The Louisiana populist., 1897-02-05
what an imprudent thing an engage

! w uut Oh Nh S"S"oS'
ment would have been"
| rose to go.
ut is all over, Mrs. Lecdon, repeat.
Right or wrong. what was then done
can never be undone.'
'Stay moment. Ellen. What have
to tell you is of such importance that
l must beg You to hear me patiently
She took me by the hand and drew
me to the sofa by her.
"At that time acted, as still think,
for the best; but two years ago, fear
| made a mistakeJthat is, your aunt
and l. Soon after your engagement to
Mr.. Denton, / received letter from my
son, considerably after date, inclosins
one for you. He told me that he pur.
posed coming home in a few months.
and, as he had now an appointment
which would enable him to marry, he
hoped to persuade you to return with
him as his wife. AS your uncle had
forbidden any correspondence, he In
closed the letter for you in mine."
Isprang to my feet.
"And why did l not have that let
terW
"Be calm. Ellen Indeed, my dear, I
am now very sorry. took my letter TO
show to your uncle and aunt and by
their advice destroyed the inclosure.
They thought you were at last settled
in your mind, and happy, and, Of
course, wished to avoid such terrible
upset as a renewal Of the past would
have caused"
Her eyes were full of tears as She
accompanied me to the door.
TRY to forgive me, Nellie. would
give much for you to meet each other
again. At all events, he knows the
truth now. Don't think too hardly Of
me!'
AS l crossed the field which lay be-
tween Mrs. Leedon's house and the
high road my mind was full of confu-
sion; grief and Indignation predominant.
ed, and then a wild hope suddenly
sprang up, but that brought me to my
self. 'This Madness" thought; Il
am but laying the foundation toTfuture
disappointment and sorrow
Before l passed through the gate
folded my hands upon it, closed my
eyes and muttered "Thy will be done,
then dried my eyes and walked quick
ly homeward. AS gazed round on the
wide, fiat fields and the straight road,
could not help likening the landscape
to my life. Sameness monotony. and,
when it should please God to tahe my
one kind friend from me, great loneli-
ness. And yet | need not be unhappy:
summer would come in its season to
brighten the fields, and even now the
hoar-frost was sparkling in the sun.
And then l had the privilege of a
straight path of duty which could not
be mistaken.
The road seemed long TO stretch on
to the horizon. and straight before me
the sun, round and crimson, had Just
touched the earth. The road was very
lonely, and as could only see one soIi-
tary human being approaching me in
the distance, | Quckened my steps, for
Mrs. Fanshawe was apt to be nervous
when was out late. AS he approached
perceived it was tall man, wrapped
in plaid. My eyes were too much daz-
zled by the sun for me to see his face.
but thought he was looking earnestly
at me. He walked a few steps past
me. and then returned, saying:
"Will you kindly direct me to Mrs.
Leedon's cottage, at Earlswood?"
I turned round and looked at him,
then l involuntarily held out my hands.
They were warmly clasped, and in a
moment was pressed to his breast.
Harry"
"Nelly, darling, are you glad to see
me again."
"Yes," answered softly. And so we
met after many long years, never to
part again.