The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-09-12

! her change her dress FOR the dance
that was to follow the thcntrlcnls.
Mother. IL II trucr'
as what true. dnrllngY"' she asked
ncrvously, In return. alarmed nj the
girls white face aud scared look.
'"Tlnt Frank has left mc-has gone
away not aloucr'
In silence joan listened ns Mrs Dud-
ley told her how only that morning
she had received n letter from Frank
Clements. telling her he was 10 start
that very dny on yachting tour with
Ills friend. Mr. Duncombc.
"You viii know" he had written.
that II II your daughters wish our en-
gngrmcnt should bv broken. and there
fore tlcrr Is nplhlngl cnn do hut sub
init; but | cannot leave England with
out writing TO thank you FOR nll the
Kindness you have ever shown me-
II said ! hoped would never bc his
wife, but ! didn't mean II, mother; for
] love him with all my heart" Then,
folded IN her mothers loving arms,
Jonn told with much bitterness the
story of her wllfuness, aud the angry
|
believe me. He knew loved him.
meeting. "But II was cruel of him to
aud that was only angry"
write and tell him this yourself
Joan. Don't wreck your happiness
from n sense OF false pride" urged
her mother; but 10 humble her pride.
confess herself to have been IN the
fan, al
easy all at once to spoilt, wilful Joan
No one can overcome the habits of u
lifetime In n moment and Joan was
no exception 10 the rule. She waited
aud hoped, was now rcpcniaut and
humble, ngnn proud and wilful. Some
day she would write. or perhaps Frank
would. And 30 the days passed until
there came one on which tldlnCs
reached Roscmount that broke down
for ever the last remnants of Joan's
pride and wllfulncss.
The wreck of Mr.. Duncombc's yacht
the Wnterwltch, with the loss of all
on board, was reported In the papers.
and Joan bowed her hcnd aud felt
that her punishment was greater than
she could bear. Yet the girl found
that she had to bear the burden of her
sorrow. for grief does not kill the
young and strong. Daily life had to
DO followed and daily duties done. but
Joan's bright color faded and her eyes
grew dim with weeping. and the girls
gay spirits were sobered aud chastened,
not only by the sorrow of her loss but
A.. l.. "a
her, of the false. cruel words that she
had spoken to her lover Mt their last
meeting. If only she could tell him
how bitterly they were rcpcnted Of,
how true her love for him had really
been, the weary heartache might be
lesscned. But II was too late now
the opportunity had been lost forever.
The thought that she had departed
from him with lie upon her lips, that
he had died believing her false haunt
cd her continually: and she was so sad
and detected that the mothers kind
heart ached with pity and sympathy.
and she would gladly have welcomed
back some of the old wilful spirit.
The long spring day was fading into
|
ing upon the rails that divided the
fower-garden from the orchard, every
tree In which was now flushed and
beautiful with blossoms. Dreaming,
she watched the rays Of the dying sun
set as they faded one by one away.
watched until the first faint star
peepcd out in the dnrkenlng sky.
nj 10, L..
silent land where Frank now Is, and
from which there Is no return, spite of
all our wishes ana all our prayersw
AS Joan said this she turned. to see
coming towards her through the fast
gathering shadows of evening the form
she had thought never again to see
the form of Frank Clements. Her
opportunity to win forgiveness and
peace had been given her. With low
cry she stretched out her hands to him,
"Frank! Frank! forgive me! My last
words to you were false! loved you
then as now! Frank, forgive" She
then fell senseless to the ground.
"Mother. God has let me see him.
iuhh nho"S ioN thdt ioN' anu
always did" whispered Joan, with re-
turning consciousness.
God has indeed been merciful to us
all. Tell her yourself, Frank, how"
AS Joan struggled up, strong arms
were thrown fondly round her. and the
wellknown and well-lovcd voice OF
Frank Clements whispered
eve will thank Him together, my
darling, will we not?'
1t had been no spirit that had come
to Joan In the cleaning. but living
flesh and blood. The Waterwitch had
truly been wrecked. but those on board
hnd taken to the boat, and had l,cen
picked up by sailing vessel, which
had brought them back to England
On his return Frank had found let.
ter from Mrs. Dudley. that had been
lying at his club for many days. After
reading the news II contained FranlS