The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-08-08


guests with all due courtesy and at
tention."
And turning on his heel abruptly, he
walked away, more panied and agitated
than he would have liked to confess
just then. and failing to see the gray
pallor that had shut down over her
lovely young face at the concluding
part of his sentence.
"rhat is what it means; / see nowl"
she murmured gazing after him. "He
simply wants to get me off his hands to
facilitate his own wooing; perhaps she
does not want to be bothered with an
adopted step-daughter or ward. And
this is the end of that foolish, insane
dream that have allowed to creep in
to my heart and fasten itself upon me
with a hold as strong as life itself.
From the time he loosened my arms
from papa's neck, and twining them
around his own whispered that he
would be my best friend, have loved
himl
"What do care that he is twenty
years older than l, when he has stood
to me as the perfect ideal Of splendid
manhood, as the one supreme object of
my thoughts, my life, my every earthly
aspiration? But no, he has been blind,
or he deems me too much a child to
stir his heart, or else because lack the
wealth and position that he would re-
quire in his wife, and so he would
marry me to Herbert Raynor because
he must needs provide for me-he
would be too generous. to thrust me
out into the world alone from the happy
home have shared with him so long.
"But better even that than the
misery of a loveless marriage, even
with the best of menl We would GER
tainly grow to hate each other ere long.
No, will be free-freein the only way
left me-free to earn and eat my crust
in independence, and to be the wife of
no man whom l cannot love. He is
going down to the city tonight to bring
some additional supplies in readiness
for his guests; that will be my chance.
Oh, dear old home, goodbye, goodbye
forever"
And so it came TO pass that when
Archie Gowan took his seat at the
breakfast-table the next morning, and
looked across to where the piquant
face had greeted him for so many
sunny years, the spot was vacant; and
turning over his plate he found tiny
note under it.
With trembling hands Archie un-
folded the little missive. It's contents
were few-pitilessly few
"Since you impose upon me COM
mands that cannot and will not full
fill, there Is but one alternative-which
1 have taken. You have gained your
point in far easier way than by wreck
ing my whole life-you may consider
yourself from this time free from all
further care or expense on my account
/ shall earn my bread by my own
efforts, and all ask further is that
may 60 my own way in peace.
LURLIE."
Archie folded up the little paper
mechanically then leaning back,
covered his face with his hands. What
did he read between those line? Was
1t mad delusion, OF the truth-the
blessed, intoxicating, maddening TRUTH
: Maddening, because learned only to
mock himself in his very heart of
I hearts, would have been content to
stay there-that his self-renunciatiop
his feverish anxiety to end his own
agony by seeing her irrevocably bound
} to another, with whom he deemed she
Z would be more happy-had all been a
mistake. Or was it really but an act OF
f rebellion and willful defiance to his
wishes2
. He bowed his head on his hands
S while tears heavy and hot trickled
1 through his fingers.
e 81 must find her--I mustp he cried
u starting up. beautiful, friendless
s utterly inexperienced-how can my
d darling do battle with the world9
l. must find her and know whether l an
# mad or dreaming-or whether, far be
I yond my widest dreams and hopes
y this inestimable blessing is indee,
10 mine, But 1 must proceed cautiousl
g lest my bird escape me altogether. Fo
ID few days l must curb these wild dc
u sires-conceal it even from my guest
u and then cautiously and in secre
le commence the search that wit
IN Heavens blessings shall give back m
i'll darling to these arms-these arms this
to have yearned for her for years"
So his guests and the housekeept
ie. only knew that Lurlie was away on
ds visit "among friends;" and.when the
TX were gone he set himself to the scare
st "a search that one day led him int
ou the park, and to knoll where. a grou
ce of merry children were disporti1
he around quiet little figure, whom nj
i'll even the colored glasses and change
nd costume could disguise from his r
nd cognition.
to Stealing up behind her he laid h
}, l hands on her shoulders with gestu
en- he had often used,
SO Little REBEL l have found you
lth last Surrender" he whispered.
ell She sprung up, but something in Il
lot eyes bent upon her stilled all reser
ment and made her heart swell al
lie, throb with a strange, new ecstasy,
ich "Where is your wifet" she asked Z
a a family,
lad "Shan tell your Right here, if an
es. where in this world. All. you iealo