The Van Buren press., 1898-09-10

/ GEta MS A&A 80 DAAEA sElt lEL- 81
months sped rapidly By in her new
| home. whose luxurious appointments
seemed 70 her the realization Of q
] glimpse into fairyIand. Her father
ever anticipating her every wish. show
cred upon her gifts Of such value that
sic could scarce believe in the Won.
derful change which had befallen her
She had given herself for this time NJ
10 study, that he might feel a Justid.
able pride n her. but as On the eve oi
her twentieth birthday, il the lus-
irous six trailing behind her its costly
folds. jewels cleaning N her hair and
on the marble purity of her neck and
arms. she reads in his glance his proud
content. as standing BY his side she re-
ceiFes the guests he has summoned Il
her honor.
The weeks which follow establish
her claim TO beiledOm. The daughter
Of Col. smithers ffor such Is her new.
found fathers name) al any time
would attract attention, but with heI
beauty and grace ali bow beneath the
| scepter she wieIds as though she had
I he'd il all her life. But TO the many
suitors who sue for her fair hand shs
/ gives TO ore and al a gentle. firm re
fusal. Always when alone there comes
before her mental vision the picture Of
a gallant ship With sails unfurled rid
fing the erest-topped waves. Its brave
young commander looking With
straining eyes toward the land, where
I lie all his dearest hopes. and words OF
love from other men fall deaf on ears
which have listened 10 those uttered
I by his lips. Her father, too happy &c
keep the child he has so long lost al
his own, asks no questions as TO why
she does not care TO leave him. but day
/ by day strives TO show by some new
proof OF love his immeaxurable con.
tent.
SO the year slips BIZ, and the month
Belle is TO spend with her foster pa.
rents has returned. Al. so gladly her
eye falls on the familiar landscape she
once Epurned. and the cottage which
then seemed the harrow scope TO her
horizon now rises before her with such
beauty that il brings tears TO her eye.
and a glad rush OF JOY TO her heart.
0utwardly, il is no longer Belle who
has come home to them. who liei
clasped TO their hearts. The graceful
young form is clad in garments which
vel suit their wearer; skill and art
have given the picture a setting more
worthy its beauty. but the heart with.
/ In is all unchanged This they realize
as. mingling her tears with theirs. she
questions Of this and that. and in her
old way peers here and there. while
| their eyes follow every movement $ II
some princess had stepped across their
threshold. But the question nearest
her heart she ufters not. HAS his
zhip come home?" This trembles on
her lips. but she dares not speak It. He
will come TO welcome her. II he is here.
But the glad news she learns at last
without seeking. The ship in port ha.
/ ridden well. and her young captain
earned fresh laurels on his voyage.
On the morrow she win see him. With
/ this sweet thought she seeks at las,
+ the bed whereon have rested so often
/ her childish limlz. and closes her ewes
to dream of him. With his image still
uppermost in her mind she wakens in
the morning. VIII he think me
changed? she wonders as he makes her
fresh toilette. wearing the color he
has so often told her he liked best. but
the sun which has risen in such glory
sets again, the ribbons she has so
| carefully selected are again folded and
put away, but he for whom they were
worn has not come.
SO passes away a heavy week, and
the old captain and his wife look with
anxiety on the pale cheek they at first
/ thought so blooming, and hold anxious
consultations as TO whether CITY dis
sipation has agreed with their sweet
wild rose. 1t is no longer with pleas.
ure she walks slowly down TO the
sands and stan6s with busy thought
of him who has proved so faithless
when, as though conjured up. he
stands before her. The bright color
dyes her cheek, spite of her effort a,
outward calmness as he speaks.
This is an unexpected surprise
Miss Smithers. l hardly hoped to find
you here"
ELSE you would not have come
Your presence requires no apology.
] only regret have not acquired youi
facility TO forget old friends"
Forget! Would to God I could for.
get" he interrupted her.
"a year ago I left bright, lovely
girl who promised on my return to be
my wife. For 10 long months no WORD
reached me, but I came home with
heart full of hope to find her not dead
IT is true, but dead to unchanged
even in name. Had some magician
waved his hand. no greater transfer.
nation could have b~n wrought. Dc
not mock me. Miss Smithers. | have
already suffered enough" and raising
his hat he turned to go, but stopped
arrested by her voice. II was very
low, but every word fell clear and dis
tinct upon his ear
Your promised wife Is WAITING
still,' she said. as IL for her to tell
you that she has grown weary. for her
to sue that her probation may end q?
Bert. you have laid low my pride when
| can thus address you. but because
my name is no longer the same. be-
cause | have found a father, must |
lose a husband?"
But her last word was left unfn.
ished as he snatched her to his arms
his face radiant, his brain reeling with
his wonderful Joy.