Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-29

zled him. he felt himself possessed BY a
] new sentiment. 50 powerful that he was less
alarmed than surprised. He was In love with
this girl Why should she not love him IN
return? He had conquered fortune and be
could certainly conquer her His evenings
dragged slowly by in any other place than
the Mayne cottage. Alice Mayne was not
long in perceiving how the land lay with
the young man. But how should she find
out Florenee's sentiments in regard to him2
Should she ask her friend? Intimate as
they we're, she had observed certain incom-
prehensible traits in the orphans character.
Whenever the girl spoke of marriage, she
would say: "Oh, yes, I shall marry some
day, but not yet-not yet" What could
she be waiting for2 Once, however, she was
so communicative that Alice OWNED part
of her secret. They had Returned from an
entertainment late.
'I am almost starved said Alice,
laughing, and she served the hot tes in the
cups of old Sevres, which maid had
brought "Home is the happiest place for
me-" she continued, with my loving father
Yet, suppose you and viii both be going
to other homes-as wives-one Of these
days."
Florence sighed. "Yes," she murmured,
"to love and to be loved makes the whole Of
life, All other joys are idle in compare
son"
'Since you think SO, why don't you act
upon the opinion? Pretty and bright as you
are, you would find it easy 10 choose hus-
band. Any man would be proud to be
loved by you"
Florence made an abrupt movement and
all at once covered her face with her
hands.
my dear child, what have done? You
are crying" said Alice.
''Iti is nothing; it is very silly of me not
to control myself better. You must forgive
me'-
'Forgive you, my poor childi ItisIwho
am to blame. Nv careless words must have
touched upon some unhappy chord"
"Well, yes, I admit it. You have spoken
to me several times about marrying, and |
you do not know, you cannot know71
She stopped for moment, then continued |
in fainter voice: 'I shall never be able to |
marry. Don't try to understand me. It is
a sacred duty. III loved man would /
flee to the ends of the earth to escape from
that love. If were cowardly enough to
yield to my poor heart I should hate the
man who made me so weak. And yet" -
Here she dropped her head in Alice's lap
and sobbed like little child. Alice tried
to calm her, and sought, meanwhile, for the
cause of this inexplicable grief. Undoubt-
edly the girl fsncied that she had some duty
to perform, which would hinder her from
marriage. She wished to remain independ-
ent and free in her actions; but why should
she regret so bitterly her inability to dis
pose of herself, unless she already loved
some one? This some one was Lloyd Dick
son. Not word nor an allusion betrayed
her secret inclination, but Alice felt no
doubt on the subject
''You have always had confidence in me,
my dear" said Alice, "and you may trust
me to the end. do not wish to learn your
secret do not desire even to know the
nature of the duties to which You sacrifice
your youth. But can I do nothing for /,
your"
Nothing, unhappily. Still, wish you
would make me promise.
"Willingly, What is it?'
''That no one shall hear a word of these
half condolences that you have received"
81 promise"
'sNo one-not even your father or''-Flor-
ence stopped, blushing deeply.
Neither my father nor Llovd."
The girl turned away her face. Her
friend had understood. The conversation
took new course. and gradually Florence's
sadness disappeared.
Every day Lloyd passed hours in the cot
tage. Wall street no longer existed for him.
Livery Qdy uC dEIAHCu Will D0C QGCSrIQlQa-
tion to take the young girls hand and say,
'I love you; will you be my wife?" But
he remained silent, through an insurmount-
able timidity. He could see that Florence {
liked him-that she was glad to see him; but
at times she became cold and silent, as If to {
create gulf between them. Alice had re-
spected her friends secret and kept silence, I
so that Lloyd could not know of the girls t
secret motive. "Strange girl" he often
a., ! / r
and yet there iE nothing Of the t
about her. She has seen that I }
love her, and she seems to begin to hate me
in her fear that may tell her of that love" c
One day he found Florence reading, and c
her face lighted MP with pleasure at the
sight of her visitor. I
''It is very good of you to come so soon,"
The said.
arp s.
"You want compliment? Well, sir, you Y
hall not have it. But must thank vou 3
or nv lovely flowers They came this morn
ng. See how fresh and fragrant they are?'' T
Flowers were the only presents which he !
vas at liberty to offer, but these arrived at \ y
he cottage several times a week.
"It you knew how much pleasure you =
i've me by spelling me in this way" she a
vent on. 'It is so nice to find friends when 2
me is all alone in the world"
''Alone in the world. Oh, Florencel Are 9
-ou then blind, to speak like that?" y
Florence turned pale. and her eyelids fell y =
s she murmured, Don't, please don'tr' &c
But Lloyd continued, "No, let me speak. I
m 30 years old, Florence. Until now have ~
ever loved woman. Lille has been very :.
ard for me. But when met you-you will =, :.
e my wife?" n'
Florence uttered cry of pain, as if sud- " "
emily aroused from a happy dream. She y =
tarted up, ran to the other side of the room, u
here, tottering and almost fainting, she "
eaned against the open piano. At last she III
aid hoarsely, "Your wifel / can never be ;.
our wife" !: :.
Lloyd thought that he must be dreaming. a;
You reject me-you refuse me?" he fall
cred. u
She made great effort, but her voice was tn
,arcely audible as she replied, Eyes" sil
Lloyd hid his face in his hands. He
ished to regain his self-control. ",
lis it you who say this, Florence-you, ri
r the other? There are two women in you IA
one whose eyes say, I love you, and en-
mother who tells me, You shall never be
" husband cannot understand
Facing him resolutely, she said: sfUntil "a
am no longer that other woman / will N,
AIRY no one. have work to do, and it da
i'll probably never be done, but will not
AIRY until have accomplished it. II is an
find and punish the murderer Of my Al
other; I am revengeful. That is wicked? oh
rue. But the idea has become a mono ii,
ania? May be that is so. But cannot he
d myself of it. I will not try to. am We
,wed to my task
Lloyd said no more but left the room. | he
s he disappeared Florence made q move
ent to stop him, and then az the end of her th,