The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-02-25

terly,
A shadow darkerad the verandM,
she glanced up and saw Royal Hurst.
She hal never believed i'll this man
she dialiked and distruatel him ex.
csediugly. He Was very wealthy, al
though still young, and his splendid
estate edjoined her fathers, Royal
Hurst drew near and took both her
hands in his own, and ere she could
prevent his confession he had told her
how he loved her, aud asked her to be
Afis wife. Even AZ he pleaded his own
t'ansc, Belle saw her father coming up
The steps OF the verands, pale, and
hopeless. With = promonition Of
coming eril she hew " his side.
"Whasia the matter, papa sho
cried, wildly.
He took her in his arms.
"Mv Child" he returned, 10 q voice
which trembled with grief and excite
lnent. 81 am ruined, and you and l
are bexEsrp
"Papa?"
1T is true. That man there" point
ing to Royal Hurst, "bas me in his
power; he promises to sAye me on
condition that you become his wife
and know that YOU will never CON
sent"
Her pale face flushed, and her eyes
shone with 9 feverish light, but size
answered:
~ will consent. papa You shall
never suffer if can prevent i'll"
Aud so, ON the moment. the fatal
impulse, the die was cast, and Belle
Gilbert sacrificed hsIself to save her
father. She was bstrothed 70 KoSaI
Hurst; yet she hated him. She
| shrapk from the touch Of his hand
and the glance Of his small hard eyts
and realized, With a shud,ier, th.. he
Was her betrothed.
And one day--one beautiful d.,--
whGn MI Nature seemed snri!ling il
derisior 4 this Iuockery oi matrlsg
Belle Glioart became Mrs. Hurst yel
she loved Ar hur Tremaine With al
Rgr heart.
/ Time passed, aud Judge Gilbcr
died; Bells-4poor child--hsd tried "
hc dutiful wife, but she had p""e
earned th care FOR her husband. On
day he was brought home TO her 81 Sc
Less fatally injured by fall from
spiritsd horse, He opened his eyes y
lSst, ard be becktned bis vile to com
TO his side, She knelt besidA th
led.
Belle" he ssaped brokenly' "I'y
been a william, and you are an angel
! want you to know, before | die, ths
Arthur Tremsine loved you for your
! self slone. He wss the first tn disco,
tr your fathers financial strait, nm
: he went to YOU at once, and asked yo
to be bin wife. But you had over
leared ~ silly conversational sno'
il, Belle, for + SAN you in the arbor!-
; conversation which did not refer t
sou a, all, hut to an elderly nsidc
l$dy ah" has been angling Tor Tr'
maine fei months Athur did n
/ arestn that you were in hearing, and
determined To uss the opportunity ic
/; my avn advantage, for ] had alwaj
4 loved you, and knowing that you a
A tested me, despaired OF winning VI
q by any fair means. succeeded, hl
y | have been very unhappy because
l. my treachery, and am not sorry, Bti
). that shall sOon he gone, and ysu VI
If he free to marry TiVmaine. Ha v,
d 90 fortuhe-hm tec. believe NE; !
o wanted you for his wife, when hex =
!; our fetler's fortune wss gone; AZ
B. now--no one could say aught--for
n has recently been left larger fortuI
le than ! am able to bequeath you. o
IT ly say you forgive me, Belle, and l +
'g l!evs l can die in peace."
She ioryave him willingly, and
n vas soon alter laid away to reet fnrt
l. er in the old graveyard. Bell: W
in away to seelUt ID country place, y
n. remained in strlct retirei ent for o.
I'd = year. And when Arthu' Trempi
sl found her there or day, nad begg
I'd her to forget the past and to he"n'
er his wife, she could not refuse, for e
ut had always loved him; and in I
rs, bright days before her she learned
| look back uron that sad past as
to son in t',at ard faith.