Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-29
CHAPTER ".
A NEW YEAR ooMMENcEMENr By
MAYNE.

A NEW YEAR COMMENCEMENT BY
MAYNE.
The sections Of the village churches are
about to put their hands on the rope of the
bells. All around the world the air will VI
brate with sweetest ttintinnabulation punctu-
ated with the roar of Cathedral tower, the
jingle of the lighter metal submerged by the
overmastering boom. The Christmas of
1888 is close by. Lloyd Dickson sits alone
in his Wall street Office. The chime of
Trinity Church let's him know that he has
prolonged his business hours until midnight
in order to enable himself to go away on the
morrow for holiday vacation. Since that
summer day at Long Branch he has not seen
Florence BlakelY. His only soIace has
been work, which should exclude from his
mind all unhappy memories.
As the chime rang he began to look over
the last Of his mail. He carefully sorted
out the various letters which related to his
private matters, leaving the rest over for his
clerks. In the midst of the operation his
heart leaped at the sight of one envelope be-
fore him. Florence's writlngl He opened
it. and found only four lines, q little trem-
ulous but very eloquent The writer wished
him to come to her in the afternoon of
Christmas.
What could she wish to say to him? Her
intention must certainly have been altered,
and this unhoped for summons could have
but one motive.
At 2 o'clock next day Lloyd reached the
residence of the Maynes in great agitation
and anxiety, feeling that this crisis would
decide his fate. Florence was very pale.
''I was afraid that you would not come"
she murmured.
'Did you not know me better?'' was the
reproachful answer. "Could you doubt
that would come at your first summons?;
Florence was grave and anxious. 'sSit
down here, and promise to pardon me for
the pRin-I was wrong in the answer Igave
you: / must tell you so, frankly"
She paused and looked up at him with
clear eyes that showed her complete sim
cerity.
'YOu told me that you loved me. Well,
I love you, too"
"Florencel"
"Please-hear me to the end. Before Civ |
ing any answer you must know my whole |
story. When at last felt the invisible tie |
that bound us to each other, tried to strug- |
gle against what seemed an impossible hap !
piness. 1 had been very weak, sacred |
duty seemed to separate me from you, |
Listen, I believed that 1 belonged to the |
dead. My mother met with most terrible |
death, as you know. Her murderer was /
not discovered, and 1 took a VOW never to
marry until I had secured his punishment.
A feeble creature like myself could do moth
ing. The half-romantic whim of a Young
girl, you will think; but when made the /
VOW my heart was free. Later, 1 came to
love you, and I tried to repulse you; but it
seemed as if all my life went with you.'
Her blushes showed that her frankness
had cost a resolute effort.
''ThiS is my Christmas of all Christ
mases," Lloyd exclaimed. tsYou are a
noble girl, Florence, and I will try to re-
ward your love: The man who robbed your
mother, and who hastened her death, shall
be detected, if that be possible. 1 will de-
Vote myself to the task, next to my devo-
ion to you
Then he pleaded for an immediate mar
.iage. Florence's wish was that the we'd
ling should be as quiet as possible. She
iisliked publicity.
"why not avoid all this disturbance 7''
The asked. ut always seems to me as if
hese gorgeous ceremonies were one of the
illiest forms of human vanity"
Alice laughed, for it was to her that this
vas said. "You are quite right, my dear
,irl, but if you refuse to obey the reigning
ashton, you will make every one your
nemy."
"Oh, nonsenseP'
''You think that am overstating the
ase? 1t is easy to see that you don't know
Iew York. Woe to any rash mortal who
ares to rob society of an expected treat"
In the end Florence had to yield, and
ubmit to the extensive celebration which
Abel Mayne insisted on. He was still
10Hn aSs1or Ill
lie expenditure of money on Florence So ]
e urged fine wedding in the holiday
reek.
You'll sanction it. Morris, won't you?''
e said to his friend.
s'Let me tell you" was the reply. .sthat !
be dissipations Of social life are despoiling i
ne usefulness Of vast multitude of people. / I
What do those people care about the tact :
rat there are whole nations in sorrow and !
1ffering and agony, when they have for +
onsideration the more important question !
bout the size Of glove or the tie of a era I
ct? Which one of them ever bound up I
le wounds in a hospital? Which one OF I
lem ever went out to care for the poor? =
Which one of them do you find in the :
aunts of sin distributing tracts7 They live :
q themselves, and it is very poor pasture" !
After all, he had no strong reason to urge J
yainst handsome wedding for Lloyd and +
lorence. and to that view of the matter the 4
ri herself assented.
While the hasty preparations went on. T
lloyd eagerly began his work of detection, .
e learned from Florence the little that she =
new, at hearsay. about the robbery and :
.ath Of her mother. :
I'VE must talk with the girl Nancy, he
'cided. "Can we bring her here2"
Il have always kept her address," s,
lorence replied, "and she is now. living in
Onkers. She will come if send for her.
A telegram was sent, and neply was re- >.
lived from Nancy that she would arrive on o.
certain train next day. Florence, exclted le
I the redewal of her guest, stood waiting Ii
the, platform. A shrill whistle pierced
9 chilly air, and the train rolled ponder
sly into the station. Florence remained D
the background while her neighbors
ecipitated Themselves upon the new ar ol
'm the train. pi