Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-10-24

but months had gone u! ana theN had
heard nothing
MY heart says no. she replied only
when he had finished
Love cannot remain hidden. When
cora chose Fred NcviuS. Burns had
put his love away liut NOW. bclicy.
lng his rival dead. 1t had come back In
greater volume And 50. though she
ever put him aside. lie sued persistent.
IS for her hand
one day she told him IL he would
put like Inquiries for Neyius In the pa
pr;'s asaiu and In six months 10 It'd
iuyS ,alae she would give him an an
svrr.
When the time WAS past and he fall
tcriugy reminded her of 1t she said
Mr. Burns. sou have been Il true
friend to me when such were very
few | respect YOU honor you. but
the love which YOU deserve Is not mine
10 give Living or dead. Fred Nevius
still las my heart"
IL Will bc content II you will but say
yes" he urged.
Aud thus the compact was made.
Now that ii was settled Burns beg
ged Cor mn early marriage and. being
allotted hy Mrs Dixon. Cora consent.
ed liSilcsSly she did It rs II IL mat
tered not to her, as indeed Il did not
So IN tho days after Burns noted the
same apaihctic agreement with every
suggestion from her mother or him
self II cut him 10 the heart for.
though counting II cIrth's choicest
blessing To have her by his side on amy
terms, he could not escape the convic-
tiou that he was requiring too great .
sacrifice ~ her
Orc day when she was more than
usually distract b. offered to release
her She told him that. while she
could not give him what his truth aud
devotion deserved. She would be- true
10 hiu II such was his desire.
1T is my hearts dearest wish he
answered fcrvcntly And love like
mine mus have its reward by and by
viii De patient"
Deeply touched even more rs his
tone Than the words. she answered
gently "Geoffrey. l wish | might do
more. hut ak that | can give shall be-
yours
After this for his sake she strove TO
bring back some ~ her old time cheer.
fulucss. ANA when She succeeded. as
In part she sometimes ala. his happy
face paid her for the struggle But
when alone in her room. where She
codld be herself. her sore heart crieI
out against the fate which forced this
hollow life upon her
on the evening of the day before
thar set for her wedding She was sit
ting in rustic chair en- The lawn
Wrapped ia the contemplation ~ her
strange position. She lid not know that
mau was approaching her until he
had called hor name As She turned
the face of Fred NcviuS, fun of hun
ery longing met hers
With a little cry OF gladneSS she
>praug up and the next moment his
arms were about her How long they
remained thus they could not have
told when they saw the grave eyes 81
= ....,.,.-...,.f. Al. It.
them
- -, ''''p
upon his arm
Forgive me Gcoffrey, she said
humblg. Forgive me forgot Then.
turning 10 Fred, she added. "romor.
row night am to be his wife"
Nc,ius rccoilcd as II she had struck
him and. Ike one dazed. stood. with a
dumb misery on his ashcn face. look
ing from one Ia The other. At last he
broke the painful silence
Great cod he cried passionatcly.
did ever man have such bitter fate:
on scrap IF paper Il few days ago
saw IN account Of the cruel jest which
ruined my life hurried home. hop.
iug TO hud what evil fortune had
>uaiched fron me. thought had,
but. oh. my God His words ended