The Meeker herald., 1892-03-19

resolve ana now was the time TO lul'
ill it.
Half dozen times lately Mr.. Dale
had come to her and seemed on the
eve OF n proposal; his agitation was
unmlstakable; he had changed color
like any girl; he had limited that she
was his best friend, yet he feared that
he must leave her and all his friends.
The thought caused him much unhap-
| piness, but lie had never got beyond
this into plain speech, setting forth
that he entreated her, great lady
though she was, TO accept his love.
at Is his want OF wealth alone which
Keeps him silent-he adores the very
ground walk on" thought Miss
Ihellon, with n sigh.
Long ere this, however, she had
considered the matter and had re-
solved on conierring supreme bliss ON
the pennilcss clergyman.
"Why should notI" she asked her.
self, "iIo whom loved forgot me
and married another. The past is
buried. Can | create future for
myself? Arthur Dale has nature
like line gold, the people love him, his
influence for good is felt all over the
parish and his affection for mo Is
making him Ill and miserable. This
cannot go on. lac will resign his
curacy and leave Narby II he sees no
hope OF winning me. IL Ia Tor ma
therefore to put aside prid" and old
memories ana to say "a word which
may give him courage to ask my
hand. II ! share my wealth with him
| shall share two good actions
double its usefulness and make him
happy. Yes. will do the deed.
Better so. Good-by to past dreams
Her very fingers tremblrd so much
that she could not open tho paper
she had picked up; indeed she was
barely conscious that She held IL.
Life is full OF sadness" brcathel
Mr.. Dale. softly, land why should |
complain that |, TOO, find II SOL Dear
Miss Thcllon. IL must leave Ssrhy."
Mono" ialtcrcd the lady, every
one herc-nll-wiihout exception, wish
that you should stay"
II dare not believe so, murmurod
the rurn,o. "No-ther- Is ong person
who desires that ! should leave Mar
by without delay"
That is not no." replied the nsi,n,-
cd Miss Thcllon.
Dearly as she believed herself TO bo
loved by Mr.. Dale. she yet found u
difficult to shy in plain words;
VIII you marry mvl'
At this iuncturr Mr.. Dale became
more agitaicd than ever. lie stood
still upon the pathway. saying in pitt
able confusion:
II trust-i trust-;hnt nothing !
may say--noi hing ! may do In the
future, may interrupt n friendship
which has been 70 precious to me, aud
which. oven though may leave Mar
by. will bu cherished ia remembrance.
| had something to say, Mos Thc.lon
something to conlilc to you-but-
bu, will write II. Farewell, now, Tor
the moment. ! shall think once moro
what is best to be done
Stay stay moment murmurcd
Miss I hcllnn. and Ia great agitation
shc unioldcd the paper she held Ia her
hand, her eyes coming straight ON
some words scrawlod ON the bottom
OF III. page;
Expect me Thursday n, $ o'clock.
Yours. l.. l.il,on."
Mis-. Tn.llon stared ut the words ms
n fascinated. Tho words she would
have uttered di-u on her lips. Me-
chemically she stretched out her hand
when Mr. Dale took hers ia farewell.
and Tx. statue sho remained on the
hcii.path alter he had lett her.
She shiycrrl. though u was a warm
afternoon. and her rich dress amply
shielded her from the spring mir. next,
her eyes dcyourci TIA, few lines sho
held in her hand.
pran ,r,NtsaHsu ran the mis,ive-tn.
expected events cali me hack 10 Eraiunh,
. Tile lady las - have married lie utt tho
rrr oGouf wedding ni a rycT. Tic rsia'S ]
bought over here IN America turns out
failure aud a. ny tenants lease ~ l..liHf
Castle hs' expired. think will run dnHn
and talk thing over with you, and look
over the place 10 private.
And wish no one to bc aware ofnv
coming go I Will walk FROM the station
through the iiclts 10 the castle. Eyfrci me
at o'clock. Your; !. lttt"N. 3,
"iIc il coming. he Is coming back,
calculated she. And | thought ! Ind
forgotten. Come what may, must SEQ
him again. oh. ! might have spoken
irrcvocablc words. Did Providence
save mc!"
And again she shivered like an aspen
leaf
Pretty Mary Crathcr, weeping by
her window, had witnessed tho sud.
don parting. and wondered what u
meant.
Soon after. Miss Thrllon left the
meadow, walking hurricdly like one
distracted, as indeed she was.
He said he would never again ask
me to marry him; and he will Keep his
word" murmurud she, catching her
breath and fastening on. at Is now
six yenrs since lie left me- she con.
tinued. speaking the words to the stu
country air to ease her bursting heart.
"Six years. OH how foolish ! was to
fir. 80 pcrsistcntly with the Duke of
Porslcigh aud still more to be wiliiul
enough to rcluHcto speak word that
might have saved our happiness,
Choose between us now. said Lilton.
and I smiled knocking smile. aud
would not uttcrn word. How could !
tell wha, would fall upon me so sud
denlyg How could / see that Lilton
was so maddcned rs he really wasi
OH that terrible moment when he
spoke the fatnl words which killed my
ioy. i shnll never lose my love for
YOU. MRrsnrct-nevcr quite forget nll
that might have been; but ] see the
truth now. and never ngnin. swcnr
II, will ask you to marry me- II is
farewell.
"rhe next day he was gone. Then
heard that he had sailed for America
then that the castle was lot for five
v,nrs. ncvt TINT he | loved so well