Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-03-14


had given his heart with q devotion
which had become a part of his ma
ture. But much, as he adored hi
cousin he was not wholly blind tc
her faults.
He saw that she loved admiration
and he feared she was too much of {
fiirt Yet his love had gone on in
creasing. and he fancied not withou,
return. Led on by his hopes he had
during a temporary visit to hel
fathers house, seized an opportunity
to declare his passion, but how thu
half breathed avowal was checked VIZ
will not recapitulate. Need we won
der at this sudden resolution to fly
from her presence and by placing
the ocean between them to eradicate
passion for one whom he now felt
to be unworthy of him? Few mer
could be more energetic than Ash
ton. In less than a week he had
sailed for Europe.
How Mary wept at his departure
A thousand times she was on the
point of writing to recall him, but
her pride as often prevented the act.
She hoped he might yet return.
Surely, she said, he who had once
loved her so deeply, and who must
have sknown that his affection was
returned, would not leave her for
ever. Hour after hour she would
sit watching the gate for his return,
and hour after hour she experienced
all the bitterness Of disappointment.
When, at length, she read in the
newspaper that he had really sailed,
she gave one long, loud shrek, and
fell senseless to the floor. A fever
that ensued brought her to the very
brink of the grave.
Ashton went forth upon the world
an altered, almost a misanthropic
man. His hopes were withered, his
first dream of love had vanished; he
felt as If there was nothing for him
to live for in this world. His mind
became almost diseased. He loathed
society, then he veered to the
other extreme and craved for excite
ment, He sought relief in travel.
He crossed the steppes of Tartary,
he traverse ed the deserts Of Arabia,
lie lived among the weird and weary
monuments Of Egypt. and for many
years he wandered a stranger to civil
ization, seeking only one thing-to
forget. He never inquired after
America. His family were all dead,
and he wished never to think of
Mary. Like the tabled victim in the
olden legion he spent years in the
vain search after that Lethe whose
waters are reserved for death alone.
He found it not.
And Mary, too, was changed. She
rose from that bed of sickness an
altered being. Never had she known
the full depth of her affection until
the moment when she found herself
deserted. The shock almost killed
her; and though she recovered after
a long and weary sickness, it was to
discard all her old habits, and to
assume a quieter-yet. oh ] how far
more beautiful demeanor than in her
days of unmitigated Joy. She felt
that Henry was lost to her forever,
yet she derived q melancholy pleas.
ure in living as il the eye Of her alb
sent lover was upon her. She directed
her whole conduct so as to meet his
appreciation. Alas! he was far
away; she had not heard from him
for years; perhaps, too, he might be
no more; then why this constant
reference of all she did to his stand
ard of excellence? II was her deep
abiding love that did it all.
Four years had passed when Ash
ton found himself again in America,
and sitting, after dinner, with one Of
his most intimate friends ut the table
Of the - hotel. Some time passed
in silence. At length his companion
spoke.
You have not seen Mary Derwent-
water yet have you, Harry"
Ashton answered calmly, with a
forced effort, in the negative.
you must not positively delay it.
DO you know how beautiful. she has
more beautiful than
when you went away, although then
you thought her surprisingly lovely"
He paused.
u have not heard from the family
for years." said Ashton at length,
feeling that his companion expected
some reply.
Then you know nothing of herr
push up some OF the almonds-why,
dear fellow, she is irresistible. But
she is different from what she used
to be; her beauty Is softer, though
not so snowy, and whereas she once
would fiirt little-mind, only
little, for she is great favorite Of
now goes by the name of
the cold beauty. a married man
like myself can speak q little
you know, without fear of
having his heart called in as the
bride Of Ills head. And do you know
that my wife suspects you of having
worked the reformation?" Ashton
started and was almost thrown off
his guard. 1t began Immediately
after a long illness that happened
few weeks after you sailed"
Ashton was completely bewildered.
He had now for the first time heard
Of Mary's sickness. His eyes wan
dered from that of his companion,
and he felt his cheek flushing in spite
Of himself. He covered his embarass-
ment, however, by rising. His COM
panion continued