Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-10-31
TRUE LOVE.


s'*'.'s'A.s'+'+...+'+ =
Alaric Leigh bore his fate like a man
when he learned from the lips of Aurora
Stanley that she was the promised wife
of another. Aurora's betrothed husband
was expected from Europe, and the prep
arations for the wedding had already be-
gun. But one morning the thunderbolt
fell.
Her father had speculated heavily and
lost. Hoping to retrieve his losses, he
had become an embezzler and forger,
and his sin had found him out.
The dainty, spoiled child Of luxury was
forsaken by her butterfly friends and
sneered down as the beggared daughter
of a fleeing criminal.
81 am so glad Charles is rich," she
thought. And for the first time since she
knew him she thought of him with some
thing like affection and yearned for his
coming. "The steamer came In this
morning, and in a few hours more he will
be here to comfort me-"
But before he came she had another
guest.
Looking from a window Of the grand
mansion that in another week would be
Leigh coming up the marble steps.
Miss Stanley" he begun gravely, 81
have come on a most disagreeable errand.
l am commissioned to inform you that
your unhappy father has returned to the
city and means to give himself up to JUS
tice."
He must not" she gasped.
He has no means to do otherwise"
answered 10
sent me to tell you that if you could dis
pose of your diamonds he might by the
proceeds not only reach Europe in safety,
but also establish some sort of business
there by which he might some time re-
gain an honorable name and place among
his fellow men,"
Here they are" she said hurredly,
placing heavy casket in his hands.
"Oh, Alaric, go quickly, and tell him il
he loves his suffering daughter to never
give himself up to felon's punishment"
In her trouble she never thought to in.
quire how Alaric Leigh had become the
contidant of her disgraced parent.
As she spoke the bell rang loudly.
at is Charley" she said gladly.
zone word more, Aurora, before I CO."
said Alaric. ''1f you ever feel that you
need my friendship, do not hesitate to
send for me-"
The girl did not hear him. She only
seemed to hear the firm, light footsteps
on the threshold OF the parlor door, and
Alaric, passing out of q door opposite,
looked back for a second and saw her
spring into the embrace of Charles Buck
ingham.
'Oh, Charley! I am so glad you have
come. l am in such trouble" said Au-
rora, clinging to his arm as she drew him
to a seat.
Indeed. my little goddess" drawled
the exquisite. "What sort of trouble2"
"Oh, Charley, have you not heard of
our terrible misfortune?" she asked. 81
thought the whole city would babble it
to you before you saw me-"
81 have heard nothing" he returned,
growing anxious.
And so she told him all, never needing
as she talked on with feverish rapidity
that the face of the man who had plight
ed to her eternal love and constancy was
assuming smile of lofty and naughty
Indifference.
"And so the wedding can't be?" he OBJ
served in tone that cut through her
heart like thrust of frosty steel. SIS
that what you want to suggest, Miss
Stanley? Well, you are quite right. Most
girls under such circumstances would
have held poor fellow to his contract.
But you are as wise as you are unselfish,
and l honor you for it, Rory-'pon my
soul do"
Aurora sprang to her feet, amazed and
indignant at this unparalleled act of hy-
pocrisy and his offensive familiarity.
THANK God, l never loved you" she
cried, and, tearing the betrothal ring
from her finger, she flung it at his feet.
Go, and leave me alone! In all the
world | have not a friend-not one"
''In all the world l have not a friend
not one," was the burden of Aurora's sor-
row for many weary day.
One day Aunt Hetty, In her faded
brown silk and ancient bonnet, came for
the unhappy girl.
You must go home with me, Rory. 1t
is poor sort of place for a fine lady, but
it is better than nothing grille"
So Aurora went, and when the sum-
mer came again Alaric Leigh came with
it. If he still loved Aurora, he never
betrayed the fact by any sign whatever,
and perhaps that was why, with the in
consistency of girlhood, she began to
think him q paragon among men. But
he did love her still, and after a long.
long time he told her so.
"An affection like mine, Aurora" he
said, in his grave, straightforward way.
never changes. l can give you a COM
Portable home, and IL you will be my wife
l shall be the happiest of husbands"
Il can't marry you for n home," she
answered, and tender quaver in her
voice made his heart beat faster.
Marry me for love, then, DEAR" he
observed audaciously.
"Oh, blind Alaric! / have loved you
always"
And that was the truth.
What a quiet little wedding 1t was
No satin and lace and orange blossoms;
only a slim, beautiful form robed, like