Smyrna times., 1900-12-19

| VI SOIIOW duu uOuDG nave leu u0. l.
feel happier and better, and while 1
can never forget, nor cease to love
dear Frank, yet 1 now feel 1 can leave
it all with Him. SO little mother we
will have a merry little, quiet little
Christmas all to our selves"
After breakfast was eaten she started
for church. "How sorry L am that
you are not able to go mother but 1
will try to remember every word good
Mr.. Gordon says and tell it all to yon
when 1 come home. He always gives
us something especially helpful at
Christmas time With heart attuned
to the Christmas good will, and merry
greetings, Eleanor sat i'll her pew and
drank in the sermon. Meanwhile
Mrs. Copeland was having quite a
pleasant experience of her own, for
only few minutes after EleanOr's de-
parture, a gentleman had rung the bell
and upon being ushered into her pres
ence. had made himself known to her
as the long missing lover
His story in brief was, that the
date of his correspondence stopping so
abruptly, he had changed his place of
business to another State, where he
greatly benefited his affairs; but by
too close application to business he had
been prOstrated bya long and severe
attack of typhoid fever which had pre-
vented his writing. When he was able
to take an interest in the affairs of thus
world he began to look eagerly for a
letter from Eleanor. AS none came he
thought that the letter telling of his
change of address might possibly have
gone astray and he would surely find
some message from her at his former
place of business. But a message of
inquiry sent there brought back the
answer, Nothing here but paper. "
Two months had passed since the
last letter and he was almost frantic
Hastily writing a few lines with his
weak hand scarcely able to guide the
4 pen, he was about to send to the near
est letter box, when a messenger came
in with the paper forwarded from the
old address by the friend who had ans
wered his telegram. 1t was directed
in the beloved handwriting, and has
tily tearing it open his eyes fell first
T upon heavily marked wedding notice.
: 1t was an elaborate account of the mar
r | ~ 80 E01oonAr ToNaIoO1 a. I
T Richards.
''Oh Frank" cried Mrs. Copeland,
you poor boy, ''such a terrible mistake.
1t was Eleanor's cousin Nellie, OF
course in so important an event as
getting married she used her rightful
name for the first time since she was
christened. No wonder you were mis-.
led, and yet, how could you have Sc
I doubted Eleanor?"
II don't know. l only know l was
weak and the shock nearly killed me.
1 could only think that she had be.
q come tired of waiting and had taken
s Harold, knowing as 1 did how badly
o he wanted lfer. Well, / pulled through
n the years the best l could, pntting my
= whole mind to my work with a result
8 highly gratifying as to dollars an(
a cents, but how lonely my heart haC
g been God only knows. How did
1t learn the truth? Well new and eli
e ergetic postmaster at the town 1 first
d went to, went through the dingy ole
le office with such energy he uneartheC
Il lots of rubbish allowed to collect b,
I'd the absent minded old fellow who use,
le to play the part of postmaster there
d Among other things he found a gol
mine which he forwarded to me in tn
sr shape of Eleanor's missing and longe
ID for letters, the first one 1 opened con
Is tanned full account of Nellie's wed
ding. l was so upset could do moth
ed ing, but hastily made arrangements t
er leave for awhile and came straight her
lr to see if theIe was any hope for me.
n. l don't dare look in my grip, for
an have vague recollection of putting
d, it all the articles could not possibl
tie need, and leaving all sensible thing
behind me. My intense desire to sc
ch Eleanor was the only thing was col
mt cious Of Do you think she will eve
be forgive me for doubling her constar
lr- cy." 81 think her joy at seeing yo
of will surpass every other feeling,
er gently responded Mrs. Copeland.
At this moment Eleanor appeare
Die with eyes and cheeks frightened
he the walk in the frosty air.
ew "What picture she is" said Fran
elf Her mother met her at the doc
he Come in quickly DEAR" she sa
ul- another Christmas present has a
81 rived for you" AS she looked pa
mis- her mother she saw-was she dream
we ing-the same dear familiar face 81
ace had longed for all the weary years.
ian low, rapturous "My darling fro
Frank were the only words spok,