The Forrest City times., 1891-07-31
coming slowly up the walk which led

his red face, tits Mir. Erie - Jack Erie, our new neighbori Owns the farm that lies on the hillside yonder, Miss Huntley. A newcomer, and, suppose, like Horace Greeley and Henry Ward Beecher, a book farmer but he Is doing very we'll with crops, and seems willing to learn all that there is to be learned. Isn't he fine looking?"
 One swift glance, and Miss Huntley turned aside.
 "Tolerably-for man of his class, !" she returned, coldly forgetting that she was addressing man of the same class as the despised Mir. Erie.
 And by this time the newcomer had reached the veranda, was speedi- l ly presented to Miss Huntey, and warmly greeted by Mrs. Grey. He removed his straw hat and sank into | the nearest seat. Then the conversa- | tion launched at once into various | methods of farming, the relative val ue of fertilizers-all the pet schemes | so dear to the heart of the real farmer l who sees in the broad acres around him the future prosperity. ''l will slip away directly" thought Ethel, "and no one will miss me" But she did not lipaway The con versation changed to books and au- l thors. MT. Erie addressed himself to | Ethel, and she was astonished to find the depth ofhis knowledge and culture. | She soon discovered that she was learning from him many items of in terest in regard to authors, artists, and scientific men. Ten o'clock struck 1 from the old moon-faced clock in the hall and Erie arose to go. Ethel was ashamed to think how rapidly the evening had passed.
 May I call in tomorrow evening" Miss Huntiey?" he asked, deferential- | ly. 'I have some books that would like to bring you"
 She made some light reply, which he construed into consent. The next evening found him there, and the next l and the next until It became quite | the thing for Jack Erie to appear every evening upon the vine-covered veranda. And then one day letter arrived from Mrs. Huntley She had met Mir. Roy Efiingham in the city to which he had returned, looking so well and so handsome And he had come to ask Ethel's hand in marriage
 He referred to your old affair with | him, Ethel, wrote the doting mother, and said that he had never forgotten you. He will be here to meet you when you come home; and oh, how trust that you will soon return. Think how much depends upon your marrying | this man! For our income is small, you know, and Roy Bingham will make you queen in society," And when she had read this letter, Ethel Huntley awoke to the truth. She must go home and marry Roy Ef- tingham and be millionaire's bride Yet she had learned to love Jack Erie, the poor farmer.
 She was sitting on the river bank thinking 1t all over, and there Jack Erie found her. He threw himself down upon the grass at her side. She turned her face away, but he auda- ciously possessed himself of her hand.
 "Ethel-Miss Huntley," he began at once. "I have been away from Pen field for few days, and had hoped that you would be glad to see me when 1 returned
 She lifted her eyes to his face with a swift glance: They fell before his eager, impassioned gaze.
 ''l am going home, she murmured, faintly. ''I have a letter from mann ma, I-I am going to be married, Mir. Erie"
 He started up with a bitter cry.
 Going to be married? Oh, no, no" he panted. Ethel, Hove you-I love youl It IS the hope of my heart to make you my wifel'
 Her gray eyes flashed him look of scorn.
 ''I could never marry poor farmer and live in the country" she said, haughtily. q am going to marry Mir. Roy Effingham, a millionaire.
 He leaned against a tree, his dark eyes fixed upon her pale, calm face.
 You are going to marry a million aire?" he repeated, slowly. "Ethel Huntley, you love mel
 She bowed her head in confusion.
 'I-Icannot helpit, she murmured; ''I must have wealth. do not care for Etfingham, of course, but l shall be his wife.
 "You will never be his wife, Miss Huntley, am saved from a fearful fate! am Roy Bingham! Knowing that you would not recognize me, took this method of proving your truth. find you hard, untruthful, mercenary. I came to the country and worked in open air for my health. Knowing that you were here, 1 assum- ed the name of my cousin, and you never dreamed that 1 was the rich lover whom you would have married without love. And, oh, Ethel, did | love you very dearly"
 She put up her hands with a cry of anguish.
 "Forgive-forgive," she moaned. "I did not know-Idid not dream"
 He interrupted her with a nasty gesture.
 "I have proved you, and am satis- fed" he said, coldly. II will go out of your life forever, and thank Heaven that am saved. 1 could never trust you. Farewell y
 Standing beside the rippling river, Ethel Huntley watched his tall form disappear in the distance, and knew that she had lost her kingdom-had forfeited happiness. She turned away with bitter groan.
 My heart is broken" she murmur- ed; "but my punishment is just"
 She never married But sometimes when she sees the domestic bliss of MT and Mrs. Roy Effingham-forh he wooed and won a fair sweet girl not lonl afterward-she thinks of the lost king | I0,~, ,,1 ,.,hinh cha p,t,ht hav-a v~aiUv, aS