The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-07-30


hope of winning Ethel Hayes for his
wife. Then came the time when he
could no longer withhold from her the
story OF his love.
II did not mean to love you, Ethel"
he said. II did not know my life pos.
sessed need, but should you send me
from your side, shudder at the empti-
ness Of what once thought filed to
repletion. Darling, give me my an
swcr."
II am sorry-more sorry than can
tell you, Mr.. Willis, that this should
have happened, but indeed, ! cannot
give you the answer you wish. did
not dream of your feeling for me, but
looked upon you as my friend, and
! am already bound"
Bound, Ethel! What do you mean?
Not surely that you have given your
heart to another's keeping. Look at
me, child! Let me look into your
eyes and tell me If you can that you
love another. Then, when hear my
doom from your own lips will be.
lieve how cruelty was deceived when
sometimes thought to read there the
story of your love for me-"
Hush, Mr.. Willis. You have not the
right to thus address me. My father on
his death bed, when l was but child.
made me promise that would marry at
certain age the son of an old friend |
had known from boyhood. We were
child lovers, and l willingly gave my
consent, and now" as the sweet voice
faltered, II certainly cannot withdraw
it."
do you love this man, Ethel?
"Again, say, you have not the
right to question me-" but a culver of
pain rang through the words, which
hope.
you dare not answer me. Ethel.
are you mad to hold to so rash a VOW?
Think, little one, of the long life which
lies before us both. and answer me, was
it intended we should live apart? Look
in my eyes, Ethel. Tell me you do
not love me if you can, and l will leave
you without word, content to pursue
my lonely path unshrinkingly. This
much is my right. This l demand
of you-"nnd Irving's dark eyes pierced
with stern questioning into the violet
ones lowered to the ground. II am
waiting, Ethel. All, you cannot speak
them. My daling, my darling" and
snatching the lovely form to his heart,
he rained passionate kisses upon the
upturned brow.
The next morning with heart full
Of hope he descended to the breakfast
room. Her place was empty, and pass
ing through the Office to seek her, the
clerk handed him note. Recognizing
the chirography as hers, he tore it open,
and as he read the fair dreams of the
night vanished, the structure OF his
fondest hopes lay scattered on the
ground:
II have not courage to see you again. l
have already sinned against the man to
whom ! have given my plighted troth, but
oh, Irving, by the love you swear is mine,
forget me. My life Is given to another.
1t Is no longer mine My heart-Heaven
give me strength have no heart. 1t has
turned into stone. Remember that. Think
of It only as stone. 1t has petrified forever,
SO that 1t Is even dead to suffering: and II
in the days, the long months and many
years which must live through. OCCASION
ally our paths touch, pass me as in forget
fulness, remembering l belong no longer
to myself. but am another's. Good-by.
Irving, in the old English sense. God be
with you. May you one day find the hap
piness He has denied me. Your friend al
ways. ETHEL HAYES"
Six weeks afterward. when he had
returned to the city's gayety. and the
leaves were beginning to turn from
crimson to brown, Irving Willis, think
ing of his own hopes shattered and
fallen, sauntered slowly down thecrowd-
ed streets. when he felt hand upon his
shoulder, and CHEEKY voice in his ear,
and, turning, saw Hal Rutherford's
handsome face.
Back again, old fellow? Glad to see
you. Then my prophecies were fruit
less, after all. Well, declare, you're
incorrigible. By the way, that was
sad accident happened to young Som
ers. He fell from his horse last week
and was killed. They said, you know,
he was engaged to that charming girl
we met last summer-Miss Hayes. She
ID bPCnolh& oOlAC tllICs DSISNSs WIN
Mrs. Struthers. Where are you going,
Willis? have been rafting away for
about five minutes without response.
I'll meet you this evening at the club.
Dine with me at SIX" and with shake
of the hand the two men parted, one
to pursue his ordinary routine, the
other walking as if in trance.
That same evening, the moon, peep
Ing into Mrs. Struthers' drawing-room.
saw two forms to whom the world was
lost--Irving Willis and Ethel Hayes.
But what am to do?" said Irving at
last, with this heart of stone. this pet
rified fossil?"
Not stone to you, Irving. ! tried to
think it was. There is now joy in
my heart which springs into life and
hope, and has tonight met its perfect
fulfillment."
mot yet, Ethel, not until you stand
beside me at the altar. Then shall |
feel our life lies before us in all it's rich
mss and without flaw, even though my
bride possess heart of stone."-N. Y.
LEDGER