The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-07-21

of sunshine around her, to the kindly
sphere, the loving, tender fathfulness that
has peryaded his every word and action to-
ward her-that has anticipated her wishes,
fulfilled her desires almost before she was
conscious of them, and shielded her from
every breath of care or sorrow.
But although she begins to realize all
this, she has not yet learned to appreciate
it at its true worth; so she dashes away the
tears that will arise now and then, and
forces a smile to her lips; and when at last
she is ready to start, the excitement of the
prospect before her has quite driven away
for time any serious or painful considera-
tions
Her aunt meets her with open arms,
loads her with kisses and compliments, and
later on with costly presents, and for three
weeks life opens before her in one long,
glittering holiday.
Her fresh, lovely face and unaffected
ways create, as aunt predicted, perfect
sensation, and ere Loretta has been a week
in the glitterlng whirl, her conquests haYe
attained magnitude that the most invet-
crate coquette might well envy.
But although pleased, dazzled and fiat
tered by the novel experience, in-the girls
heart is void that nothing can appease,
that is daily becoming larger and deeper.
Among all the faultiessly attired admirers
who throng around her with their pretty
compliments and languid, bldse attentions,
where Is one like Jack Ayre, with his clear,
Straightforward look, hisI earnest, sincere
voice, his manly, upright bearing? Never
his nilie has he 1attered her-nay, he has
chided her gently, many times-but she
knows now that his lightest word of APP
proval has sounded dearer and been more
deeply treasured than all the fawning adu-
lation and vapid compliments of which she
is becoming so weary.
She lies down to rest one night, or rather
in the early morning, heart and head alike
throbbing in weary refrain of pain and
loneliness.
One of her most eligible admirers has
been more than usually pointed in his at
tentions that night, and her aunt has whis-
pered 81 see the fulfllment of my proph-
ecy, Loretta the diamond is yoursP' but
the words haye no power to move her.
Her whole soul is going forth in one cIy
"a cry that must be forever uttered in vair
for her own act has stilled the answer.
She sinks into heavy sleep almost in
stantly, and all at once she is standing oil
the verge OF steep precirice. Far below
her on a narrow ledge man is lying will
face of CHASTITY pallor and closed eyes
face that is Jacks own.
Presently he opens his eyes and reache
l one hand implorngly toward her; but sh
makes no response, and in the next mo
: ment she sees him falling down to the bol
e tom of the precipice.
e AT the same moment she is seized b
J, some one behind her; it is che man who's
il attentions she had been receiving that ev'
o ming. With wild shrek she breaks froI
him, and goes down, down to where thu
l. dead face is lying upturned to her, and the
IS she awakes.
Awakes with but one thought-one pu
g pose. She has read her own heart at last
and oh, to return to Jack!-to see him on
le more, and If she cannot creep back, a +
pentant child. to his arms, to die at his fee
at How hollow and empty seems the life 81
Of has led the past few weeks, in comparis'
o. with that she has renounced. Her who
s. soul goes out in one famished longing
III sec him once again-to hear him speak,
as touch his hand.
The years of that faithful love and
RS votion are no old story now, but one I'll
r. has become imbued with the perennial ne
ou ness of appreciation, OF knowledge, OF u
,c- derstanding that nothing can ever distu
a. or depreciate again.
ne In vain her aunt endeavors by entrea
/ and even reproach, to shake her purpose
be The afternoon train bears her back
9 what?-her sinking heart refuses to ansv
to what it will not promise what IL will ]
,ur resign.
on 1t is dusk when she reaches the station
or- She has not apprised her father of
an return, and there is no one TO meet her,
I she sets off to walk the distance to her no
u
the not caring to hire conveyance.
md She will go along some of thu roads VII
ON. she has walked so often with Jack
though il seems now to her like walk
a. through city OF the dead.
,tta She has gone half the distance, an
in walking with her head bent, when, gla
her ing up just as she turns corner, she
some one approaching her.
she 1t is Jack, and at the sight of his II
n a pale and careworn, her heart seems to st
still within her, while half-guilty fee
yer, inspires her TO turn and fee from the s.
art But another stronger feeling conque
n. ana gives her strength, and she goes r
or forward TO meet him.
be. lie is close upon hei, noS. Her eyes
any fixed upon him with look Of piteous
peal, her lips are parted ready for rus
penitent self-accusation.
,eer His clear steadfast eyes meet hers,
over his face comes no softening express
, 1 ior His hat is lifted, and with comt