The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-28

= Y Elm 1N%F AO0O SI -
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SZzAKE
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SI - grand old place.
~z Round about it
s< smooth lawns un-
~ dulate, dotted here
HN=<~ and there with fine
AfYN trees, while gay
h flowers and dane
ing fountains add
their quota to the
general beauty.
And all this wealth. through the
death of old Mr.. Crol1us, has come to
his only chi1d-who bears her moth
er's name - Charlotte She stands
now in the library window, holding
back the heavy brocaded hangings
with one slender hand, while she
gazes out with a sad, mournful ex-
preston in her soft eyes All unno-
ticed by Charlotte, as she stands with
her face turned from the door. some
one has entered, and is gazing at her
with a world of pity and yearning in
his look
''Oh, am so lonelyI'' she signs.
She fancies she is alone, and the
thought frames itself aloud in words
Startled, she turns; but as her eyes
rest upon the manly, dark brOwed,
dark-eyed face, the sadness vanishes
from her own as though by the touch
of a magic wand.
Are you glad to see me. Lottie9''
he says.
.'Giad?" the one word reveals more
than she dreams, and the next mo-
ment she is clasped in strong arms,
while the voice she has never yet
heard without a secret thrill, says
softly and eagerly:
'And 1 am more than gladl Oh,
Lottie, you must have knOwn-you
could not help seeing my love for you
q long time back should have
spoken before, had not my poverty,
compared to your wealth, kept me
silent; but something your father said
to me when I was with him, the very
night before he died, has made me
cast doubt and hesitation to the
winds. Lottis. he said he knew I
loved you, and he would wish no
happier lot for you than to be my
wife"
A lovely glow suffuses the sweet
face as she looks up at him.
81 always knew father respected
and liked you, Eaton"
''And you, yourself, Lottie2''
The golden head droops shyly as
she murmurs:
''And 1 more than like you; love
you.''
And SO, when the year of mourning
prescribed by custom is ended. they
are married.
Four months have passed and Char
lotte's dream of happiness seems to her
almost too perfect to continue. One
day her husband was engaged to dine
with a party of gentlemen friends
during the afternoon, but was to re-
turn in the evening to escort his wife
to a reception
The afternoon wears away, and it is
8 O clock, and. all robed Tor her ex-
pected festivity, Charlotte, while
waiting for her husbands coming,
busies herself in getting his things in
readiness. She opens the glove-box
last, and lifts the ivory tinted pair
which are on the top. AS she does so,
from out of one OF the gloves falls a
note, in what has every appearance of
being her husbands writing. Glanc-
ing casually at it as she lays 1t on the
table, she sees the address-''Miss
Adele Graham"
The name is not unfamiliar to her,
though she has not yet met her. She
has often heard Miss Graham men
toned as one of sOciety's most bril-
liant bellies Charlotte stands for a
moment hesitating; then a wave
of memory passing through her
mind, brings with it some
words a friend had said to
her shortly before her marriage: $50
you have cut out the beautiful Miss
Graham? I heard she was once en-
gagged to Mr.. Eaton WOlcOtt."
With trembling fingers the young
wife breaks the seal and reads:
MY Beloved Adele-Forzive my seeming
neglect IN not writing to you for so long. but
since memorable circumstances have come
between Us. even to the extent OF hamperins
our correspondence, have thought il best to
.zz84 T7e8k~