Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-04-20
GTHGL.
A Pathetic Story Of Girl Who
Gave Her Heart to the
Wrong Man.


Sweet Ethel Mayuel | shall never for
get her far face, with its great brown
eyes, though many years have passed
since last looked upon it, and am an
old man now, tottering on the verge of
the grave.
She was my little sweetheart when we
were children aud my betrothed wife
when we had grown older. Oh, those
happy days! Why could they not always
last? Why should sorrow, in the shape
Of handsome. wealthy suitor, come and
sweep all our happiness away?
The villagers were simple hearted and
old fashioned. as they must be, go far
away from town of any size. and when
Edward James, dark. fascinating man,
with great deal of jewclry, hashy. fash
ionably cut clothes and plenty of money,
which he spent freely. came among us
he was looked upon in admiration and
much sought by the ladies'. who. when
finding thnt he had offered Ethel his
heart and hand, werc quite, envious.
But she did not love him. She dis
trusted him and clung more closely to me.
Ethel's parents. however. fattered by
his preference and anxious that their
daughter should share his reputcd wealth,
demanded that she should discard me
and accept him.
was poor. My little farm of seven
acres. with its tiny wooden cottage, was
oil possessed IN the world, and now that
Edward James had sought her hand I
was not a suitable match
Oh. poor breaking heart! How the
tears ruincd down her checks as she badc
me goodby. and how my own voice chok-
ed with sobs as | tried to speak
"I'll never forget you Jean" she said,
never, never! And think sometimes of
your poor. broken hearted Ethel"
"Think of you. My life viii be a de-
votion to your memory. And if any
thing should happen--if he should treat
you ill-come to me or let me know where
you are. Promise me that now. oh. my
darling. before this wall of silence must
rise up forever between u.s."
~ promise"
We separated there in the cold, calm
moonlight by the little wooden gate in
front of her home. where we had plighted
our love and where had many an even
ing aftcrward kissed her good night and
hoard her shyly whispered words Of love.
But she was to be married ON the NOR
row. and ! must never see her or speak
TO her again. heard the church bells
ring out merrily and the noise of feet
Fastening by my house to the wedding,
but | sat in my room, mad, dumb. with
my great pnin.
They said she made a pretty bride,
though she never smiled and was very
pale and trembled Ikea leaf Her hus.
! band bore her away to her city home and
] never saw her hut once afterward, and
that was when they brought her home to
die.
| 1t was ten years afterward. ! had plod
ded along on my farm. prospered and
saved money. but my grief had made me
prematurcly old, and nj 80 my hair was
alrcndy gray, and lines of care were in
my face. The old love was as fresh al
ever, for when Ethel sent for me to CONF
to her Immediately my heart beat os fast
as the day when we parted
Ethel. poor child, was sadly changed
too. Her brown eyes were sunken ant
dimmed with tears, while her face wal
hollow and thin.
"You can hold my hands now. Jean,
she said stretching them out from he'
couch toward me- "and call me YOU
Ethel once more. My husband is dead
and | have cone home for q little time
See. it won't be long" And she held nj
her thin. transparent hands and slppc,
back the white sleeves, displaying he
wasted arms.
"Oh. Ethel. it must be for n long time
and | cannot give you up agqin-canno
let you fade away from my life forever
We were made for each other, and ",
have been each others in spite of you
marriage, God curnot be so cruel as 4
separate us now"
flush" And n soft, white finger wa
iad on my lips. He siveth his beloved
sleep. The day is too far spent. Whil
was n wife | was loyal and faithful II
all things, though it was long stretcl
of struggles and toil--swimming agains
wind and tide. with the foam at M.
mouth-so when my Mifehood was end
ed hnrdships and cruelty had complete,
their work, for hope, strength and healtl
were gone. ! have now nothing wortl
giving. ] only wanted to come home s,
that | might die in your strong arms nnc
hear your vocc--the last of all earthl.
things--in my car," ti-t
She faded away as the summer flow
er--patient, sweet and loving to the last.
The shadows are fast gathering abou
me, and the winds arc growing chill. II
little while the mignonette on Ethel
grave will be neglected aud Qvergrown
and the tottering old man thnt tended /
will have passed beyond the sunsets gol,
aud he forgotten.--New York News