The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-06-10

unfolding of the bud into blossom.
But Mamie, looking over to the tall
white spires, remembered some last
words Cecil Warrington had spoken
as, holding her little jeweled hand
tight pressed within his own, he had
whispered his good night Knowing
that no wish is so dear to her fathers
heart Though his lips have never
given it utterance) as that the two es-
tates may he joined, she recalls also
word for word the conversation of the
| afternoon. No new act had crowned
Cecil Warrington's life, no deed
wrought by his hand which should
send his name heralded in proud, glad
tones throughout the land, or receive
reverent mention, breathed in low
whispers as the martyred names Of
olden time. The man she married she
felt must be one whom she could regard
almost with awe, and certainly Cecil
Warringtons laughing eyes and sun
shiny smile awakened no such feeling.
''lt is as Grace said, imagine, was
her last thought as she arose slowly to
prepare for bed, that | shall search
and never find. All, well, l am too
happy to regret that it is So"
why do you always call me Mr..
Warrington, Miss Nannie?" questioned
the owner of that name, as few even
ings later he overlook Miss Ripley in
a walk and broke, in pleasant inter
ruption, upon her solitary meditation.
Once more the blush rose to her
cheek in answer
"You forget in the days l ventured
to say Cecil You seemed to bear no
other title. We were children then.
With the dignity of later years we
must not rashly trihe'
HAS so long an interval of time
elapsed that even name must be rev.
olutionized? | cannot tell you how
constantly when abroad in strange
land, surrounded by those who spoke
in foreign tongue, I longed to hear
the one word Cecil fall from your lips,
to catch the light of your smile, as it
rippled on the air, to picture the hour
when / should hear it once again and
see the mouth which gave it utterance.
Mamie, can you not understand why
this is; why, when breathed by you it
gathered sweeter, deeper meaning, and
would fall like music on my listening
ear? Let me tell you, darling, let me
express my cherished secret, if you
have not already guessed it. 1t is be-
cause | love you. All. darling, can 7
recall the time when have not loved
you? You shared all my boyish dreams,
my youthful ambitions. You are now
the star which shines in the horizon tf
my manhood. Mamie, will you shed
your light upon my path forevermore.
now in your youth and beauty. until
both fade and your sweet brilliance
pales, still casting its glinmer DER my
life?"
The laughing eyes no longer laughed
rs they looked with earnest deepcned
meaning into the fair face turned from
him.
As she listened, the smile around
the mouth had fled, but in this new
repose strength and courage shone
forth in the handsome face, although
she, alas, failed to detect it. For II
moment there was silence. His words,
spite of herself, spite of the fact that
here was no hero-worship, no shrine
Mt which she could reverently bow,
only an earnest, loving heart, young,
frank spirit for her to cherish or dis
card. awakened an echo which rang
clearl Y out with no discordant sound,
and fell upon her heart with touch
which soothcd but Jared not.
Then she spoke, slowly and sadly:
81 had hoped this would not come.
/ cannot marry you, Cecil. do not
love you as | must love the man of my
choice"
"You love auother?" he questioned,
in sharp hoarsc voice.
Indeed, indeed, no." she answered.
quickly. "Whom could | care for
more than you? Be my friend as of
old, Cecil (for so / will now call you),
but let me feel | have in you the dear
brother would so have delighted in
possessing, and do not ask me for what
cannot give"
81 will not, since it is your sweet
wish, but in turn demand not impossi-
bilities of me. can be no brother to
you, nor act brothers part. l have
given you the whole love of heart
which has known but one idol. Heaven
grant no sister may ever stab brother
to the very soul as you, with your soft,
white hand, have stabbed met
The weeks which followed to Mamie
Ripley dragged with strange WEAKNESS.
The light, firm step she never before
hailed in vain now rarely sounded on
the terrace; the rich, deep voice now
so rarely heard seemed to make the
silence doubly still; the void once filled
by the bright, handsome face empty
indeed. And when one day Grace
Rivers came into her presence with
happy, blushing face, and whispered
low of n wonderful secret which had
dawned upon her, the knowledge that
she loved and was in turn beloved, the
words of congratulation seemed to meet