The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-03-06
A WOMAN'S ERROR.

The young people of Groveland were
having picnic 1t was in pleasant
grove just at the edge of the main
road.
Most of the village girls were there.
dressed in their crisply-starched and
neatly-ironed white dresses; some with
bright-colored sashes and bows to
match, others wreathed with wild
flowers gathered in the woods, which
stretched invitingly away in the shady
GOODNESS at the back of the grove.
Conspicuous among the rustic
beauties was Barbara Wildman. She
was tall bright-looking girl, whose
great dark eyes usually flashed back q
merry answer to the jests of the rustic
beaux, who generally lowered around
her like moths around flame.
just now, however, their brightness
was under a cloud; for Mark Eyerson
was standing at her side, and the
tete-a-tete she had for some time been
endeavoring to avoid was inevitable.
She was sorry to lose Marks friend
ship, and with woman's instinct she
knew that it must be all or nothing
from henceforth with him; and with a
newly-learned insight into her own
heart, she now knew that she did not
love him.
Her answer must be No
With all her gay friendly ways she
had not an atom of Intentional co
quetry about her, and with a sudden
resolution to end his suspense she
turned towards him.
well. Mark" she said gently,
sswhat is it you want to say to meP"
You must know without my telling
Oh, Barbara, it is your own sweet self
want j have been as true to you as
the needle is to the pole since the time
when, little boy and girl, we used te
go nutting together"
Poor Marki / am sorry"
There was no mistaking the express
ion of the soft brown eyes. Genuine
pity was in them for the pain she wa:
causing, but no love.
Don't, Barbara. l can't bear it
Give me n chance before YOU say {
decided No I'll do things for YOU NJ
one ever did before, if you'll onl,
promise to try and love me"
just then young man rode by on {
powerful black horse. Mark saw :
sudden change pass over Barbara
face. Turning. he saw, with a bitter
pain tugging at his heart-strings, that
the eyes of the girl that he loved were
resting on the strangers face with q
rapt lingering expression in them
which had never irradiated them for
him, her old-time faithful friend.
There was no mistaking the answer
ing look in the eyes of the equestrian,
as, bowling low, he rode lingeringly by,
turning ever and anon to smile at the
fair face which Mark knew now was
not to be the light of his home.
$50 it is that stranger whom you
lovel You need not deny it," he said
almost fiercely. Il saw it in your
eyes"
Barbara answered, proudly:
Il do not wish to deny it" Then,
with a sudden change of manner, she
held out her hand: Il love him as
love my life. and have promised te
marry him; but, dear old Mark, lei
us be friends for the sake of the pleasant
days of our happy childhood. Be my
brother. Mark!
Mark hesitated; but he could not re.
sist the pleading wistfulness of the
eyes, whose brightness shone through
mist which suggested that tears
were not far away. He took the soft
little hand in his great brown palm,
hardened by manly toll.
al will be your friend, Barbara, but
cannot see you and be in your society
as have been. / could not bear it
| shall sell the farm, and leave the
place"
mo, Mark; you need not do that tt
avoid seeing me; for we are to bt
married next week, and-and 1 shall
go with him."
Mark looked at her in panied sur
prise, as, blushingly and hesitatingly
she told him this, overcoming hel
maidenly shyness and reserve so tina
the honest heart, whose friendship sh,
coveted, would not drive its owner t.
take rash step which might mar hi
whole future.
"Going away so soon, and with /:
perfect strangerP Oh, little Barbara
what do you know of him? He ma,
be a fraud, for aught you can tell"
A sudden anger flashed up in tn
girls eyes.
II know this, Mark: love him, ant
it is cruel in you to make such a sug
gestion."
''But you know nothing of his famil,
of his past life"
''He brought letters to auntie. Hi
mother was an old friend of hers
Don't be worried, dear old Mark. HI
is as good as gold. l would stake m,
life on it.
Mark sighed heavily and turne,
away. The joy of the afternoon ha,
gone for him, and another hour foun,
him on his way home.
He did not see Barbara again unit
long after her marriage, though he
wedding was quite an event in tn
quiet neighborhood, for the friends an,
neighbors were invited for mile
around, but poor heart-sick Mark stage,
away. For weeks after the beaut,
and happiness of the bride was tn
village gossip, and Mark heard it talke,
oyer until he felt as though he must cr
out in his agony.
Several years passed by, durin,
which Mark led lonely life. His dis
appointment, while not souring hi
kindly nature, had made him indiffer
ent to social pleasures.
But after a time his uncle Clifto
moved with his family into the village
He had number of daughters
pleasant lively girls-and it was nc
long before they drew Mark .sout G
his SHE'LL" as they called it.
He grew to enjoy their merry chat
ter, and found his way to their hom
quite often
of the cousins had formed
frit-- nip with young girl name
Alis tarron, while away at school