Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-02-11

Bv Nav Harvev.

IRE playing" remarked one of the men,
Frank Leslie, referring to the band;
what is it called:"
Il believe he is a gavotte called 'Syi-
VIA" replied Stuart Harcourt, his
companion.
What a host of bitter-sweet memo
ries surged through Frank mind at
the mention of that name. He saw u
winsome, merry face, anne in glori-
Gus masses of bright, brown hair; soft.
violet eyes that had so often gazed at
him with a tende lovelight shining in
them. A long sigh broke from him,
which caused his friende to turn to
him and say:
What is 1t. Leslie, old chap? Any
thing the matter? BY the by, Sylvia is
the name you were always shouting
when you had brain fever so badly in
India. Is there anything connected
with it?"
Frank Leslie seemed to be engaged in a
mental struggle. At last he exclaimed:
You have been a good friend to me,
stuart, and nursed me like a brother
when l had the fever, so l will tell you
what i would impart to no other per-
son living; that is. my love story.
Light Il cigaret, old fellow, let us sit
down on this beach,. n here goes:
When l was quartered at MarfOrd, a
| horrid little country town. l made the
| acquaintance of MIR. Barns, vicar OF
the country parish of Wartham. He
was very kind, and invited me to his
house. I went, and met his daughter,
Sylvia Barns. oh, Stuart! l can
never tell you how I loved that girl,
and fully did l believe she loved me In
return. l was always looking for OPP
%portunities to go to Wartham vicar
age, and 1t vas comparatively easy.
for she and l became inseparable COM
panions. At last the day came when
l received my orders fro India. 1 went
/ straight to Wartham, saw Sylvia, told
her of my love, n asked il there was
any hope for me.
II nave never cared for any II save
you. Frank, and never shall
Those We're her very words, Har-
court, but how false they proved! l
then e to Mr.. Barns to tell him of
what had taken place between his
daughter n myself.
You are both too poor to be mar
I, ried,' he replied. L don't approve of
long engagements, but If you both think
the same when you come home, Leslie,
/ will give my sanction to the marriage.
If in the meantime should either of you
change your mind write n apprise
the other of the fact, but no other cor
respondence will l allow: in this 1 trust
to your honor
Not being able to make better terms
thai this, / consented.
Il had been in India about a year
when l received a note In Sylvia's
handwriting which ran as follows:
~ have changed my name to Durn-
ford;' and by the same mail q news
ape arrived, on opening which my
eye caught a paragraph commencing
thus:
1.-The little village of Wartham was
en- fofo nv, rN11GS6oV IN tho nrCl sion of
the marriage. of DR.. Durnford with Miss
Barns.
81 read no further. 1t was indeed
insult added to injury. Not only Sylvia
proved false in the little space of time.
but she had also sent me a newspaper
account of her b%aseness. You know the
rest. How / got brain fever. and how
on my we both obtained leave
and came home"
A few evenings after Franks confess
sion he and Stuart attended the Infrm-
airy BALL. While walking around the
room criticising different bellies.
Stuart's attention was suddenly at
tract by an exceedingly pretty girl,
who was gazing at his friend with earn
est attention. He saw Frank glance at
her with a loo Of sudden scorn, then
the fair face paled and she shrank be-
hind a lady who was standing near.
i = III IA XII ~ AieAN
not danced many times, was accosted
by one of the stewards whom he knew
slightly.
There is a lady friend of mine here
who hardly o anybody. so do come
and dance with her"
So saying, he took Franks arm, Leo
him up to q group near the door. MUIR
INJURED a few indistinct words of intro.
ductiOn, and hurried away to anothe
non-dancing man, leaving Frank face
to face with his false love. Sylvia
Barns. s.
why have yon not spoken to me al
the evening" she asked in an appeal
ing voice. What have l done to Offend
you?"
Need you ask" replied Frank stern.
ly. when you think of your ~treachery
and baseness?"
%"Treachery and baseness!' Sylvia
faltered. Frank. 1 ont understand
you"
This is no place for a discussion
come into the conservatory" sale
Frank. :
The conservatory was empty. On ar
irving there Frank turned to Sylvia
and said in a scornful tone:
you don't understand. Mrs. Durn
ford, What ] mean by ~treachery? d,
you not call promising to marry on
man and then jilting him for another
base?"
Yes. Frank. l should call it so: blu
what has 1t to Go with me? And VIII.
do you call me Mrs. Durnford? / an
Miss Durnford."
Miss Durnford!' calculated Frank
in alnazement. How SOP"
why, poor old Aunt Durnford die,
when you had been away a ear leav
ing us her n providing we shoul'
take her Did you not receiv
the paper with an account of Mark
wedding IN it, which beautifully ex
planned it all? My father said l WASH
to write a letter. I wrote a note
though. letting you knov Of my chang
Of name"
A light flashed across Franks mind.
Then it was Mark Who was mar
ried, and, Of course. I remember. he al
ways was in owe with his cousin. Bees
sic Barns. Oh, my darling. my darling
can you ever forgive me for doubtinI
you?" murmured Frank, ~passionately
when he had explained his fears.
What Sylvia answered I know not
suffice 1t to gay that the little village o
Wartham was again en- fete shortly at
terward, on the occasion OF Miss Durn
ford.s marriage with Captain Leslie, o
the Royal Heavies.
incomprehensibls.
From the Chicago News: 'Yo
cbculd have seen MO i,1mn I'm am