Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-02-24

vitations TO balls. parties. theatre and
opera. The old h~ousekeeper said she
had known her master from a child
but he had never seemed so light heart
ed. so happy as now. His ward. blue
eyed J%osephipe. was at times very sad,
but with each foreign mail came such
loving hopeful messages telling OF the
health and prosperity of the writer. the
Young girl could not help feeling cheer
ed, and. for a time. sorrow would be
banished. So passed one long year.
and summer blushing at her own
beauty. and again dawned upon the
earth.
What can be the reason Of Albert's
silenceP' said Josephine. as she sat
beside Mr.. Graham on the verandah of
their cottage at Newport. This is the
second month and no letter. Oh. | fear
he is i'll, or worse; he may be- dead"
and at the bare thought the girls cheek
paled.
.'Oh. nonsense, Josie. you are so
nervous. so anxious where Albert is
concerned. dare say he has been so
busy he has not had time to write.
You forget men working for n living
do not have so much spare time a. you
little butterflies of fashion" and the
dark eyes OF the speaker were bent
lovingly on the countenance of the fair
maiden. ''Now If l were absent from
you. | do not believe you would give
one thought to me Or shed a tear over
our part ng." this was said in = care
less zone but with a keen gaze at the
sad face before him.
Now, Mr.. Graham, do not speak so
lightly. You know should miss you
you. who have ever been kind and
thoughtful for my welfare. But you
are not my lover; you staLi in the
place OF father to me. Albert is my
promised husband. and my heart is
given into his keeping; so blame me
not If / grove over his mysterious
silence"
With a frown and a muttered oath
Mr.. Graham walked rapidly away from
his ward. after she had finished speak
ing, but in a moment he returned smil-
ing and saying, Tho next mail may
bring good news. dear, so keep up your
heart, and now come with mo to the
beach. we will have a sail this bright
afternoon in your little yacht Fairy"
And tho grl. glad to have her mind
occupied. went with her guardian.
"A letter. josie. from the absent
one" cried Mr.. Graham rs he entered
the parlor in the gathering twilight
after the afternoon sail on the calm
waters.
With Il cry Of delight the girl grasp
ell the envelope and. excusing herself,
went TO the privacy of her W room.
H.. nI.nly. .a1aI thAn tuahnI Nth
anger AS she read. 1t was a cool. un-
lover-like missive, making no apology
for the two months of silence aud with
but one or two words OF endearment
throughout the letter.
you must not expect me to write
very often" so ran the missive. Il
have no spare time for nonsense. AZ
ter we are married We can be as silly
as we WISH etc.
"He is growing tired OF me. perhaps
has seen some m else he can love bet
ter than his giddy cousin" moaned the
poor girl, as she wept owe the cold,
formal letter. but | will not trouble
him very often with my silly writing.
Who would have thought my darling
would have changedP | cannot believe
it. and torrents of tears came to re.
lieve her achi heart. IT II death us
do part" she read as she took the
pearl engagement ring from her fin
ger and looked at the motto, death
will part us soon. very soon. If you
prove unfaithful. Albert" and throw
ing herself IN a couch, she gave a to
feelings and wished in her misery that
she was dead.
Mr.. Graham. when he heard of her
trouble, tried to console her, and as the
months passed and each letter became
colder and more formal, then ceased
altogether. her guardian took her in
his arms one dav. told her that in spite
Of the q ference in their ages. that he
loved her and had since she was given
INTO his charge, a child of fourteen.
II will make you a I rue and devoted
husband. will chase every shadow from
your path; forget this tickle lover who
never cared for YOU ~ | have. He has
probably given his affections to anoth-
or. YOU know absence is the grave of
love-"
So the man from day to day urged
his suit, and when M evening taking
up a paper Josephene read in the for
eign items the following: at is
rumored that the adopted son of the
American consul at Calcutta is about
to wed the daughter Of one of our
wealthiest native merchants" she gave
one cry and tainted.
SIX weeks after, rising from her sick
bed. looking like a shadow of her form
err blooming self. Josephine consented
to marry her guardian.
Great preparat ons were made for
the grand event. All New York was
talking the affair over. Mr.. Graham
was happy as a king, Joseph ne. pale
and dropping as a flower hat has
been touched by an untimely frost,
went about the house langu,d and
silent. she took no interest in her gor-
geous Worth dresses; DID not blush
when her future husband caressed her
or whispered words of fondness. She
never mentioned the name of Albert.
but in the sol tude of her room wept
and moaned at her hard fate. The
family doctor shook his head as he
looked upon the fragile form. sunken
eyes and pale cheek of the girl.
s,Her mother died of hear disease.