Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-09-21

Thought became such torture that he
resolved to have the dreaded interview
over, to know the worst at once. He
fonnd Matte in the parlor of her
fathers handsome house, and, fearing
for his own strength, told his errand
gently.
The girl looked at him with white
cheeks and startled expression, as if
she had received sudden, unexpected
blow where she had looked for kind
ness. Her great brown eyes had q
hunted, piteous look that it went to
his heart to see. She struggled for
composure before she trusted her
voice to speak, and it was low and
tremulous when she said:
'Since you are Mr.. Gordon's am
bassador, tell him from me that he has
my most sincere good wishes for his
success in his new life. He has no
warmer friend, no more earnest we'll
wi her than myself But I can never
be his wife. do not love him. We
have been like brother and sister from
childhood, and can give him my sis
terly affection, nothing more"
Il think he is sincere in his resolu-
tion to make his life more earnest and
useful than it has ever been," Harvey
Stillman said, his own pain urging him
still to plead Ned's cause.
II hope he will persevere in his re-
solve. He may make noble man"
"But his love-"
81 can never return" she said, reso-
lutely. "Piay leave me now. II
am not WE'LL"
He left her. Only few feet from
the door he turned and retraced his
steps. He had satisfied his conscience;
had pleaded the cause of the younger,
handsomer man, whose pleasure
money probably doubled and trebled
his own entire income. Faithfully he
had placed before Matte all Ned's
pleadings, all her influence might do
for him, aud he had won only steady
refusal of the suit he urged.
Now he would risk his own fate.
But at the door he paused, for Matte
had thrown herself in deep armchair,
and with her face hidden was sobbing
with perfect passion of grief.
w Us III lOE Ntu. blu SIG ulfeduy
repent her decision? Irresolute
whether to retreat or advance, Harvey
stood in the doorway till Matte,
neither seeing nor hearing him, felt
she was not alone AID looked up.
In moment she was on her feet, and
for the first time the minister saw her
eyes flash with anger.
'Why do you come back?" she said.
''Have you not sufficiently humiliated
ms?"
'I?" he cried. 81 humiliate you'll"
"What else is it to come to me tc
plead Ned Gordon's love! Is he an
idiot that he cannot speak himself, bat
must make my name a byword by prat-
ing of his love to every Stranger"
Miss Woolston, you misjudge him
and me-me most of all, if you imag-
inc / desire to humilate you-I, who
honor You above all other women-I,
who came, tearing my own heart, to
plead against it for your happiness.
Do not Judge me harshly, Matte, for
my loves sake!'
She had SO visibly frightened as he
spoke, such soft, dewy happiness rested
in the brown eyes, such tremulous
smiles gathered around the small
mouth that Harvey Stillman felt his
own heart swell with rapture.
"NIattie," he cried, ~ am poor,
many years older than you are, and
yet love you with all the strength of
my heait!"
"And l love youi"
Simply as child she told the truth
of her own heart. He was not man
for any outburst of rapture. Tender
ly he folde her in his arms, saying
softly:
''Thank God, darling!"
Nobody but Matte and her betrothed
knew why Ned Gordon resolved to
continue his studies in New York in
stead of remaining with his father at
Greyport; but years later, when he
came back to the little village to take
his fathers practice, Harvey Stillman
felt, with grateful emotion, that the
good resolutions had not faltered, but
had ennobled and purified the entire
life of his old rival, while Matte gave
a cordial welcome to the pretty blue
eyed wife who had won and kept the
heart of her old lover.
The Reward of Prayer.
Banker Ii. III. Pitcher of Livermore,