanced
over newspaper, her eyes were
attracted by his name, and with
white lips aud dilated eyes she
read OF his marriage to another.
"Married! Taken another bride.
Oh ! Paul. Paul! l loved and
trusted you for this w
She covered her face with her
hands aud wept bitterly.
An hour afterward, as she sat
there in the twilight, with the fatal
newspaper lying on her lap, she
heard a step on the gravel walk,
aud, looking up, she saw John Phil
ips coming up The steps. He had
been to see her Oiteu before, but
had never yet spoken of love, aud
had, Of course, received no encOur-
agement TO do so. He was ii plain,
hard working farmer, with no 70.
nance about him, but matterof.
TACT to the core. His wife would
get few carresscs or tender words.
He would be kind enOu2h-would
give her plenty to eat and to wear.
Now he seemed to have come tor
the express purpose of asking her
to be bis wife, for he took a chair,
and seating himself beside her,
after the usual greeting, reserving
scarcely IL moment to take his
breath, began in his businesslike
way to converse. There was no
confession of love, no pleading, no
hand clasping, no tender glances-
be simply wanted her. Would she
he his wilef His manner was
hearty enough there was no doubt
he really wanted her-wOuld
rather marry her than any other
women he knew but that was all.
Her lips moved to tell him she did
not love HIM; but as she let her
eyes fall upon the crimson hearted
rose that swung from the vine over
the window, she caught sight OF
those few lines again.
"Married ~ she said to herself.
"What can l dot He doesn't ask
me to love him. IT | marry him
can be true wife to him, aud no.
body will know that Paul had Tilted
me.n
The decision was made. Her
were ashy pale, as she |
ooked up straight into his eyes,
aud answered quietly: eyes | will |
De your wife,"
Her parents were pleased that
The was chosen by so well to-dO
'Oung man; so it was all settled,
md they were married that same
People thought she sob.
red down wonderfully; more than
hat nothing was said that would
cad anyone to suppose any change
Iad taken place.
Yes, she was sobered down. She
Jared uOC think of Paul. There
ras no hope ahead. Life was a
ime to be filed up with somethlug,
0 that she might think of herself.
ohm was always kind, but she got
D wearied of bis talk of stock aud
rOpS, and said to herself: "I must
ork harder; plan and fuss, aud
uslle about as other women do, so
Iat | may forget aud grow like
uln."
Two years went swiftly by. A
ably slept ia the little cradle aud |
lartha sat rocking 1t With her foo. Z
$ she knitted bIne wollen stock
Y for the bIby's father. There I
as knock at tue bait opeued
Dor.
II have got into the wrong road !
i'll yon be kind enough to direct
e the nearest way to the village ~
lid u voice, aud stranger stepped
She rose to give him the required
rectiOn, but stopped short, while
. came quickly forward.
"Panll5
"Mattiei"
His face lighted up, aud he
sched out his arms to draw her
var bin. With a surprised, pain !
! look, she drew back.
"Mr. Garduer this is a most un-
ipecied meeting
"Mr. Gardiner be repeated.
Matte, what do you mean r. ).
"Don't call me Matte, il you
ease" she said with a dignity.
y name Is Phillips.p .
"PhilliPsr r be echoed "Are you !,
alried r n
nThese are strange words from n
~, Paul Gardner; did you think
"a -. - g. -.