The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-04-24

oaoe, NoS, 80 and ~ Fourteenth Street.
FRANK AND ELSIE.

4u6ld hIe III al uut llNph Plaoup9 WuASl
we should be glad to forget; Of which "
are so much ashamed that we sCaICel,
dare to think OF them, and when we dc
ind ourselves huTriedly mutteringlh
words We imagine we ought to have said
or making audible apologies for our con
duct to the air; and yet these are no
always episodes which necessarily involvl
q tangible sense OF wrong done either Il
ourselves or 10 others. Snme such episode
IN commonplace life, such as must havI
fallen TO tue lot Of many msn We woull
hers reveal,
Once upon q time-to commence in Al
orthodox tashion-a man and q maid liVeC
and loved, On the womau's partthe affec
ton was as squire andgenerousas ever illeC
the breast OF q maiden; on the mans, 81
warm as his nature pei mitted,
While the girls lie in her quiet country
home was one that held little variety in It
II was a part Of the man'B stock in trade Il
mix with society and to observe closely.
Whether he liked it or not, he was con
PEELED to make friends TO such an extern
Gs 70 afford him an opportunity OF gaugini
character, Unfortunately for the purposes
Of my study, he had nc sympathy with
peRsiInism or pessimists. He loved the
good and the beautiful for their own sakes
aud in his art loved to dwell on the bright
eide OF human nature, a side which the
writer has found so much easier to meet
With than tue more sOmbre Coloring we
are constantly told Is the predominatinp
mi in life. Like most artists, he was
somewhat susceptible, but his suscsptibil.
lily was on the surface; the inward depths
oil his soul had never been stirred save by
the gentle girl who held his heart, and she
was such rs to inspire a constant and
growing affection rather than q demonstra.
tive passion.
AT one OF the many houses al which he
was q welcome guest the lover found a
Young girl, bright, sensuuus, beautiful.
He could see, too, that the girl regarded
him with a feeling 30 war; that q chance
spark would rouse 1t into a flame Of love,
and this gave her All interest as dangerous
as it was fascinating. His fancy swerved.
Day after day he strove with himself, and
by efforts, too violent to be wise, he kept
away from the siren till his infamed fancy
forced him back to her aldo,
To the maiden in the country he vas
partially honest. In his letters he faith
lully told her Of his visits, and as far as he
could, recorded his opinions OF the girl
who had Capttvated his fancy. Too keen
an artist to be blind to her faults, he dwelt
on them in his frequent letters at unneces.
saty length. When the lovers met, the
girl questioned him closely about her
rival, but only from the interest she felt
In all his friends, known and unknown,
for her love for him was too pure aud
strong to admit Of jealousy, and he, with
what honesty he could, answered her
questions u~nreserVedly.
Little by little he began 10 examine him
self, Which girl did he really love?
Should he not be doing q wrong to both
by not deCidingP The examination was
dangerous, because 1t was not thorough,
Tho promises were true, but incomplete.
Yet we should wrong him II We implied
that he for a moment thought seriously
about breaking oil his engagement. Even
had he wished, his almost mistaken feel.
lngs OF honor would have forbidden II.
ThiI constant surfaces introspeCtion-a
kind Of IN examination which, had not
the subject been himself, he would have
despised and aYoided-Couldhave hut one
result-an obliquity Of mental vision. He
had a horror of being untrus-untrue to
himself US untrue to his lass, and yet he
dreaded causing pain 10 a bosom GO tender
and innocent. When he sat down to
write the periodical letters to the girl he
was engaged, no found his praises beCom-
Ing more and more general and guarded.
lie took pains not to let her know what
hV felt must wound her, and the letters
grew as unnatural as they had been the
reverse; they were descriptive OF the man
rather than the reflex Of his personality.
The country girl was quick Of percep-
ton. The letters were more full Of en-
dearing terms than ever they were longer
and told more Of his life; yet between the
lines she could see that they were by one
whose heart was not at rest, and that q
sense Of duty and not Of pleasure prompt
cd the ample details. Their very regular.
lily was painful; it seemed as II the writer
was anxious to act up to tho letter OF his
understanding. She know that the letters
we're often written when he was tired
out. Why did he not put of writing, and,
taking advantage OF her love, let her exer.
else her trust In himP Eagerly she scam.
ed tho pages to find the name OF her
rival, and, having foundit, would thought.
fully weigh every word OF description, Of
blame or praise.
When the lovers met, she questioned
him moro closely than she had ever done
before. lie wal seemingly as fond as ever;
no endearing name, no accustomed Caress,
was forgotten. He spoke to himself and
bis friends as freely as usual, and all her
questions were answered without q shad.
ow OF reserve. But the answers we're
slower, and his manner absent and
thoughtful. For a time Bhe put II down
to the absorbing nature OF bis pursuits;
but little by little, a belief that she was
no longer dearest Crept into her heart, and
would not be dislodgtd, try as she might.
Size thought she was Jealous, and struggl.
ed night and day against a fault she dread.
ed above all others; then, In a paroxysm
Of despair, she allowed herEeltto be CON.
vinCed Of what she feared, and, loving
him deeply, prepared to make the great
esI sacrifice an unseltsh woman can offer.
lie no longer loved her as II was best he
should be free.
When he had been with her last, he
had told her that his ensuing absence
must periorce DO longer than usual, and
this she thought would he the best time
lot her purpose.
"Dear Frank" she wrote at the end Of
a pitiiul little letter, " am going TO ask
you not toCome here next week. This will
surprise you, for in all my other letters l
have told YOU that what / most look for
ward 10 In life was your visits. But | have
been thinking, dear, that II will be the
best for us TO part forever. l often ask
myself II we love one another as much ss
We did, and l am afraid we do not. A
loyeless married life would be too dreadful
10 live through, and dare not risk 1t. II
Is better that the parting should come
through me. Do not fancy that 1 am re-
preaching you; l cannot, for to me you
arc above reproaCh, above blaine. All ]
feel Is that our affection 10 colder, 80 We
had better part. God bless you, Frank
| can never tell you how deeply l have
loved you. ELSIE"
Frank was almost stunned by the TO-
Ceipt Of this letter. He read lt and re.
SnhI IL Nil1 hpbRs, tvneH annhnhH htfFnnI