The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-07-19

and he now saw her as she was, a vain
selfish coquette.
One afternoon, week later, Mrs
Bradley and Marian were in their re-
spective rooms, taking siesta, Eustace
having gone to the nearest village tC
ipost some letters. Coral after finish
ing her work, seized the opportunity and
stole away to her favorite retreat in the
| shadowy woods, now donning theil
autumn livery of scarlet and gold
Eustace returning shortly and not find
ing anyone at the house, and half sus
pecting that Coral was in her old haunt
started in search of her, and there
found her half hidden among the trees
''Oh, Coral, it's no use running away
from me, for | am sure to find you, .
he cried gaily. She started and halt
turned away, and he saw the trace OF
tears upon her cheek. He quietly seat
ed himself beside her. Now, Coral
my dear little girl, | want you to tell
me why you have avoided me so per
slstently of late? Why, l have not had
an opportunity to speak dozen words
with you for week. Why is it?
"Oh, Mr. Winthrop, please do not ask
me, for l cannot tell you," she cried in
distress.
Very well, Coral, since you do not
wish to tell me, you need not; but, do
you know that am to return home in
a few days."
Return home?" she repeated slowly.
''No, | did not know it, and the soft
eyes filled with tears
Eyes, | must CO." he said, watching
her closely, II have gained health and
strength in this fresh country air, and
my mother writes that she wishes me
to come at once Shall you miss me
any when | am gomez"
'Oh very, very much, Mr.. Winthrop,
you have been so kind to me-" Her
| voice faltered, and then as a sudden
sense of all that his going meant to
her, she burst into a passion of tears.
In a moment, Eustace's arms were
about her and he had drawn her closely
to his heart My precious darling"
he murmured fondly. do you not
know that | love you dearly and want
you for my wife," Riffs of red and
white passed alternately over her face,
as she struggled to free herself from
his tender clasp. "Oh, Mr.. Winthrop,
you must not say such words to me- |
am only a simple little country girl,
While you are What. Coral" he
asked, as she hesitated. "A king
among men she whispered softly:
then bushed rosy red. If | am king.
l crown you queen. my darling. for
queen you are in the kingdom of my
heart. | have visited foreign lands and
seen many beautiful women, but |
never yet saw one half so sweet and
pure as my little Coral Only say.
Eustace, | love you and will be your
wife. and you will make me the hap
piest man earth holds to-day. Will
you not say it darling?'
She lifted her fair face to his, and in
her radiant eyes he read his answer.
'.Thank God" he said reverently; then
bending his head, their lips met in the
long rapturous kiss of Eetrotlal.
"Oh, Eustace, it all seems like a
dream, Coral murmured softly.
you will find it dream that will
pure heart into my keeping, and your
life shall be a happy one, as far as it lies
in my power to make it so. But let us
to tell your mother and Marian, what a
treasure | have won.''
Tears stood i'll the kindly eyes of MI
Bradley as Eustace asked him for the
hand of his daughter Coral in marriage
Take her, my boy he said falteringly
| ''She has been good daughter: she will
be good wife. | shall miss her sorely,
for she was the sunshine of my life,
but | give her to you gladly. knowing
that She will be far happier i'll your
| love and care than she ever could be
otherwise
| But Mrs. Bradley'S establishment and
chagrin was amusing to behold although
she tried hard to conceal them and give
a gracious consent. ''Only to think, "
she said, spitefully, to her husband when
! they were alone that night. that he
should prefer that little milksop, to my
beautiful Marian"
''Wi life, you shall not call Coral such
names; she is good girl, and your own
daugh ter, as Wellas Marian, and | think
| it would have been more creditabe to
| you to have treated her better than you
| have for the child cannot be blamed if
she does not have much love for you"
! well how was | to know that she
! would ever marry a man like Eustace
Winthrop. | always thought she would
marry some of those farmers about
! here, she was always so quiet How
| should | know that the little mink ever
ha an idea above her housework''
''Strange things occur sometimes, sale
her husband dryly, land | don't think
/ you ever tried very hard to find out
what her ideas or tastes were, OIL
! whether she ever had any or not" His
wife vouchsafed no reply, and there the
conversation ended.
Three busy months followed in prep
arations for the wedding, for Eustace
would not brook a longer delay. He
wished the ceremony to take place at
his mothers house, but Coral said no
she would be married from her own
home; her father would feel badly
otherwise So he yielded to her wish
Very fair and beautiful she looked, as
in her snowy bridal robes, she stood by
her lovers side before the white haired
man Of God, and took upon herself the
holy vows Of wifehood They started
Immediately after the ceremony for d
tour upon the Continent, and when they
returned year later their friends saw,
not the timid, shrinking girl who had
trembled at her mothers harsh com
mands, but in her stead a beautiful,
self-possessed woman, capable of adorn
ing the home of the highest in the land
1t is needless to say that Eustace's
mother loved her, for her heart went
out to her at the first moment of theil
meeting: and she would not hear OF
their taking up their residence else
where. MY house is too large and
| n nd for 1n,a1v lilo oh