The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-01-08

her husband always agreed with her,
but IN this case, as in many Others,
the poor man, sat below In his study,
grieving over the affair, and wishing
vainly that it could be allowed to
progress smoothly, and thinking that
he twas sure it would all turn out
right, and Alfred make a good hus-
band, and be quite steady, and all
that"
You, being young, have been de-
ceived by his outward looks and man
ners. grant he is pleasant, but that
is not enough, and we, who know
more than you, have heard enough of
his character to know for a fact that
he is not steady"
Elizabeth tried to speak, but a great
fear stayed her and ehoked her speech.
Her mother went on impassively, and
with the unyielding air she knew SO.
well.
"We had heard many rumors before
that made US doubtful, but to-day /
heard from q witness, and a thorough
ly trustworthy one, that Mr.. Stones
behavior last night vas not at all cor-
rect. He was at the club till quite
late, or rather early, playing some
gambling game-ecarte, / think-for
very high stakes, very reckless in man
ner, and very excited, | fear from the
use, or abuse rather, oftoo much wine.
IT," she went on, again disregarding
her daughters muffied cry-the cry of
one whose idol is falling from it's
throne and breaking a heart in it's fall,
eff a young man will so behave
when he has first wonthe love Of a girl
he professes-profeSses to love and es-
TEEN, what must she not expect after
wards when the first glamour of mar
riage has cooled down to what should
be true, respectful love and high hon
orr"
She paused. but no words came
from the listener, who sat with the
GOODNESS of a statue carved by despair.
Therefore, my dear, you see we
should be doing wrong, nor cuold we
ever forgive ourselves, if we permitted
your engagement to continue. / am
only too sorry for your sake, that L
we-did not know of this sad news UNI
til this afternoon. Now we can only
act as quickly as we can, and there
fore / have sent MI. Stone q letter to
say that the engagement-indeed it
can scarcely be considered one-must
be broken off at once, and that we
shall be glad if he will hold no further
communication with you or any ofus.
/ have no doubt his leaveisnearly up,
and he will go away-perhaps abroad
with his regiment, and you will not be
obliged to meet him, and will, / have
no doubt, soon forget this little mis-
take"
She rose and kissed her daughter,
led her unresisting to the door, and
advised her to retire to bed early and
go to sleep, and forget all about it.
Elizabeth silently obeyed; she knew
it was useless to attempt to move her
mother by arguments or persuasions;
besides, she felt too confused, too be-
numbed. like one who has had a heavy
blow and feels all deadened.
Mrs. Howard went down and told
her husband and Emma that Lizzie
had taken her advice beautifully, and
quite seen the wisdom of it.
"She has gone to bed, and Ihave no
doubt,"-a eavorite and expressive
exprassion-"she will soon be all right
again. 1t is quite a common episode
in a girls life. Ah," with a sigh, u
went through one myself; but have
quite got over it-quite."
1t was a favorite Renaissance of
Mrs. Towards. Many years ago che
had been engaged for a few weeks to a
young man, but soon broke it off, as
she did not consider him steady. and
as within O year h emarried Mr.. How
ard, it may be conceded that she did
ssget over it" very satisfactorily.
Meanwhile, her daughter, whom she
expected to inherit her own well-con-
trolled feelings, lay awake, looking
with a numbness neither resignation
nor despair, Out on the stars.
There are some hearts that cry out
and make q moan over their crushed
hopes; others keep silence and look
with unweeping eyes on the fragments;
some weep the bitterness out of their
hearts; some carry it for eve with
them as their constant friend. Perhaps
with Elizabeth the bitterness was
greater in that in the burden laid on
her vas the sting of truth.
Nothing" the doctors said, "much
the matter, but a little weakness; the
heart weak; avoid worry, and take
life quietly.
Perhaps the worry to be avoided
was the disturbing element which had
appeared in the shape of q new admir-
era Reginald Branksome q man some
eight years older than harself, of good
name. of good position, and, better
still, of good disposition.
I'm every way suitable for Miss
Howard, said the neighbours. So, too,
Elizabeth was forced to acknowledge
to herself.