The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-09-28

than Madeline's listened that night TO
his tale of love; vet SO it was. Myrtle,
back in the shadows, heard.his passion
ate words Of love, and when he asked
Naddie to be his wife heard her answer.
Yes"
Myrtle laughed a low, mirthless laugh.
'She" shall never he your wife, Lewis
Stanley-neverl' And then she ere
away, leaving the lovers all unconscious
that before forty-eight hours the troth
they had plighted that night would be
broken. All night Myrtle laid awake
asking herself how she could but separate
these two young hearts. Surely Myrtle.
Howard's good angel mus. have wept
over her that night.
The next day Lewis received : rote
which he supposed came from Maddie IL
read thus: Mr.. Stanley: | must asl. you
to release me from the engagement which
i made With sou last evening. l said
yes just for fun. / won't carry the Joke
any farther. Hoping this will find youin
your usual good health and spirits, will
say bon jour. Madeline Vernon"
Good heavensv' Lewis exclaimed.
"this cannot be from Madeline; and yet it
is her writing, and who else knew OF our
engagement? Madeline, Madeline, it
cannot be you that wrote this cruel note"
warned, and Myrtle told me l should
never believe you We're = fiirt until !
knew by actual experience"
That evening Lewis Stanley left Stan
hope.
All that evening Madeline waited and
watched for Lewis, ard when he did not
come she wondered TO herself II he was
not sick.
Myrtle called the next morning to bor-
row some music, she said, but in reality
to tell the news to Madeline.
did you know she asked in assumed
ignorance, that Mr.. Stanley has left
town."
She saw Maddis start, while q sudden
palior overspread her sweet face.
No" Maddie answered.
Yes" " Myrtle continued, che left last
evening; going TO stay some time, so he
told brother Charles. Very strange he
DID I-ot call and say goodbye to you. A
great many people think y-u two are en-
gagged; such a place for gossip Stanhope
is" Poor N2ddie! she went on talking
ard laughing, with face az bright as ever;
and few, If any, suspected the bitter pain
that was gnawinG at her heart through
eli her careless dcmeanor.
Myrtle noticed with a feeling Of Joy the
pained expression in Msddie's face, and
soon, 10 NadGie's relief, LETT.
At first Naddie was too stunned to
think, and then she thought that Lewis
must have left "A note for her. She would
go TO the post-ofice and see; but Maddie
found no noe. What did IL mean, Lewis
leaving her like that, and only two ii zhts
before he had asked her to be his wife?
Numerous were the conjectures afoat
concerning Lewis departure; the old
ladies said that Madeline Lad fitted him,
x-b L. laHfaa ~ I.
had iirted with Madeline. This latter
comment was original with Myrtle.
go away, l don't want you: want
Lewis Stanley. Not You, Madeline Yer
non, with your eyes Of the suanicst blce;
true blue, those eyes are, and they look
at me 50 repToachfully, just IS If you
knew l had done you great wrong You
won him from me, Lewis STANLEY; YOU,
with your golden hair and sweet voice
Go cway, 50 away. for l hate you, tell
yoar' and poor sick Myrtle tossed her
hands wildly in the air.
Fever had stricken Myrtle, and sor days
she had been delirious, calling sometimes
for Madeline, but always for Lewis Stan
ley, nutter!ng at times about some fear
ful wrong she had done him
Madeline was with her at times, and
! staying 1T Myrtle's house all the time,
for Myrtle called frequently for her, and
then when Maddie went near told her she
hated her. "Ha, Ia" she laughed, you
did not get LOWS, did your Never while
i live shall you have him l sent that
note. Don't tell, will you, but I sent lin
q note. You send for him, and will tell
him all Sbout it."
The doctor said she could not live, but
her brother Charlie would not believe it.
Maybe, lie thought, IL she could see Lewis
Il
heard CT people getting well, even after
the doctor had given them up; perhaps if
rkc tells Lew that dreadful secret she
raves about, it will do her good" And
so Charles telegraphed to Lew Stanley.
Thus it happened that eight months
from Lewis Stanley's hasty departure he
came hack 10 StAnhope. lie went at once
| to NJ. Hovard's house, where the servant
ushe-ca him into the rarior, wEcrc be
| found MaJdis with fearful eyes, for all
Stsuhope knew Eow that before the morn
inEs sun should rise over the eastern
hilltop Myrtle Howard would die. Even
| Charlie, Myrtlo's brother, had given mp
| hope now. for tho crisis had past and the
doctor had said that Myrtle would not
| live TO see the morrOws sun
| She was conscious now, and had asked
| for Lewis, saying that she must see him
| before she died, and when Charlie said
| he had sent for him, she said she was
| glad.
When Lewis entered the parlor where
| Naddis was, she arose coidly and told
him she would tell Charlie he was there,
| and Charlie came and took him TO Myrtle.
She had bade them all leave her, for she
wished to see Lewis alone. Poor Myrtlel
80 young TO die, so young to leave tho
beautiful world. And yet she did not
| care.
Lewis took both her clammy hands IN
his.
| Lewis" Myrtle whispered, "1 have
done you n great wrong. Tell me now
you will forgive me. Oh, promise me you
will forgive me"'
| "Yes, yes" Lewis answered. at will
forgive YOU" He did not dream how
much he had TO forgive.
Lewis, j sent you that note. The night
before | heard you tell Maddie of your
love. was determined she should never
be your wife; for, yes, Lewis, shocked rs
you will be, 1 loved YOU Mine was an
unrcquited love. When / saw that you
loved Maddie, all the evil in my nature
WAS aroused, and / determined that she
should never have you, and l sent you
that cruel note. Lewis, can you forgive
me. Heaven only know how | repent oi
that dreadful sin. Can you, will you for
give me,"
| Lewis answered, GAS 1 hope to be for
given, l forgive yon, Myrtle"
Lewis, grant my dying wish, do no
tell Maddie OF this till after am in N,
coffin; then bring her TO look ar me- tel
her of the note. Surely she VIII forgive
me then, when she looks at my dead lace
and knows that i can do her no NOR
harm. She has been true friend {,
me. and how have / repaid that friend
shipi Aud now, Lewis, goodbye: l shat
never see yen in this world again, bu
my earnest prayer is, that you and Mad
die may be happy. Good bye
Lewis stopped and imprinted a kiss ol
the pale forehead and left Myrtle How ard
That night she died.