The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-03-23
HELPED HIM PROPOSE.
And Promised Not to Tell, But It
Was Too Good to Keep.


Arthur Lyle was a confirmed bach
elor He was a tall, handsome young
fellow, with blue eyes and dark hair
He was an artist by profession. He
had but few patrons, but that fact did
| not trouble him much, as he was very
wcii-to-do.
lie was idly toying with his w atch
chain and watching the smoke of his
,.igar as it curled upward in the air.
| when the door opened and Mr.. Clifton
| Wayne entered the room.
| We'll. Arthur, how are. You today"
were his first words Thinking of
! your lady -love?"
Don't be "A fool, CIiftonl' was his
| polite reply. You know | hate girls
liile-lile-"
softly, softly, my dear sir" inter
| rupted Clifton. laughingly; 1.-The trouble
is you haven't come across the right
| one
And never win" interrupted Ar
| thur. But enough of this nonsense
heard to-day that your sister Clara
was about TO give a grand bali. is
that SOP"
-''Of course it is, and you're to be in
vited. And say, Arthur, Cousin Nellie,
from New Orleans. is coming, too. She
viii be a splendid catch for you.p
There you go again, Clifton You
know l am a confirmed bachelor. And
as for Miss NeIlie-what did you say
her name is?"
"Forsythe = Nellie Forsythe. But
good day! Ihavean appointment down
town" And he hurried away.
y ears ago Arthur Lyle had felt that
he understood one woman. He had
even gone SO far as to tell her that if
she so willed it henceforth his life
would be devoted equally TO her and
his profession. And'she had smiled and
looked SO pleased that he had kissed
her, and supposed that she would at
some time, not far distant, be his-own.
But he had supposed too much, as he
afterwards found out when she was
married a few weeks later to a dashing
young lawyer.
This hurt his susceptible and sensi-
tive heart TO think that she had so de-
ceived him, and he told her so the first
time he saw her after her marriage.
And she, with one of her innocent,
surprised looks, answered his indig-
nant words by SAYING that he had
never asked her to marry him. "
lie bad not met her for several years.
lie went to visit his friend Clifton at
his beautiful villa in the suburbs.
He had been there but a few days
when he walked out on the piazza, and,
to his amazement, saw his former
sweetheart walking around the grounds
of a neigh boring house with a half
grown chid-a little girl-who in many
ways resembled her mother
He walked on aimlessly, blind, deaf
to everything around him Thoughts
of his lost love and the fate that had
separated them were struggling to-
gether unanimously in his brain.
The sound of n horse rushing madly
down the road and a low, startled cry
reused him suddenly from the revere
into which he had fallen. He looked
up and saw young lady in great
peril.
lie darted forward, and seizing the
horse by the bit, stopped him.
What "A gentle woman's heart she
had. this lovely girl with soft, brown
eyes and beautiful golden hair-a quiet,
little creature with u charming, refined
face.
Where do you wish to go?'' he in
quircd, respectfully.
TO Wayne villa" she replied, in
sweet voice that thrilled his heart
Il found no one at the depot to meet
me, so | got "A horse and thought
would ride over, but my horse took
fright and | was thrown of as you see,
but if you will assist me tn rcmount l
think can reach the villa safely"
Ii was n splendid night. The stars
shone beautifully, the AR was soft and
balmy. Wayne villa was brilliantly
illuminated; Chinese lanterns shon
here and there among the trees-in
fact, it looked like fairy paradise;
carriages drove up and deposited ladies
and gentlemen and the sound of music
was heard from the parlors- Miss Clara
Wayne was giving ball.
When Arthur Lyle was announced
there was buzz through the room, as
he was a general favorite, and maneu-
vering mammas did not quite despair of
catching him.
''Ah. Arthur, how glad am to see
you.'' exclaimed Miss Clara, seizing him
by the hand. II must Introduce you
TO Miss Forsythe."
Hang Miss Forsythe!" thought Ar
thur This thoughts were all eentered on
the fair girl he had rescued on the road
that morning). but he followed Clara
obedientIy to the corner of the room,
where "a lady who had her back turned
10 him was talking with a party OF gen
tlcmcn.
Miss Forsythc, Mr.. Lyle" said
Clara, presenting him ''Why, what's
the mat ter with you, Mr.. Lyle?' she
cried, as Arthur stood. with his eyes
wide open, looking at Miss Forsythe-
For in Miss Forsythe he recognized
the beautiful girl he had met so unex-
pectcdly in the morning. However, he
recovered himself sufficiently 90 con-
verse as if nothing had happened.
From that time he found that he
loved her. She was a woman after his