El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-10

death. Hearing of his critical state
and heavy troubles, l resigned my COM
mission and hurried home, only to find
him, alas, resting quietly in his grave,
and my wretched brother an exile in
the wilds of Australia, whittier he had
gone to evade his creditors.
It was a very dreary home-return-
ing, and bitterly did 1 anathematize my
precipitancy in giving up my profess
sion to moon away my life at Colwarth
| in solitude. Nearly all the "chumS
Of my boyhood had moved on some
| how, except my Immediate neighbors
| at the Hall, the old General and his
| nice; and 1 think, but for their kindly
reception, I should have started wan
| dering again. The former l found
| in a very precaTiouS state of health
and temper, the combined influences
of govt and unlimited brandy-Water
making him trying companion to
poor Edith, who was however most
patient with him, and as devoted as
any daughter could be.
At first I did not recognize in the
beautiful and graceful young lady who
greeted me so easily and kindly the
child I had played with years ago; but,
cropped up, we found we had not for
gotten each other in the least. I fell
head over heels in love with her at
once, and for weeks lowered about
her in a state of beatific suffering,
not daring to hope, and unable to
tear myself away. Day after day 1
told myself I had not the slightest
chance. Was she not the most beauti-
full, charming, angelic creature in ex-
istence, besides being the presump-
tive heiress of the old generals vast
wealth? Was not every eligible
male in the country my rival? Yet,
I stayed, and by degrees the delight
full, intoxicating fact became clear,
even to my bewildered senses, that she
showed more favor to me than to any
other sutton. She had always smile
of welcome and bright word for me,
and at times, when she believed her
self unobserved, I have caught her
lovely blue eyes stealthi1y resting on
me with a look of unmistakable af-
lection that fired my blood, and made
me lose my head for the moment.
One day, driven to desperation by
one Of those stolen glances, I resolved
to try my fate and learn the best or
worst. She had gone to spend the
afternoon at the Rectory, her uncle
told me, but would be back to dinner.
1 went to the cedar-walk, knowing she
would return by that way, and spent
a feVer1sh hour preparing for the at
tack, composing heart-rendering ap-
peals, declarations Of eternal devotion:
and yet the moment she stood before
me in her blooming beauty, with slim
white finger held under her nose with
in an inch of my moustache, and said
beseechingly-"Oh,P Paul, dear boy, do
try to get this wretched thorn out for
me! That stupid little curate only
drove 1t farther in, and it does hurt
sou all the stored up eloquence went
clean out Of my head.
When I had successfully, though
rather clumsily, performed the opera
ton, fell upon my knees at her feet,
and, Selling her hand, pressed it to
my lips, as I stammered out raptur-
ously-
Edith. Edith, my darling, I love
you-l love you. Oh. say it is not
in vain! L"
Here I stopped in dumb dfsmay. for
Edith, with a look almost of horror.
hastily dragged her hand from me.
and, covering her crimson face with
it, cried Historically
Hush, hush-ch, please hushi You
you don't know what you are say
Ing! Oh, this is a dreadful mistaken |
you knew-you had |
guessed H."
Loved some one else?" I prompted |
iercely.
She bent her head in assent, her face |
still buried in her hands.
mo. 1 did not guess" I answered |
1oarsely, after a short pause; land I
.hink, Miss Stopford, if you review
your conduct to me during the last
'wo months, you will have to admit
7ou gave me little reason for arriving |
It such conclusion. Who is hep" I
demanded roughly.
II can't tell you; don't. ask me.
Oh, Paul, dear old friend. won't Won
~ to forgive me?" she pleaded. lifting
Ter lovely tear-stained face timidly to
nine. Il am so sorry, so sorry if I
ave panied you'll did not mean to in
Iced. II thought you looked upon
ne only as a sister whom you had
nOwn-
"A sister!" I interrupted, with a
arsh, loud laugh-"a sister! Edith
an you look me in the face and say
GU believed such a thing? No! I
bought not"-as she covered away
rom me instinctively. "You knew
hat you were doing well-well; but
GU would not spare your dear old |
r1end' one single pang-you would |
rag him to your feet, and let your |
eartless vanity batten on his an
u1sh! Oh, it was shameful! Had you
OF a glut of victims already?' .
Paul. she cried impuIsively-and | !
1ere was a touch of decision in her 8
olce tnat Sllenced me-"that is | I