The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1888-10-13
MASTER AND MAID.

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ter Hapwell's home in Virginia.
Their names were Alice 'Fairborn
and Edwin Ashburton, and they had
met to bid each other a long fare
well.
Alice was an orphan under the
guardianship of Master Hapwell, a
rich planter. Edwin was about to
make long voyage, and their part
ing was a sad one.
II shall see no fairer face than
thine while / am gone," said the |
young man, gazing at the lovely |
girl.
'Nor a braver," she replied, and
they kissed each other softly in the
moonlight.
Young Ashburton rode away and
Alice returned to her chamber. A
moment later Master Hapwen came
out from behind the grapevine, where
he had been listening to the conver-
sation. His hands were clinched
and he was cursing to himself.
"Foolish boy, to think that he can
steal her from me-" he cried, shak-
ing his fist at the departing cavalier.
81 and no other shall wed the fair
Alice"
Time passed and Alice heard moth
ing of her lover, who should now be
safe in India. She grieved herself
into a shadow, and not even Master
Hapwell's kindness could console
her. She wasted day by day.
One day man was announced
who brought news from India. "If
you have news of Master Ashburton,"
interrogated her guardian, "tell us,
for we would be glad to know"
~ came from India" said the man.
"a sailor goes to many places; but
thence the last. And I saw a Mas
ter Edwin Ashburton there, who
came from America, and he bade me
give his reverence and duty to Mas
ter Hapwell and his family. And
all was well with him. And he was
soon to marry rich young widow
an Indian widow with vast for
tune. l saw her. She shimmered
in the sun with jewels, and though
she was as brown as a berry, fancy
he was content"
3 'Here is something for thy news,
l said Master Hapwell, putting money
in the fellows hand, and he went
his way. And then Master Hap.
well knelt down beside poor Alice.
"Thou didst love this fellow" he
said, "thou so fair and sweet, and he
will laugh at thy love with his In
dian widow; and people will say
that he has Tilted thee. My little
girl, let thy pride rise up; put it out
Of their power. Marry me before he
does. / will kiss the hand he throws
away. Marry me. 1 am always
good to thee, am l not? 1t is tC
save thy prids 1 ask it, though
have hidden Thy love for thee fol
years"
He had take the right way. Alice
gave him her hand to kiss and lei
him marry her when he chose.
There was great wedding, and
she was as lovely bride as evei
bad been seen in the colonies
and afterwards a good wife to
Master Hapwell, though never gay
and merry. And SO ten years passed
by, and at the end of that time Mas
ter Hapwell fell i'll. His life was in
danger, and his wife nursed him
tenderly, and only left him for hall
an hour each day at sunset to breathe
the air in the grape walk. There
, one evening as she walked slowly
up and down a man stood before
her. His dress was worn his face
was worn also; he was changed, but
she knew him for Edwin Ashburton
at glance. And she drew herself
up coldly and looked at him with
. disdain. He also looked scornfully
at her.
$50 1 think you know me-" he
said. "You have thriven better than
I. You made your nest well-not
in poor mans heart, but in rich
mans house.
81 married a man who has been
kind to me-" she said. master
Hapwell is old, and a man who
needs money; but at least he did
not try to win heart and then leave
it. Was I to wait for one who never
wrote me n letter, of whom the first
news l had was that be was wed to
an East Indian widow.
"Alice" cried Edwin, II neither
wooed nor married any women. 1
wrote thee often. sent thee gifts.
And when ill fortune fell on me l
hoped for thy sympathy, but news