New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1892-04-20


she had done a
great many tbings-her duty, MOTTO
ably-and yet her life held no sort of
fruition.
She grew very sad when she re-
flected. She had often wondered why
, it was; but now she had come to the
conclusion that it must be her own
fa'lt-all owing to her own weakness.
The truth had been forced upon her
by a certain episode. DR.. Severance
had asked her to marry him, and he
seemed both surprised and angry,
when she told him she was already
engaged-had been so for over six
Years.
"What are you waiting for?" he had
asked brusquely.
1--WE are both poor Lydia an
swered bravely. HE has his mother
to support and two sisters to educate,
and it is very difficult for a young
lawyer to make any Roadway" @
"In that case, should give it up"
said the Doctor bluntly. Are you
going to waste your youth in waiting
for this man, Miss Dayton? Don't
you think it would be much more SEN
sible for you both to dissolve such a
relationship? | am not speaking now
as q lover, but as a friend. You are
both old enough and reasonable
enough to take the matter philosophi-
cally. If you were free, you might
marry some man who could make
your life sweet and pleasant; and per-
haps he might find some rich girl who
would help HIM out OF his difficult
ties" r..
These words had sunk deep into
Lydia's mind; she thought OF them
for months. 1t was not that she
knew she could never do that under
too. He had given up all hope OF
they were drifting into q friendly and
confidential intercourse which suited
them much better. Still, the Doctors
suggestion had fingered in Lydia's
memory She telt the force of what
he had said, and was trying to come
to a conclusion. OF course, she must
have ceased to care for Henry Osborne
as she once had, or she could not have
argued the matter as she did. But
she was still very fond OF him, and
when she had made up her mind to
break off her engagement, the resolu-
ton cost her many a bitter pang.
She was o long time in writing the
letter which explained the motives of
her action; but she sent it Off at last,
together with the little plain gold ring,
now somewhat worn away on the
edges, and q great many letters signed
in bold hand: "Yours faithfully,
Henry"
She felt as though she had been to
q funeral when she came back from
the post-office; and in the sorrowful
fullness OF her heart, she told DR..
Severance what she had done.
I think you have acted wisely,
LYDIA he said, in the friendly fash
ion which had grown natural between
them
a. Il think SO, Doctor" she replied,
"but if L could only be perfectly sureW
Nobody ever does any important
thing without doubts," he said, kind
ly, nobody can tell about the issue
OF anything. But that ought not to
concern u.s.. What we have to deal
with is the principle, and think you
are right there"
II don't know" Lydia answered,
her eyes filling up with tears. cit
seems very false and treacherous
when think of throwing him over
just because he is too poor to marry
me-"
IF he is a man OF sense said the.
Doctor, warmly, he will see it as you
do. 1t certainly is not right for either
OF you to prolong such an affair for
ever. What does an engagement
means if not marriage? Yours WAS
nothing but moekery, Lydia. It alb
sorbed your thoughts and energies
without any return. I was bad for
both ofyou."
Perhaps it was" said Lydia, with
a wan smile, II don't suppose happi-
ness is worth calculating.
There is q blessedness that is
higher than happiness" quoted the
Doctor. Don't you remember, Ly-
dla? was in love with you once, and
yet have come down to common
place friendship, which is a great com
fort to me"
Yes said Lydia, with afaint sigh.
but fancy you were not SO much in
love with me after all =
Womanlike, she was mt without
RI - 4 II { i Il