The Press., 1891-12-24

AN na5n6n $ 'sJack, here's Rcbecca. :.
 Breakfast had been eaten by the fami ly when Rebecca made her appearance in the room which served both as dtche, and dining room. Her breakfast, how ever, had been kept warm by tn thoughtful mother. It was partaken Q with keen relish. She rather congratu lated herself because she had not beel called upon to face John Buck at thi first meal after their engagement.
 The breakfast being finished. a sur prise followed. Mrs. Buggs laid lette in her lap, with this explanation:
 "John told me to give you that afte you had finished yonr breakfast. Iguesl you knew he was going away Hi mother was up yesterday and he wa anxious to get back to his folks in tn east. So he started of to catch the si1 o'clock train at Morgan's Mills.
 Mother Buggs was busy washing thu breakfast dishes and didn't notice tn, look of unspeakable surprise and pain which swept over her daughters face 8. she heard this news and looked at th' sealed letter.
 Rebecca knew she could not trust her self to break the seal and read the mes sage in her mothers presence. So witt foreboding heart She went out into tn yard and sought seat on the big blocl under the beach tree. There, with 8 rapid ly beating pulse, she torn open the lette and read:
 DEAREST REBEcCA-I have gone away with out the courage to say goodby with my lips and you will probably never see John Bucl again After our parting last night I coul( new day to dawn I kept asking my consciencs whether had done awise and honorable ac in asking you to become the wife of . poo farmer; you, the educated, refined girl, so 1t ted to adorn the home of Q wealthy man of % ciety, To the question my heart whispered yes, but my head RnNt saying, no! mol And then and there deeided to not take an unfail advantage of one whose lonely life in . strange remote place may have made her irresponsible for what she has done and which she may sooner or later, bitterly regret. am, there fore, going away. and win not see you for friends, the Van Wyckes. in New York thi winter. and will spend the season in the whir of metropolitan society, whore you are sure t reign queen. You told me, coon after you arrival at Morgan's Mills, of this expecte. pleasure. know how much you will enjoy is I also realize how little of that life it will talk to make you despise yourself for promising your hand aIld heart to trough farmer.
 It Is, therefore. my duty to free you from an. obligations which your promise and a sens of honor might hold you. Blot. me from you life while you are in the midst of you triumphs tu New York. If some worthy gen tleman lays his fortune, his name and hi position at vCSY A0 vsnfl o% of John Buck stand in the way of your accept . ance; but should, perchance, no such goo( fortune befan you, and should you ever be g unfortunate as to return to your fathers farm will hear of 1t. Then. perhaps, might be 8 unreasonable as to como back % you and one more ask for the happiness | now resign Co your dear sake. But in the life that lays he fore you do not forget that no man on cart will ever love you with more devoted, undy ing, unselfak sove than JOIN BUcK. She read it carefully, slowly, and whel it was finished the paper dropped int her lap and her hot tears fell upon 1t She did not kiss the name. I know sh, should have done that, as all heroine do, but as 8 truthful historian I an bound to say she did nothing of the kind Her sobbing words indeed indicated that there were weightier subjects il ner mind than the love of John Buck
 Oh. what mistake. l have no talked to him of that visit since las July. He does not know that Betti, Van Wycke never answered letter tha l wrote her. that have been cast of by her and her proud family: that l an hopelessly buried in this God forsakel country; that haven'ta dollar to talk, me on 8 journey to the borders of tn, state. let alone to New York And her. sI must wait q year for him to come back shall die, know shall! Ohi he wa. the only hope had in this wilderness And now he has gone and left me Would to heaven had never seen hiini'
 An. the weary desolation of thai young life during the next fortnight No pen can describe it She began t droop. and her prediction that she would surely die in despair seemed likely to bt fulfilled But it was the dark hour be fore the dawn.
 About the middle of November, wher the dreayy winter was beginning to SC, in. a buggy from Morgan's Mills livery stable drove up to the farmhouse one day. young lady leaped out, ran up tn, path and Rebecca found herself smother ed in the ecstatic embrace of her ex roommate and school chum. Miss Bettis Van Wycke
 This vivacious creature had brough, her trunk and remained several days really Enjoying the freedom of the coun try: and in her companionship Rebeccs pegan.to see many features of rustic lift to enjoy.
 Miss Bettie's trunk was well stored with presents for Mother Buggs and Father Buggs. articles of usefulnes. brought across the seas
 Hadn't Rebecca received her letters Gracious, how careless the postal author ities were, to be surel
 And it all ended with Bettie hyins away to New York with Rebecca under her wing.
 Chi what g delight. How the recius, of Morgan's Mills did reveL in those win ter days at the Van Wycke mansion. ii was one gay whiri of ballss operas. theaters, receptions, teas. lectures. calls shopping, rides and promenades. This was heavent She dared not think Of the end of it; of the time when she must re- turn to Buggs' farm. Every time the thought came upon her she felt like fainting and 1t was pushed away
 May be she would not be compalied te Eeturn.y 4 half dozen young moths. and several who were not 60 young, were 1nttering around her brilliant hower. They had fors the most part plenty oi money and names, any one of which would be great improvement upon Buggs. If she was offered the hand oi either she thought she would certainly accept and settle it all. But she did not. Three of them fell at her feet in turn before Christmas came along. and each time the dark. handsome looking face oi John Buck came between her and the