Middletown transcript., 1903-06-20


that face and step; her heart bea
almost to suffocation, and, with
glad cry of 'Hugh!" the gentle
man turned and came quickly to
ward her.
Miss Clifton-is it possible
This is indeed, a pleasant sur
prise, he said. How charmin.
you are looking, Miss Clifton.
could almost imagine we hat
parted but yesterday.
! And it has been three years
Ethel replied, smiling. I wa
not aware you were here. d.
Iyou remain long?
Only for a few days. Mrs
Darrell has relatives here-tht
Livingston's. You know them
perhaps? Oh! here she is-as 6
fair, golden-haired, little lady
entered the room.
Mrs. Darrell, my old friend
Miss Clifton!
Ethel felt the ro3m whirline
with her for a moment, but pride
came to the rescue, as she bowed
low, and making a few careless
remarks, with her attendent
passed on to join the dancers;
and as people noted the crimson
cheek, and sparkling eye, and re-
marked how lovely Miss Clifton
was looking, they little knew that
so fair an exterior covered an
aching heart.
She hardly realized how the
remainder of the evening passed.
1t seemed like some terrible
nightmare, as she remembered it
afterward.
She had accepted his invita-
tion to dance when he had found
his way toward her later in the
evening, and, as he conversed so
pleasantly on their old acquaint-
ance, his wife, and other indiffer-
erent subjects, she almost feared
he would hear the wild throb-
bing of her own heart, and read
the secret so carefully hidden
there.
While he, looking down upon
the beautiful face beside him
wondered if she had ever loved
him, as her emotion on meeting
him tonight led him to believe.
And then a smile of contentment
crossed his face, as he thought
of his fair, young wife, whose
love he had won.
Five years have passed away,
with their joys and sorrows,
smiles and tears, and the many
changes which time always bring. |
1t had surely worked marve-
lous change in the heart of Ethel |
Clifton, and those swiftly-pass-
ing years had been years of gen.
uine usefulness.
For to her the gay world of
fashion had long ago lost its
charms, in the dawning of a far
higher and nobler purpose in life
than the mere qualification of
Of self. |
And the fair face and gentle
voice of Ethel Clifton had become
rs welcome in the homes of God S
Lowly ones as the summer sun
shine.
Truly, the seeds Of disappoint
nent which she had scattered in
.dleness, had at last been the
means of bringing forth good
fruit.
1t is near the close of a chill
November afternoon, and Ethel
sits idly dreaming before the
crate, it's genial glow lighting
lp her fair face, and showing the
which time had wrought.
She had changed but little in
.orm or feature, but the express
'ion is more gentle, and Ethel
at thirty, possesses a
beauty far more pleasing than
hat of her early girlhood.
Sorrow had been a frequent
If late.
Her father whom she had al
most idolized, and who had ever
,ratifed the slightest wish of
lis only child, had suddenly died
# heart disease one year before.
While Aunt Elinor, his widowed
sister, and the only mother whom
ethel had ever remembered, had
ollowed him six months later.
leaving Ethel thus comparative
y alone as to kindred ties.
She had never married, great
y to the surprise of all who knew
Ter.
1t had certainly not been for
want of opportunities, people
aid, and her friends marveled
greatly at what they termed
Ethpl'S ncconfriaitu