Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-03-16
HELPED HIM PROPOSE.
And Promised Not to Tell, But !
Was Too Good to Keep.

Arthur Lyle was confirmed bach
elor. He was tall, handsome young
fellow. with blue eyes and dark hair.
lie was an artist by profession. He
had but few patrons but that fact did
not trouble him much, as he was very
well-to-dO.
He was idly toying with his w atch
chain and watching the smoke OF his
cigar as it curled upward in the air,
when the door opened and MIR. Clifton
WAYNE entered the room.
We'll. Arthur how are you to-day"
were his first words Thinking OF
your lady-love?'
Don't be a fool, Clifton!" was his
polite reply. you know / hate girls
ike-li'le-"
softly, softly, my dear sir" inter
rupted Clifton. laughingly; 1.-The trouble
is YOU haven't come across the right
one"
And never will" interrupted Ar
thur. "But enough of this nonsense.
l heard to-day that your sister Clara
was about to give a grand BALL 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
will be a splendid catch for you"
There you 20 again, Clifton. You
know am a confirmed bachelor. And
as for Miss Nellie-what did you say
her name is?"
"Torsythe - Nellie Forsythe But
good day! Ihave an appointment down
town" And he hurried away.
Years ago Arthur Lyle had felt that
he understood one woman. He had
even gone 50 far as to tell her that if
She 50 willed it henceforth his life
would be devoted equally to her and
his pro. .esslon. 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 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"
He had not met her for several years.
He went to visit his friend Clifton at
his beautiful villa in the suburbs.
lie had been there but a few days
when he walked out on the piazza, and,
to his amazement, saw his former
sweetheart walking around hegrounds
of a neighbOring house with a half
grown child-a little girl-whO in many
ways resembled her mother.
Hewalked on aimlessly, blind, deaf
to everything around him Thoughts
Of his lost love and the fate that had
separated them were struggling to-
gether tumultuously in his brain.
The sound of a horse rushing madly
down the road and low, startled cry
reused him suddenly from the revere
into which he had fallen. He looked
up and saw a young lady in great
peril.
He dartcd 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 a charming, refined
face.
"Where do you wish to go?" he in
quired, respectfully.
TO Wayne villa" she replied, in q
sweet voice that thrilled his heart
81 found no one at the depot to meet
me, so ! got a horse and thought
would ride over, but my horse took
fright and l was thrown off as you see,
but if you will assist me to remouDt
think | can reach the villa safely"