Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-09-08
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LOVE IN HATE.
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mer." Aunt Ryder had written to me
"and we will talk over your future plan,
together. do not like you to live alone.
Alone. That was the word in the let
ter that struck like ice upon my sor,
heart. l was utterly alone, Even Aunt
Ryder was my unccS widow, not rcall!
related to me, though Elsie and | botl
loved her Elsie was my stcpsistcr, m!
second mother since my own died in my
infancy, my teacher friend, companion
and comforter. And Elsie was dead.
But | accepted Aunt Rydcr's invitation
and was preparing to visit her for the
summer when | found the keynote tc
Elsic's life, her diary.
| read it. | am not going to quote il
here, but far back upon the yellow pages
| read how my sister gave her heart
years before to one Rodney Wallace; how
they had loved and exchanged vows anG
rings, and II wedding day was set, anG
how he left her to prepare n hoTne in the
city for his bride and never returned.
burned the diary, because upon one OF
the pages Elsie had begged | would il
ever | read it.
Then | finished my packing and went
to my Aunt Ryder. She was the widow
-
fathers estate was divided now between
herself and me. 1t was all mine after
Elsie died. And | was an hCiress in q
small way, having the income of $4,000
at my command.
Aunt Ryder took me to Newport and
inisted on my wearing thin. light, black
dresses and white lace. All my energies
seemed numbed by Else's death.
L., 4,
port when Aunt Ryder, who is a hand
some, sprightly woman, greatly admired
in society, met some friends she haG
known in Paris, where she had lived
many years. She was quite excited over
this meeting and insisted upon having q
luncheon party at our cottage.
"Do try to brighten mp a little, Rhoda
for one of my great pets will be here"
"And who is she?" ! asked, being quite
accustomed to seeing Aunt Ryder pet
everybody.
"This time it is he. He came to Paris
some IS years ago, and your uncle was
very intimate with him. They were both
artists and had a mutual admiration fol-
each others works. | have not seen him
since | left PariS-ninc-tcn years ago"
docs he happen to have anything sc
convenient as Il nameT | asked.
ooh, yes, Rodney Wallace. He paint
ed that portrait of mine over the piano
at home with II. W. in one corner!"
Not an hour later, black dress, white
roses. CHASTITY face and all, ! was pre-
scented to Il tall, grave man. with iron
gray hair and soft. brown eyes, the very
reverse OF the gay Lothario had pictR'
ed as the man who had "loved aud rode
away"
| was young, romantic, and | hated
this grave. sad man with all the impctu
Osity of my youth and romance, and yet
he awed me from the first. There was q
grave patience about him that reminded
me of Elsie. And it was to me. to me
who so hated him, that he turned fol
companionship all through that long
summer time.
And |, little by little, learned a lesson
How could | love when | hated? How
could my heart be won by my sisters
murderer?
SO the dying days of August found me
not frightened or benefited by my So
jOurn at Newport, but pale. listless
wretched, tortured by my fidelity to the
dead, my love and hate for the living.
One resolve made. | would never
marry KOuney allace.
Yet when he wrote to me manly
straightforward letter, asking my love
it cost me hours of widest weeping tC
move my heart to refuse him.
While | tried to nerve myself to send
away the fatal letter | heard steps in
the drawing room, and then Aunt Ryder
spoke:
"Ko1nry," she said in tender voice
as if she were speaking to her own son
"yOu have made me very happy. hoped
this would happen when introduced you
to Elsic's sister,
"Elsic's sister" Rodney cried harshly
as | had never heard him speak before,
'lIush! Elsie was not false"
"Not false! Was she not my betroth
ed, almost my bride? Did not love hcr
with all the strength of my heart? She
broke my heart, she dcsoated my life
And now-now you tell me the woman
love, as | never hoped to love again, is
Elsie's sister,
My heart throbbed almost suffocating
ly; my brain reeled; the room seemed tC
grow black and rock around me. But
heard Aunt Ryder speak.
Rodney, in those days in Paris, whcr
l knew but little of your story i never
dreamed that it was Elsie whom you
loved"
"But the truth? Rodney pleaded
"What was the truth?"
"Else did not write that letter. Elsie
died, believing you false to her. She was
her mothers heircss, Rodney, and hcI
mother married villain. Were Elsie
married, and his own child still mere
baby, the home must be broken up, the
money held in your control and that OF
the trustees, and so a forged letter was
sent to YOU"
''Docs-she knowT
"No one knows but memo one! My
husband was with Elsie's stcpfathel
when he died and heard this confession
too late to remedy the evil"
"And-Rhoda?
"Rhoda was so young she probably
never heard of Elsic's engagement. Rod
ney, promise me you will never tell her
Remember that Bayard Woolstan, for
tune hunter, forger as he was-was yet
her father"
l stole up stairs. Over my empty
crate ! burned my false, cruel letter
VOwinS in my utmost heart to be Rod
neyS true comforter and wife.
1t is two years since we were married
All the shadows are gone from my hus
bands face, and he tells me his pictures
are painted by the light of love.-Ex.
change.