The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-04-12
He rang the bell.

| Ao AouS tho oou'
Send the close carriage round TO
the door, Hammond. Your mistress
wishes to go to her mother's.'
Presently Hammond came, with
J the announcement that the carriage
was ready. Elfrie perched a tiny
velvet bat, surrounded by blue
birds wing, on the top OF her yellow
hair, aud costly cashmere scarf
round her shoulders, as she rose.
You will tell me good-by, Elfrie =
But Elfrio never turned her head.
She was spoiled child, both BY
temperament aud education, aud as
yet Hyde Saybrooke had failed to
find the key to her nature
lie sat silent and sorrowful after
she had gone.
She is right he suddenly ex-
claimed, L ought never to have mar
ried her. l am too old, too grave,
too dreamy. She is thing Of light
and air and suushine--and if I have
done her injustice in forcing her in
to On unequal match may God par
don me-
Elfrie was sitting ready shawled
and wrapped up, waiting for the
carraige to bring her home that
evening, when Mr.. Fortescue, the
old family lawyer, walked 10.
Elfrie started up, pale and tremb-
ling for there was a nameless some-
thing 10 MIR. Fortescue's face.
oh, Mr.. Fortcscue, VIII at is it ?
Something has happened to Hyde
He is ill-perbaps dead =
Neither one or the other, my dear
child, said the old mau. am mere
ly tho bearer OF a note from your
husband
Aud breaking open the sealed mis-
sive, Elfrie, read that Hyde Say,
brooke, weary of 5he perpetual COM
motion Of his domestic circle, aud
painfully conscious that there exist
ed a disparity between himself aud
his bea utiful young bride, in Other
and more serious respects than tha I
OF age bad decided to leave her,
Not because / do not love you,
dear Elfrie, more tenderly than ever,
dc wf55t.ss,- s--p'2 5S. 7tttGa6se I sunid 1iidiin
atone, in so far as it is possible, for
the grave mistaken which has over
shadbwed your future and blighted
my one life You will be happier
without me, and as for myself, l must
expect 10 reap what | have sown; tho
bitterness Of cup, which few men
are called up to drink. You will be
left rich-may you enjoy the wealth
which has never done me any good :
Dearest Elfrie, good,bye, and think,
sometimes Of me, as one who loved
very dearly--who will lovo you for
ever =
Elfrie handed the letter to her
mother, with hand that shook like
an aspen leaf.
Read it, mamma and tell me what
does it mean Has he gone =? Has
he left me Oh, tell them to call
him back again-to tell him T never
meant it For did love him, nam.
nal was learning to love him 30
dearly p
And Elfrie sank white and sense.
less to the floor.
She bad her way. She was back
once more in the home Of her girl
hood, freed from every shackle, exa
cept that ofa name, while Hyde Say,
brooke's money made sort OF gold
en- halo about her footsteps. Yet
such is the inconsistency Of woman
she was miserable
'Elfrie,' said her mother, gravely,
Il don't know what to make of
you. You are not bit like your,
self
i hope never shall be, mamma.
said Elfrie, with slight shudder.
My old sek, as You call it, broke o
noble heart and darkened my ma
ture-let me now study for a new
self
But, Elfrie, you are Independent
now 7
Il was more than Independent be-
fore; mamma, had | bat known it,
'And Colonel Saybrooke certainly
was--'
Hush mamma 7 Elfrie held up
her inger,while scarlet glow over-
spread her cheek, mot even from
you will I hear a word OF disparage,
ment of the noblest and truest m an