The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-11-19
Cecil's promise.
~~~

sobs, Nellie remarked: "Oh, Cecil-1-
l sm-nnhappy Cecil quietly asked:
"Who, or what, is the cause of all your
woe?"
"WelI," and Nellie brushed back the
stray locks that fell across her brow,
"you remember l wrote considerable
about Tom Hamilton last spring. lie
came to Hadley few DAYS after your
folks moved away. He was employed
by the Hadley Real Estate Company.
He and were introduced by Mrs. Rut-
ledge, the minister's wife, and soon be-
came very good friends. Your moving
away had left me SO lonely, and Tom
was SO kind. We rode, skated, anu
danced together. Our friendship soon
ripened into love and in March he
asked me to marry him-I consented"
Cecil was again idly gazing at the
landscape without the window but her
mind was intent OH the words of her
friend. AS Nellie paused Cecil impet-
uOusly remarked: go on"
Nellie continued: "We were 50 happy
for awhile, Tom and l. In April All
uncle OF his residing near Robley died
and Tom went to attend the funeral.
He soon came to me stating that he
would remain at Robley few weeks
to look after affairs attendant upon
the estate, part OF which had been
willed to him. We began writing to
each other every day but for some rea-
son he ceased writing. Then-oh-oh
Cecil-hOw the time did drag"
The girls voice grew husky and she
sobbed as tho her heart would break
Cecil stepped quickly to her side, ten
derly raised the girls face, kissed the
fair, young brow and soothingly said
"Calm yourself Nellie and tell me tn.
rest" Nellie dried her teai stained
eyes and cheeks with small, white
handkerchief on the corner of which
was silk-threaded emblem denotin.
that it had been presented to her b!
Cecil the previous Christmas. After ,
few cOnvulsive sObs she resumed: "ll
August Tom returned to Hadley.
waited expectantly for him to call bu
he never came. One afternoon l Wa
in town and saw him at a distance ant
if he saw me he purpesely avoided GU
meeting. The days rolled slowly on
then, as you know, L became sick
When l recovered Tom had again lef
Hadley--nO one knew where. | dom
know why he has acted as he has to
ward me-but~ Cecil, l still wear tn
} engagement ring he gave me. An
that is ALL.
Left you without a word of expld
Well, We'll see if we can find out"
With tightly shut lips, and eyes tina
seemed flashing, Cecil started to leav
the room. But Nellie, pale and startled
sprang forward, laying her slende
white hands ON Cecil's shoulder, PEI
mitting the plain, gold ring to fascinat
3 Cecil's eyes, she pleadingly said:
: "Oh Cecil, don't! Don't Inquire fe
1 Tom Hamilton! Prom. ise me that ) o
: will not do so, nor repeat one word {
our conversatlonw
'There, dear; promise" Thus al
d sweIed Cecil for she could not gaze vi
: feelingIy, but pityingly, into the in
t plorIng eyes of her dearest friend.
t Late INTO the night Cecil tosse
restlessly and thought of the angus
, of the girl lying beside her, sleeping
sOundly, as one exhausted or reliev'
!, of mental burdens. The Growing of
barnyard fowl, somewhere in the il
II mediate vicinity, betOkened the Col
q ing of the dawn of another day, e
70 Cecil fell into deep slumber. Su
j. beams falling across her eyes seem
n so tenderly human that Cecil, partial
=, dazed, rose to a sitting position; gat
,s ering her scattered Thoughts resum
r: her pOndering ON the subject uppt
Ie most in mind. How to find Tom u
n re-unite the two lovers. She glanc
l. at her watch, surprised to Uote that
er was nearly ten o'clock. She hurried
arose, donned q walking suit of brow
ID and went down stairs. Nellie met h
le at the kitchen door aud after chez
% good morning, Cecil pointed to Wa