The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-10
oNo, she is quito woIl-quite well, my

suspense"
"She has gone away she has married
another man."
The words failed to carry conviction
their hearers mind.
STELLA married-stella, whom | loved
and trusted-whom | believed loved
me" he said, increduldusly, and after
seconds pause burst out, "ielI me-tell
there's some mistake"
~ wish | could, with all my heart"
said the schoOlmaster, alphabetically,
"but il is quito true she is now another
mans wife"
Ferrars flung himself down in chair,
laid his arms on the table and buried
his face in them. A sob shook his
frame. After silence that seemed I'M
endurable TO the man who watched
him, Arthur suddenly raised his head
the corners OF his mouth we're yet
twitching from the shock, and his eyes
looked fierce,
"Who is the man?"he asked, sternly'
"Who is he?"
"His namei is Harry Crawford; beyond
that know little OF him"
~ hat ia her"
lam unableto say" Jacobanswered,
uneasily.
'How did it happen that she came to
know him, and to betray me2"
Jacob Selwyn related how he had
made the acquaintance Of this strang-
or, and OF the friendship that had iol'
lowed.
"Bat ! never knew he was making
love to Stella, or that she felt any in
tereit in him, On Saturday morning
she left ME ostensibly to visit her aunt
at Crossley; you may imagine the shock
and surprise got on receiving this
letter from her on Monday.
His hand trembled as he gave Fer
rars an envelope, from which the lat
ter took u note containing the following
lines,
"MY. DEAREST FATuER:-Instead OF
going TO my aunt ut Crossev ! came to
London that | might marry Mr.. Craw.
ford. This will astonish you, but /
hope you will forgive me for keeping
silence and for deceivlng you now for
the first. and, trust for tue last time
in my life. You did not suspect that |
loved Mr.. Crawford with all my heart,
and that could not bear to be- aepa.
rated from him.
BEG OF Arthurto pardon me for the
disappointment and grief this step may
cause him. 1t was only within the
lastthree months l discovered had
never felt for him the love he desired
and deserved, or tho affection girl
should have for the man she weds,
II would, therefore, be unjust to have
married him, and he will SEQ it was
better that this awakening to the real
state of my heart should come betoro
than after We were man and wife. !
shall always think OF him as kind
friend and dear brother.
My only regret is to leave you, and
my only fear is that you may miss me
too much, But am happier now than
l have ever been before. We were
married soon after reached London,
and we leave this evening Tor the Con.
tinent. There is no time for me to
write more. will think OF you, dear
father, every day and every night, and
you, I'm sure, will continue to remem.
Der and to love your fond daughter.
'STELLA."
Arthur Ferrars read the letter rapid
" at first, to master its contents, then
with deliberation and meditation that
he might judge its purport; for a
thought was gradually rising in his
mind, fear slowly forming in his
heart, that would out-distance and
darken tho gloom and depression
wrought by his own DISAPPOINTMENT
and sorrow. Could it be, he asked him.
self that this innocent girl had been
betrayed by some scoundrel, some
smooth.spoken black-hearted man OF
the world; that she had been lured
from tho shelter OF her peaceful home
by promises never meant to DO fulfilled
This suggestion, overwhelmed him,
and he would have thrust it aside but
that its dire probability forced itself
upon him. Stella, ignorant OF the
world, inexperienced in its ways, and
unsuspicious of guile, was no match
for one who, judging from his silence
regarding himself the craftiness with
which he had behaved, and the mystery
by which he surrounded himself, was q
man not be trusted, but much TO be
feared. Had she been deceived, the
young man asked himself again and
again, his apprehension aud agony in.
creasing until itseemed his heart would
burst. He strove to think calmly.
Several things mentioned and omitted
in her letter helped, to confirm his fears
for her fate. She confessed she could
not bear to be separated from Crawford;
she did not ailude to any ceremony,
either civil or religious, as having taken
place; in speaking OF Crawford she had
not called him her husband, nor had
she signed herself by his name, which
were she married to him would have
been hers; no address was given in her
letter, nor did she say to what part or
country OF the continent they were GO
ing, and so afford q clue to where they
might be found.
Ga the other hand she mentioned
that they had been married, but this
statement might have been made to
Quell her fathers fears, and save him
from the bitterness Of shame. Looking
at him searchingly, Arthur concluded
the schoolmastor's suspicious had Tot
been aroused, and he resolved to leave
them undisturbed. Yet he was anxious
to obtain some information that might
help to dispel or confirm his doubts, and
sought to obtain II in manner which
would leave Jacob Selwyn in ignorance
OF such painful surmises.
"Did they leave togethor2" Arthur
asked.
mo. Mr.. Crawford went on THURS.
day, two days before Stella"
Ferrara knew that in order that a re-.
ligious marriage ceremony might be
performed 1t was necessary that one Of