Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-09-16
1--WE Lovers ut Once,

+ but for her kind heart anu amiable dis
position rs we'll. You might look th'
world over, from one end to the other
and never find a girl to compare will
Dora, either in point Of beauty o.
sweetness Of disposition.
Dora loved me, too, She not onl,
said so, but her every action clearl,
showed 1t; and every body III the tow
said Was remarkably fottunatc-beinl
but poor. young doctot-to win thu
love Of such girl, who could have hat
picked from the best in The land, a;
her father was the wenlthiest man IL
oil the country round.
About this time Ralph CT Yton,
wealthy merchant Of high st.nding,nn'
and lost his heart to Dora, and became
a constant visitor at her home. While
l was positive that her that her fathet
held quite different opinion of me,
and he soon made it evident that my
attentions to his daughter we're dis
tasteful to him. Clayton &as Il pom
pous man, some half-doz.n years my
SENIOR, and, on account of my Inferior
financial position in the world. he al
ways treated me with considerable con.
dcscension. One day az We returned
together from whit to the Merton
mansion he said to me-
CONWAY, / think Dora Merton one
Of the incest girls l ever met. She
would make model wife and I am
going to marry herr What DO you
think of that :,
Why" replied, while the hot
blood rushed to my face, i think she
Will never be your wife, because she
loves ahA is engaged to me"
oh. that is nothing he coolly an
swered "her father approves of me,
and 1t is plain desires me for son-in-
law. Dora is very obedient and du.
tiful girl, and | do not think the old
NAH will have any trouble at all in
gaining her consent to marry me.
Ihad always disliked the man now
fairly despised him, and it was witt,
a mighty effort that l restrained my
self from striking him.
Dora had always been in the habit
Of meeting me. when l called, under \
spread maple tree some distance frrln
the house. The next day after my con.
versation with Clayton she met me at
the usual place. told her what
Ralph Clayton had said to me.
oh. Paul" she exclaimed. 4 fervent.
Iy pray that my father will not desire
me to marry that man. For, Paul,
do not love him, but if my father bids
me marry him dare not disobey.-
But let us pray that he will not make
any such request. for | love you, Paul
only you, and l believe l should die n
We we're separated: !:
l returned to the house feeling every
way but buoyant, and passed restless
sleepless night.
A few days after that | received a
note from old Mr.. Merton, also one
from Dora. The old man in few
words informed me that his daughter
vas soon to marry Ralph Clayton, and
babe me discontinue my attentions tc
her.
Dora wrote ME a fearful little note
returning the ring l had given her and
saving she loved only he. but duty
and obedience to her father compelled
her to rcnouuce me and marry Mr.
CLAYTON; that she thought it best new
er to sec me again. and closed by be-
seechlng me to forgive her,
Neither of them stated when the
marriage WAS to take place, and took
no particular pains to find out. That
night | entered train bound for dis
tant town, where | intended to To-
cate and strive to forget the heart
less girl, as | then though her, who
| had treated me SO cruelty.
l did we'll in my new home, and
though the wound in my heart wa'
past healing, it was not 50 sore as at
first time in Il measure had deadenet
the pain.
A year or more had gone by, and in
all that time | had never had any It'd
ings from Dora
One night as sat alone in my office
wrapt in thoughts of the past, DO,
entered and handed me telegram.
lost no time in reading it and found i
to be from old Mr.. Merton. and cor.'
tanned these words:
Dora is very i'll and desires to se'
YOU. Come Immediately
did not stop to think over this