Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-08-14
friends were found perusing Ada's let

i
dear Dick" said Harvey, "but remem-
should abide by her decision"
"Iknow that" replied Fletcher, sad
", 81 bow to my tate. Ada Wingrove
is yours. And now, good-bv, Jack. I
leave her to you and shall trouble you
no more"
That night Richard Fletcher set out
for Liverpool, visited Messrs. Vain
wright, and the next day was on the
sea bound for South America.
John Harvey had made show of re-
gret at parting with his old friend, but
he was indeed heartily glad to get him
out of the way. There was something
in his position that caused him a vague
feeling of uneasiness and uncertainty.
For reasons of his own he was little
surprised that Ada's choice had fallen
on himself, and in spite of the unmis
taxable language of her letter, he could
not help rejecting that sometimes
young ladies change their minds.
So great was his perplexity that he
could not make UP his mind what to do,
whether to write to Ada Wingrove at
once, expressing his delight at her &C.
ceptance of his offer. or to run down to
Guildford and claim his bride, or wait
her return to town.
While he was cogitating friend
called, and brought him the sad news of
Mr.. Wingrove's sudden death that
morning. Miss Wingrove had been tel
egraphed to return at once, and no
doubt she had arrived by that time.
Of course he felt bound to repair to
his beloved without delay, and he did 80.
Miss Wingrove had come home ac-
companied by her aunt, and naturally
WAS plunged in the deepest distress.
She did not receive Harvey in man
ner in any way indicative OF her recog
milton of him in the character of an ac-
cepted lover, but that was not surpris-
ing under the painful circumstances.
When she had in some degree recov-
cred her composure she said:
1t was very kind of you to call, Mr..
Harvey. | bad little reason to expect
this attention from you. [ rather
thought should have seen Mr.. Fetch
er.
Harvey made no reply.
Alarmed by his silence, Miss Win
grove exclaimed:
"Oh, Mr.. Harvey, surely nothing has
happened to Mr.. Fletcher also. Why
is he not here? Where is he ?"
"He has gone abroad" replied Har-
FfGone abroad ?" echoed Ada, turn
ing pale and placing her hand on her
heart. And why?"
swell, l believe he has had the offer
of a very lucrative appointment indeed,
and he told me he had accepted it."
''And-and-did he leave no message,
no word for me?' gasped the poor girl.
"Do you know of the relations between
us?"
John Harvey was not a thorough
paced scoundrel; but he found himself
in the presence of strong temptation,
great opportunity. He knew that
there had been some error in Ada's let
ter; he perceived that it was Richard
Fletcher and not himself who had
gained her affection; and his rival had
suddenly departed, leaving the coast
clear for him? He was not the man to
resist such a temptation.
So, while processing to sympathiZe
deeply with Miss Wingrove in her
double bereavement, the loss of her
father and the sudden flight of her low
er, he continued to insinuate, without
actually stating it in SO many words,
that Richard Fletcher had altered his
mind, and that in view Of the tempting
offer which the Liverpool firm had
made him, he had decided to abandon
the thought of marriage and pursue for
tune instead.
"Oh p cried Ada, Il did not think
that any man could be so base Least
of all such a man as [ believed him to
be-"
Harvey endeavored to console her.
He assured her that no doubt there
would be some news of the absent man,
and that the motives of his departure
would be fully and satisfactorily ex-
planned. Ada seemed almost stunned
by her sorrow. and she did not seek to
detain him when Harry proposed to
take his leave, and he was not glad to
do SO.
sit was no fault of mine," he reflect
ed as he walked home, ''that things
have turned out this way. And if |
profit by them who is to blame me ?"
Days passed, and weeks and months.
Still no news arrived from Richard
Fletcher. Yet he had been heard of as
alive and well somewhere in South
America, and the fact in time reached
Ada Wingrove's ears. She felt great
resentment toward the man whom she
regarded as having deserted her, and in
proportion as that feeling increased,
John Harvey's attempts to win her
gained ground. He was assiduous in
his attentions to her, considerate and
conservatory in his language, and little
by little made way toward the goal OF
his hopes.
The ultimate result is not surprising.
About twelve months after her fathers
death aid the flight of Robert Fletcher,
Ada Wingrove had promised to become
John Harvey's wife.
One evening, week before the date
fixed for her wedding, Ada sat by her
fres1de awaiting her lover, and think
ing over her position. She had some
misgivings. She felt that in spite of
Richard Fletcher's cruel conduct, her
heart was still with him, not with John
Harvey, and she bitterly reproached
herself for the haste with which she
had accepted the man she was now
pledged to marry. Why had she not
waited little longer? Perhaps some
explanation of Richards departure
might yet be forthcoming.
While she was yet musing the door
opeded. She looked up, expecting to
see her affianced husband, but it was
servant who had entered the room and
announced:
MIR Fletcher"
Ada was astounded, Richard Fetch
er approached her, holding out his
hand. But she shrank back and would