The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-03
Chat l2Bieb
DeOev Fades.


turn or send for you to Join me-"
The speaker, Victor Gordon, paused as
ne noticed the tears slowly coming into
the blue eyes lifted so earnestly to his.
and with sigh he drew her toward him
and stroked the brown hair.
victor she began in a constrained
voice, Il know 1t is weak Of me to weep,
out cannot bear to let you go!"
But Mary, dear. It won't be long be-
fore l shall return'
She raised her head as she continued:
Yes, but Victor, you know there are
far more prettler girls than I; those with
wealth and everything OF this world 8
store, but, IL am only poor girl" As
she finished her head dropped upon his
shoulder
Not so, my love- no beauty could be
half so dear as your true heart to me.
Surely. Mary, you can trust me2"
With proud look in her eyes she re-
piled: Il know cant"
He held her close to his manly breast
until he was warned by the village clock
that there was no time to lose, and kiss
ing her good-by with a promise to write
as soon as he was at his journeys end
he left her standing by the little cottage
gate near the lilac bushes, and with tears
in her eyes she watched him till the bend
In the road hid him from view
Mary Alden and Victor Gordon had been
true type OF womanhood, while he was
good-natured fellow, yet lacking sincerity.
His father died six months before the
story opens, and he was left alone upon
his own resources. Determined to make
start for himself he succeeded in get
ting a paying position with his uncle in
Florida To be sure his heart ached
when he left Mary. but his disposition
was not one that would mourn long. and
e'er he had been In Monticello a week he
became infatuated with Dolores Chamber
lain, beautiful girl. and the wealthy
daughter of William Chamberlain q pros
pering broker.
One week passed by and Mary received
long-looked-for letter: breaking the seal
she read 1t eagerly. "It doesn't sound
like Victor at all: besides he begins 1t
only Dear Mary. and signs it Yours
Wv. But perhaps he is busy and
didn't have time to write much, but I
shall write him tomorrow and tell him
how L miss him. 1 know he misses me,
although he didn't say" Tenderly she
laid the letter away until she could
answer 1t. q
With undying hope Mary waited for an
answer to her first letter, but the months
flew by and not one word from Victor
had arrived All kinds Of strange fancies
rose before her. He might be sick, dying,
or. worst Of all, perhaps dead. mo, he
L
IT" she mused after returning with q
heavy heart from the postohice Perhaps
tomorrow may bring some word" But in
vain she hoped and waited.
Down in Monticello, where the ore1ge
blossoms blood, seated In an arm chair,
is Victor Gordon, and by his side. re-
clining on silken cushions, is Dolores
Chamberlain. His head is bowed as
though in thought, then slowly he bends
toward her and takes one jeweled hand
in his Dolores, have you my answer
ready?" She smiled, and laying aside her
fan she placed her other hand upon his
shoulder Victor, I sent my refusal to
Clyde this morning" And accept me7'
he added quickly. Yes, accept you" He
kissed the upturned face and gazed long
into the lustrous dark eyes, with never
a thought of Mary Alden.
In the quiet town of Derby, Mary still
watches for a letter; a year has almost
fed. and the lilac bushes are in bloom,
but no word has she received.
Alone in the orange grove Victor Cor
dan walks; the sun is slowly sinking, and
his thoughts revert to the happy days
gone by Mary's face seems to look at
him in the shadows, and he muses.: in
two months more I shall be wealthy;
these orange groves shall be mine, and
Dolores will be my wife"
The last word sends a chill over him,
Y,
to the place where he had bade her good
by and promised TO return. He walked
on In thought, then, as though about to
decide, he paused. Yes, I shall go to
Mary, and tell her-can / tell her?" He
bowed his head. mo. 1 will go and see
her. but she won't see me; then 1 shall
be contented to settle down. Two weeks
will be sufficient. 1 will write to Dolores
that business urged me away without
seeing her, for she must never know
ever loved another"
Behind the Derby hills dark clouds are
gathering, with now and then q flash OF
lightning, which told of an approaching
storm. Mary Alden stood by the window
with sad expression on her noble face.
Twas the same old story; 10 letters
today" and she turned away with u sigh.
1t was nearly midnight. and the storm
was raging; the thunder's roar was al
most deafening. Mary watched the light
ming and listened to the beating rain.
praying to God to bless Victor if ne was
alive. and shelter him from the heavy
storm. The morning broke with
a clear sky, the dropping flowers raiseI
their heavy heads to the suns bright rays
as Mary went about her daily tasks A
step. on the walk drew her attention.
why. mother. here is john! she ex-
claimed hurriedly. ANY news?" she
added quickly. Yes" he added, "sad
news. IS your mOIner---- NO. not
my mother, but Victor Gordon's down to
our house more dead than alive; the
lightning struck the Derby station last
night; doctor says there amt mu, h
chance" Victor! o. mother. am go
ing. and before another word could be
uttered Mary was gone.
For weeks Victor Gordon lay nigh to
deaths door. but with Mary's nursing he
rallied and is sitting quietly by the win
dow as Mary enters the room and sits
down beside him. Victor. will you TIL
me about Dolores? You talked about her
when you were sick He passed his hand
over his eyes and answered She was a
Southern belle, Mary" did you promise
to marry her? You mentioned once about
a wedding" But 1t never happened"
1T may sometime. Victor" she replied.
sadly. Never, Mary. All the beauty or
wealth cannot change me now. have
told you my story. but the chapter about
Dolores 1 omitted. In my eagerness for
wealth I would have bartered your noble
ness for a beauty whose fairness would
fade. have been sorely punished, Mary,
forgive me-" She bent over and kissed
the pale face. II knew 1t long ago. You
told me all about it. She whom you speak
Of is married to q Mr.. Clyde Washburn.
I read 1t In a paper which your uncle sent
l have heard since that she thought you
dead" He smiled family as he drew the
brown head upon his breast. IT am dead
to her What Is beauty OF face compared
with that of the soul? The true worth I
have in you. Mary. will last forever" and
fa oressed a. kiss upon the faithful brow.