Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-08-28
A LOST LOVE.

Martha Hargrave was an only cid of
one Of the wealthiest inhabitants Of Elm's
Cross, the expectant heress of his fortune
and possessed in her own right of "a, 900.
In such circumstances it may be sup
posed that she attracted not "a little the
attention of blushing striplings and specu-
lative mammas. These were with the ex.
ception Of one family, of her own society
for Mr.. and Mrs. Hargrave were Quakers
Of the old school and confined themselves
almost exclusively within the circle of
their friends. The exception was formed
by widow lady and her son, the former
an early intimate Of Mrs Hargrave, now
living on small annuity, from which she
contrived TO save a little every year to pay
for her boys outfit in the world.
Richard Temple was well calculated 10
be the object Of a mothers doting affec-
ton; he was fine, spirited, generous,
handsome lad, two or three years older
than Martha, Of whom he was the play.
mate in childhood Richard looked upon
Martha as his sister till he began to feel
as a personal injury the admiring looks
that were thrown upon her from under the
broad brims Of the young Quakers, and the
affection Of the boy was suffered to ripen
into the love of the young man.
While this process was going on with
Richard, in Martha the wildness Of child
hood sobered gradually down into the de.
mure circumspection OF the Quaker girl
But nevertheless when Richard came
one day TO bid her farewell before his ex-
Odus into the world, her heart was too full
Of the memories Of her childish years TO re-
member its new cOuventiOnalism, and she
stood before him with her hands crossed
upon her BOSOM gazing in his face with
look Of girlish fondness that was made
still softer by the tears that stood trem-
bling in her beautiful eyes. lie was to
proceed to London, TO be completed In his
initiation into mercantile business, and
might be absent for years, and Martha felt
the separation as her first serious distress
Richard was old enough TO be aware OF the
nature Of his own feelings.
As the moment Of parting arrived he
drew her toward him with both hands,
his arms encircled her waist, and-how IL
happened / know not, for the thing was
wholly out Of rule-his lips were pressed
to hers. The next moment he started
from his bewilderment; his eyes dazzled
Martha had disappeared. He did not know,
when in the morning the stage coach was
carrying him from Elm's Cross, that
young girl was sitting behind n blind in
the highest room Of that house watching
the vehicle till II was lost in her binding
tears.
am unable to trace the adventures OF
Richard Temple in London, but they ap.
pear TO have been comparatively fortunate
since at the end of only three years he was
junior partner in young but respecta-
BILE firm. He had seen Miss Hargrave sew
eral times during the interval but need
not say that their intercourse had entirely
changed its character.
At the end Of the three years / have
mentioned Mrs, Templeslied, and Richard,
now alone in the world, and with tolerable
prospects in business, began in due time
to ask himself, with aquaking heart and
flushing brow, whether it were possible
for him TO obtain the Quaker girl for his
bride After much cogitation on this sub
iect, his characteristic daring prevailed,
and addressing 20 Martha an eloquent his.
tory Of his love, accompanied by a frank
statement Of his affairs and prospects, and
solicitation for permission TO woo her for
his wife, he inclosed the letter, open, in a
briefer one TO her fat her, and dispatched
the fateful missve.
The reply came from Mr. Hargrave. 1t
was cool, calm, decisive. He hoped friend
Richard would speedily forget what, TO a
rational minded person. ought to be hardly
a disappointment, and when his fortune
permitted It select from his own demon.
nation wife Of his own degree. This in
solent letter, as the young man termed IL,
had no effect but that Of rouaing the fierce
and headlong energy Of his nature. He
knew Martha too well to believe that she
had any share in such a production, and
he wrote at once to Mr.. Hargrave to say
that his daughter was old enough TO de
eide for herself; that on the following day
he would present himself at his house in
Films Cross in the hope Of. hearing his
fate from Martha's own lips, even If in the
presence Of her father and mother
When Richard Temple passed across the
Dutchlike lawn Of the house be felt his
heart die within him When the respect
able middle aged servant marshaled him
up stairs to the drawing room he followed
the man with Difference, as II he had some
thing TO say in the decision.
Martha entered the room alone, and
shutting the door glided compossdly up
TO Richard and offered him her hand as
usual The clasp, though gentle, was pal
pable
"Martha." he said, did my letter CUR
prise your Tell me only that IL was too
abrupt-that It startled and hurried you.
Was it not sof"
Nay, Richard"
Then you knew, even before dared to
speak, that loved you. DO you know OF
the reply my letter received"
yea, Richard"
"And you sanctioned itr
I'm meaning" but here her voice slight
1y faltered: 81 the words were unkind, be
thou assured that they came neither from
my pen nor my heart"
'Then was deceived in approximation
/ did indulge the dream-tbat my deyo-
ton had awakened an interest In your
bosomi That interest belongs TO anotherf
II never had a dearer friendship than
thine" said Martha, and raising her eyes
to his she added, after pause, in the