Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1890-02-01

tender face as it bent above his mother.
They brought him memories of the
sweetness of the girlish life which had
grown so near his own, and yet he was
going to offer his hand and heart to
one whose face he had not seen four
months before.
He entered the Arnold grounds, and
low, musical laugh struck on his ear
Lifting his eyes, he saw two girlish
figures directly ahead, and fastened
his steps that he might come up with
them.
Leila was talking, and her voice,
clear and musical, foated back to
him:
'Better, is she? I thought she was
going to die. She is a hateful old
woman, and /, for one, should not
mourn her.
Of whom was she speaking?
He was not left long in doubt.
Elaine's voice, with a ring in it which
he had never heard before, cut the still
air about him:
"How can you talk in such man.
ner about Mrs. Powell? She is as dear
to me as my own mother; the sweetest
and best friend of my life. | thank
Heaven she is not to die p
A sudden chill had fallen over Ray
mond's heart as he listened. His steps
slackened involuntarily, his lips tight
ened.
Going to her with his mothers ten
der message, he had heard her regret
that the loving, tender woman, whose
soft voice and light touch his life would
have missed forever, whatever new ties
or new loves came, was spared to him.
Love is often of sudden growth and
fruit. AS suddenly can love droop its
soft wings and die in heart that has
cherished it.
The dart Of death was in his love for
Leila Cranston, when other words from
her dainty lips sent it in deeper
"Oh, she was bent on giving you her
son She wanted you for daughter
in-law, and so you have reason to care
for her. But since her son preferred to
choose his own wife, and | found favor
in his eyes, she made herself distinctly
unpleasant to me; and | have thought
that if she would only die now, would
be spared the trouble of insisting on a
separate establishment for her, when |
marry her son. | don't mind speaking
plain to you, Elaine, for you have seen
how desperately Raymond Powell is in
love with me. He is quite wealthy
enough to give me all the luxury |
crave, and when he asks me, mean
to say yes to him."
"But-but you love him, Leila %
How panied and sweet Elaine's low
voice was, as it faltered forth the ques-
ton which Ray himself had come to
ask, but now knew would never cross
his lips to Leila Cranston
Glove him? Why, sometimes he
bores me unutterably. l don't believe
in love, as you do, my dreamy cousin.
No man will ever be the god to me that
Ray Powell is to you. l read your
secret long ago, Elaine, but-'
"Hush oh, hush he loves you. Be
content with that, and spare me"
Through every nerve Of his body
thrilled that low, panied cry; and a
twig breaking under his foot moment
afterwards made his presence known to
the girls, who, as they turned to greet
him, did not know what he had over
heard.
Miss Cranston never understood why
Ray Powell babe her goodbye with no
word of love, no sign of regret, when
she could no longer prolong her visit.
He did not tell the truth to any one
for years, not even to his mother, whose
cup ofjoy was filled to the brim when,
at Christmas-tide, her son led Elaine
to her, and told her that the girl she
loved WOuld he his wife.