The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-05-16
gnest Of all IN LeayeHns Report
Rk&l1!!AaI! q! EskiIsi! BskiIIes
AEs6OHEJTEg.Y PURE

nome, anu wondered why Frank did not
come to see her. Could he be il1p No, she
would have heard of It, Pride kept her
from going to the office TO inquire for him.
On the fourth day u letter came
How strange of Frank to write instead
of coming himself" she thought, with a
strange sinking at her heart.
She opened tho letter with trembling
fingers.
DEAR ETsrE-1 hardly know what to say.
sympathizc deeply with you in your double af-
Fiction, but II will be years before my circum-
stances will allow me to marry, and II would
he the height of safiishness to ask you to wait
for inc an uncertain length of time. do not
consult my own feelings in this matter only
tryt sec what is for your best good, and there
fore will hold you no longer bound. Remelnbcr
me always as your most affectionate friend
FRANK GILBERT.
Il will answer this letter while feel
strong she said, and taking pen and pa
per she wrote:
MIR. GrLBERr-I fully agree with your opin.
ion concerning our engagement and thank you
for kindly releasing me. Yours sincerely,
ELSIE REpNoR.
She sent the note and Joined the family
at the tea table soon after, as her absence
might have occasioncd surprise. She
forced herself to appear as usual and sue
ceedcd so well that no one observed any
thing strange in her manner. But thai
evening she said to her friend.
II want TO tell you something dear Mrs
Brainerd. My engagement with Mr.. Gil
bert is broken off .
Mrs. Braineri suspected the truth, but
only said quietly;
We'll, my dear presume you have
some good reason for it, And Elsie loved
her the better because she said no more
When Frank Gilbert read Elsie's note,
he felt piqued and annoyed. OF course he
was glad to get out of the affair 80 easily,
but for Elsie to take 1t so coolly hurt his
vanity. He hardly knew what sort of an.
swer he had Spectcd-ccrtainly not what
he received As he had as much love for
her as he could have for any one except
himself, he soon began to regret the step
he had taken.
Hugh Clifford had much to do with the
rapid healing Of her wound He had been
SO unobtrusively kind so watchful OF her
comfort in many little ways when she was
in need Of sympathy, that at last she be.
gan to wonder at her blindness In prefer
ring Frank Gilbert to him. Truly, Hugh's
reward was coming, and when one day he
ventured to ask again il there might be
hope for him in the future she hid her
blushing face upon his breast.
hope that Aunt Martha knows how
happy we arc, said Elsie as the two sat
together in the pleasant September after
noon, 'She would be so glad. Is there
anything wrong with my writing desk,
Hugh You seem To be giving 1t close ut
tention.
The desk stood open upon the table, and
Hugh had been observing it closely.
Would you mind emptying this, dear
that l may examine it llttlef" he asked
Wondering ut the request, she complied
For half hour he was busily engaged
with the desk; then with triumphant OK
clamation he held up thick folded paper
Elsie turned pale.
open it, Hugh, am afraid to.
Well, of course you know what it was
the much looked for will, hidden in Sc
eret drawer IN the old desk: Hugh's