Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-07-18

and had gone away leaving her uncle
ill and troubled on her account He
blamed her. Yet he loved her, and
waited anxiously for response to his
letter. which he mailed to Montreal
Immediately.
Martin came into the hall one day
with the mail.
If you are going up to masters
room would you kindly take up the
masters letters. sir?" he said,
For Mr.. Rexford was confined to his
room A chronic weakness which had
troubled him for years was increasing.
1t struck Harold as he entered the
room that the old man was very ILL.,
II will save him all the sorrow
cam he said. mentally. as he watched
the thin hands. which trembled as
they took the letters.
Nothing from Lea" said Mr.. Rex
ford. II should think she would write
to me-"
He soon stretched himself on the
bed. and lay all day with his face to
the wall. without speaking.
The doctor came the next day, piled
his questions, and went away gravely.
When he came and departed again he
nodded slightly to Harold, who fol-
lowed him downstairs.
He will not be any. better, and his
situation is precarious. Has he set
tied his affairs? You had best tell
him and talk with him.
1t was hard. unwelcome task. But
Harold Feldon did it tenderly, and
Ambrose Rexford was helped by the
strong. composed young spirit
'God bless you. my boy, and give
you a friend in your last days! Is the
door closed? Come and sit by me-"
Two days later there was a light
step in the hall, the rustic of a girls
step ON the oaken stair.
''Haroldr' she cried. catching sight
of him. II have answered your letter
in person. Was / not good, when ]
was having such lovely time? Why,
what is the matter? You are so pale.
so grave! Harold, has any thing hap
pened?"
Your uncle is-very ILL"
He was dying!
He took the girls trembling hand.
smiled on her and was gone.
She rushed out of the room. She
was wild with uncomfortable grief.
Dead! Oh. how terrible! He was
so good. and did not know it, He is
ad-fOrever-and will never know
how sorry I am-how wretched I am!
Oh hor Job ,rio
She continued pallid and despairing
until after the funeral.
She was so changed as to be hardly
known. Her black dress. her CHASTITY
face. her expression of suffering al
tered her utterly from the vivid, gay
creature of few weeks previous.
The will was read. She was heiress
to the mansion and grounds. There
was nothing more-not cent.
Nothing" she said to Harold.
| rousing herself, as he explained. 81
| thought"
There was hardly that, Lea. Your
| uncle told me that he saved it for you
| only at the expense of great exertion.
He was not a rich man.
..But my fathers money!"
He ran through it all long before
he died. The estates belonged alb
solutely to your Uncle Ambrose. You
had no claim here except by his kind
| ness. He would never have told you.
He wanted you to feel free and happy
under no obligation to him. He
| loved you"
''And I was cruel to him-I was IN.
| grateful. monstrousr' interrupted the
girl.
| She flung herself about the room like
one in torment.
| Il wrote him such cruel letter.
upbraided him with meanness. I said
| I would remain with friends who
were kinder to me than he was. Oh,
I wish I had died before wrote him
that shameful letter. cried the girl.
| II am sorry you wrote that letter
Lea, but let me tell you"
Il can not listen. You can not dc
me any good. He is dead. I wounded
the kindest heart in the world. and he
can never forgive me. I wish I was
deadr'
| Dear Lea, you will live to be more
patient and happier; and you will
make me happy. Hear me! Your
uncle never received that letter.
received the mail from Martin.
| feared for its contents, tor I recognized
your chirography and the postmark
and / withdrew the letter from thu
| others. I have not read it. You
uncle never saw it. Here it is to do a:
| you like with"
The girl cast the letter into thu
glowing CRATE, and then flung hersel
upon the rug in passion of tears.
BY and by she crept into her lover:
arms. as he sat regarding her sorrow
fully.
II am so glad-so grateful to you
Harold. Help me try to be better
| girl"
II WILL" he said, tenderly.-Satur
day Night.
A Novelty in Collins.