The Penn's Grove record., 1888-03-10
A Love Test; or, breaking an Eu-
gagement.


What a ~predicament Florence Adair
was in, TO be sure. She had promised
TO wed her cousin, Rupert Ludlow, be-
cause she was grateful for her aunt,s
kindness to her, and as she rather liked
him at first, believed that in time she
would love him. That was before she
met Max Hetherington and learned to
love him. The young mans passion.
| ate avowal had thrilled her heart, and
while she told him Of her engagement
lie could not help seeing that he was
loved in return.
When she was alone in her room she
wept bitterly and after many heart
struggles she made up her mind that
she would keep to her promise and try
and forget young HIetherington. How
| much that decision cost her she alone
could know.
The time went by and the day of the
wGdding was AT hand. In the midst of
the preparations her aunt, Mrs. Will
mott, is Smitteu with paralysis, and
Florence is doubly bereaved now with
the loss of her generous-hearted pro-
lectOr.
After the will was read she did not
see l.er bethrothed for several days, and
then lie came to her with downcast
face.
II consider that l have been deceiv-
ed. 'he SAYS. 81 always understood, as
did every one else, that you were to be
your aunt's heiress, and now YOU tell
me ttOe you have known all along that
our 3ant had no power to will her
properly away from her husbands fam.
lily"
a flame of anger drives away the
sadness from the girl eyes.
'Say no MORE" she says; 81 will
forestall your next words. Under ex-
listing circumstances-now that l am
not rich, as you enormously supposed
you desire your freedom. 1 gladly
give it to you"
And thus the very ill that old Mrs.
" ilmott had so fondly hoped a marri-
age with her favorite would avert from
her loved niece came, and Florence
was cast upon the world to battle her
own way as best she could.
Five years have elasped. In the
home of a wealthy widow with one
daughter we again meet our heroine in
the humble capacity of a seamstress.
Poor Florence. her struggle has been
a ard one. AT first she had tried
for and obtained a position as teacher;
but her health failing under the unac-
COstumed confinement, she had been
obliged to turn to her needle as a last
resort.
In a few days Rosemarie Villa is to
be the scene Of wedding festivities, to
witn,ss the union of the daughter of
the house, Marie, to the husband of her
CHOICE.
The day arrives. The ceremony Is
over, and the rooms are thronged with
the gayly-costumed guests, when, de-
sirous to avoid notice, and feeling the
sadder for the recollections of former
DAYS the brilliant scene recalls, Flor
ence slips out into the quiet garden and
makes her way to a distant arbor,
where only the faintest sound of the
dance-music penetrates. She enters
and starts back to find it already oc-
cupied by Il gentleman and an elderly
lady.
she turns to go, but an exclamation,
in a voice whose well-remembered
music falls upon her ear with vivid
effect, stays her steps.
Miss Affair, can it be that at last
my prayers have been answered ard /
have found your"
Then, answering the surprise in the
eyes which she lifts to ibis face, Max
Heatherton-for it is he-takes her
hand gently, and goes on with eager
rapidity;
Il heard of your aunt's death, and
that You were free, and l sought you
at once; but to find you gone, in what
direction / could not ascertain. Do
you know why it was that l am more
disappointed than l car tell? 1t was
because your expressive face and man.
ner, when you told me of your engage
ment, showed me that your heart
was not in it, and l dared to hope that
my enduring love would eventually win
the day. You do not speak, Have l
been too presumptuous, or Is there a
possibility that in tie future l may
gain the boon l crave? But stay; in
my eagerness | am forgetting propriety.
Miss Adair, this is my mother. A half
hour ago, feeling faint with the heat of
the crowded rooms, h requested me
to bring her to some cool, secluded spot,
and We came here. Mother. this is the
NJ IS Adair of whom l have spoken to
you 50 often"
Then Florence who, had been stand
ing listening TO the above almost as If
in = 1Ieam, feels her hand drawn into
..geilh clasp, while 4 sweet voice says
softly: sE~
II am more than pleased to meet the
girl who has won, by her goodness and
beauty, such a lasting place in my sons
heart; and | hope that We may grow to
know each other WE'LL"
Not at once does Florence give her
wooer an answer, but when it comes it
Is very fervent and satisfying.
"You have always been my ideal of
everything noble and good, and, as
your wife, l cannot help but be CON
tent
So the love that endured conquered
in the end, and one more happy pair
testify each day that passes, to the true,
h%eart-deep happiness a congenial union
brings.