The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-30


dsys, and il a longing seized her to hear
one loved voice again, or look once more
into other eyes, the pansies and roses,
the carnations and orchids, seemed to
open wider their graceful hearts, that with
their beauty she might be diverted.
At such times Elsie's lovely brown
eyes would assume far-off, pensive look
which Marjorie did not fail to notice.
"Poor girl!' she VIC uld sigh inaudibly,
"she is thinking of that handsome Rich
ard Russell. She did love him, and he
seemed devoted to her. I wonder il he
will ever return to Philadelphia, and if
30, il he will seek to find her."
Notwithstanding these memories, theirs
was happy home, made so through oc.
equations pleasant and not at all diff
cult.
Artistic taste and industry had accom-
plished wonders.
Three years thus passed, and during
each they had been contented and COM
Portable, although no message or friend
from their former home reached them.
At the end of two years Elsie could u OF
avoid hoping to hear from Russell. II
his father and he had returned to Phila-
delphia, she thought that in some way
he could have found her. She could not
inquire about their movements, and did
not realize that her intensely proud
mother, who had been the last to leave
their home, had purposely refrained from
telling their destination. When asked
by few, she had replied:
"We are disposing of our furniture,
but our plans are not definitely decided"
This false pride of the mother occa-
stoned many pang, that could have
been averted by frankly giving their flu
ture address to some acquaintance; for
when Richard Russell did return, which
was after his fathers death at the end Of
two years and nine months, almost his
first act was to inquire for one whom he
had never forgotten.
To his surprise he found strangers oc-
cupying their old home, and was told
of Mr.. Morgan's sudden death and insol-
vency. In vain he sought information OF
the family from those who had formerly
known them, or with whom they had
once held business dealings. Even the
city directory gave no clue to their
abode.
Sometimes he thought he had news
that would lead to their discovery, but
the hope proved as some Elusive Nor
CANA Turing him on with false represen-
tations, that left him disappointed and
| sad.
| Finally he inserted the following per-
eonal l. leading Philadelphia paper:
IAN old friend desires the address of
Mrs. E. Morgan, who, with her two daugh-
tiers, Elsie and Marjorie, resided until
March IS in Spring Garden Street, this
city. Address Box-General Postoffice. ~
AS no answer was received, the per-
picked and anxious young man could
only watch for chance meeting in the
most frequented places. Day after day
he strolled through Chestnut and Market
streets, or fingered in Wsnnamaker's, gaz-
ing eagerly around, thinking to see the
beautiful face OF Elsie in the motley
group that thronged this well-known es-
Enlistment.
SO ten weeks of anxious search passed
in vain.
One afternoon, after another fruitless
walk, this sudden thought presented it.
self: "She cannot be in this city, or 1
certainly should have found her |"
He could not rid himself OF this idea,
so, having nothing to detain him he con-
cluded to spend several weeks in other
places, commencing at New York. Hav-
ing inherited all of his fathers millions,
he resolved to spare neither time nor ex.
pense in order to discover the abiding
place of the only one he had ever loved.
Sometimes he reproached himself Bit
terly for not having revealed that love
before he parted with Elsie in the days
gone by. could but have seen my way
clear, how differently could have man
aged But thought it wrong to bind SO
young and beautiful girl by promises,
to man without occupation, dependent
wholly upon an invalid fathers pleas re
for support, while even our movements
were uncertain on account Of his ILL
health. 1 knew there was possibility
that he might wish to prolong his stay
beyond the time specified. Poor father !
He died at last, in that far-of placel But
1 was comfort to him as long as he did
survive. That reflection consoles me,
even while 1 fear that have lost my
darling through the unavoidable delay.
But L will find her yet. IL it takes years to
accomplish it, will devote them cheer
fully to the task, trusting in the end to
be rewarded by success"
Arriving in New York he proceeded to
the Westminster Hotel, whence he pro.
posed to continue his search.
The directory afforded no intelligence,
for the reason that Mrs. Morgan would
not allow her name to be inserted there
in.
When consulted about it, her reply in
variably had been:
SIT is not necessary to publish where
we reside, when we live so plainly. All
ask now Is perfect obscurity."
One day Russell was seized with sud-