The Advocate and news., 1899-02-15
yY} fr
sVs lY49. n sg 81
BY MAsLE Dlccs.

she is you would make me lovely WlIe.
Gam / not beautiful enough for you,
Nell?' she asked family.
"Oh, yes, OF course. Why do you ask
such a question? II is so silly he an
swered, giving his horse cut with the
whip, which made the animal bound for
ward nearly throwing his companion out.
"He seemed to grow distant and took
no interest in the simple wedding fnery
his girl would show him. He spoke i'm
patiently to her and at last rudely.
"'What has changed you so, Neil?
she asked him one night as she stood be-
side him.
"Have / changed? II so please for
give me. / am troubled here lately about
something. 1t must be your Jealousy ne
replied.
Jealousy! Why, Nell, could not be
jealous. Whom would De jealous OH
and she laughed. Unless it were Miss
Haegle. You know she Is so beautiful
"She glanced in his race and was sur
prlsed at the tell-tale flush on 1t.
"'Do not speak Of Ir-- Of Miss Haegle,'
he said, taking his hat and leaving her.
"She could not help the feeling Of pain
that came to her heart when she thought
OF her lover and Miss Haegle. She won
dered IL he loved the imperial Irene.
"Thre days passed and her Neil had
not been to see her. She was sick at
heart and longed to die.
"She was sitting, gazing into the fire
one afternoon when the door-bell rang.
She opened the door and there stood her
lover, her lord. He came in and seated
himself with his back to the light and
tried to open conversation. He seemed
i'll at ease and at last said:
"'-, have come to tell you some
thing Do you think you can hear me
through?
"'Why not?' she asked in low voice.
"I--ah-I--I want to tell you l wish
to obe--ah-released from our engagement.
l think It's best for both Of us. / will
settle good sum on you and will give
you home
"'Sir! Whom are you speaking to?
You need not try to Oribe me. You may
have your freedom. Do not lower your
self by trying to buy 1t or me. How dare
you speak so to me, Neil Rogers? and
she stood before him white to the lips.
"'You free me then? he asked, rising
to go.
eyes, and willingly. Good afternoon
to YOU
"He left her and hurried down the steps
and into his buggy and drove to Miss
Haegle's.
"I am glad It's over he said.
LEFT alone, heart broken and senseless,
the girl he had wronged lay on the floor
in dead stupor.
"For days she never left her bed and
when she did she was shadow Of her
former self.
Neil Rogers married the beautiful
Irene and took her to mis- grand home.
"They lived there year ana then went
away, for Irene's health was poor
Years passed and Neil came back
widower The girl he had nearly killed
welcomed him with a smile when they
met one day. She had grown better look
ing and appeared almost as beautiful as
Irene to him.
"She encouraged his attentions and at
last he proposed marriage. she accepted
him gladly.
THE day Of the wedding was an
nOunceu ana was 10 take place IN Lne VII
lage church. OF course everybody went
and the little church was crowded to its
utmost.
1.-THE bride came up the aisle leaning on
her fathers arm and at the altar she
joined hands with the man she was to
marry.
THE preacher began the ceremony
and all was going of splendldly, when
the congregation was shocked when her
full clear voice said no to the question:
DO you take this man to be your lawfully
welded husband ETC.
Gould it be possible? Were they
hearing rightly?
"They were answered by seeing the
bride walk majestiCly down the aisle and
disappear through the door, leaving the
astonished bridegroom standing Imply
where she had left him. His face was
livid and fierce fire came into his ewes