The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-03-03

mdIIieu. But 10 all these Threats
opposed an unrufied sweetness OF de.
meanor and layished a great show OF
aHectlon upon him in the presence of
my aunt. to whom hc was unwilllngly
obliged 10 respond.
Our wedding day drew near. and Ed
gar hndlng me unmoyed by threats,
no" had recourse 10 entreaties. and
even secretly brought Augusta to add
her prayers 10 his; but to their ptiful
moans ! only responded that nothing
would induce me To disappoint my dear
aunt even IL / had to sacrifice my
llfe's happiness in the cause.
1t may readily be supposed that I
had not really the slightest intention
of allowing Edgar to marry me. I in.
tended 10 drive him into rejecting me.
a course which would, I knew, deeply
offend my aunt and would probably
Dust Edgar altogether from her favor.
IN which | then hoped to rise still
higher 10y the representation that Ed
Gar's cruelty had broken my heart.
However, as the day approached and
Edgar showed no signs Of open rebel.
lion, | began to be little alarmed
What If. after all, had 10 reject Ed
gar? That would be fatal! My aunt
would never speak 10 me again.
The morning before the appointed
wedding day Edgar came to me. pale
and fierce.
Are you determined to keep up this
farce to the end?" he inquired
'FarccY said |, raising my brows.
Il intend to obey my beloved aunt, IL
that is what you mean"
Then take the consequences" he
retorted. as he departed angrily and
banged the door.
That evening note was discovered
| in Edgar's room informing his mother
that when she read it all would be
over, that he could not obey her wishes
In marrying me. and, rather than run
counter to them, he had resoly ed to de-
stroy himself
! The distracted mother was beside
| herself with grief. She rushed here
and there, giving contradictory orders:
| she ran up and down stairs rs IL
searching for some sign of his pres
cncc, she dispatched search parties in
| the hope that he might yet he disCov-
cred alive; but nothing could be found,
except his coat and hart on the bank
Of river
| The conclusion come TO was that the
unfortunate young man had drowned
himself, though NO trace Of the body
could be discovered
You are my only hope and com
FORT cried my aunt. weeping on my
neck "lou must never leave me,
darling"
with some misgivinss promised l
would not.
| The next morning, at an early hour.
| Mr.. Denaby appeared in state of dis
traction. Augusta, It seemed, unable
| to bear the idea Of resignng Edward
to any other bride. had also drowned
herself. Her cloak and hat had been
discovered on the bank of the river.
which was being dragged for the body.
| but SO far without success
The bercavcd parents wept together.
and So touching was their grief that
| cried, too. although | had not the
| slightest apprehension that Augusta
and Edgar had really drowned them
! selves
However. aS months passed on and
nothing was heard of either of them
| | began to feel rather anxious aud 10
wonder what had bcfallen them.
Meanwhile a common sorrow had
drawn the two unhappy households
! together. and about a year after these
startling events, my aunt astounded
me one morning 10y the information
| that She and Mr.. Dcnahy had resolved
10 unite their broken hearts and seek
consolation In wedlock
| Here was a nice prospect for me-!
My aunt had already become very
favorably disposed toward her future
! stepchildrcn, and would be certain TO
provide handsomely for them in her
will, and, instead OF being her sole
| heireSs. | was suddenly confronted
| with seven rivalS-the number OF Au-
gusta'S brothers and sisterS-and might
think myself fortunate IL | got of with
an eighth part of what l had couSld
cred my due.
The marriage took place, aud the
Denabys migrated from their small
house to my aunt'S handsome mansion,
In which l now felt myself an inter.
loper returned to my former home.
where my eldest sister was struggling
to make both ends meet. aud where l
was not received with much enthu-
siasm.
In these circumstances. l accepted
an offer OF marriage from n wealthy
gentleman who fell a victim TO those
charms which no one but Cyril had
yet been able to perceive.
ON the very day that wrote to my
aunt informing her OF my Engagement.
received letter from her. written
In great excitement. and incoherently
announcing that Edgar was not Ia
heaven. as she had hoped" but in Can.
ada. where he and his wife Augusta.
were happily settled and doing ex.
tremely well. Having heard Of the
marriage of their respective parents.
they had taken courage to write and
inform them that they. too. were mar.
ried. and not dead, as was supposed;
they hoped thes lhould be forgiven
and still hold place in the teSsloa,
Of their friends.