Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-09-07

One morning." continued Miss Har-
ley. speaking now in a dull tone as IL
h felt the horror afresh, II had come
downstairs In my riding habit, to go
out with my dear father and George,
when his groom came up n handed
me a letter.
Here 1t Is. Read 1t for yourselves.
I cannot!"
Tom took the faded paper she held
out. and, opening it, he and Molly read
in silence:
"Dorothy-You have broken my
heart. You-whom l always thought
so good and pure-prove 10 be a heart
less fifrt. The news OF Fitzgerald's
death has just reached me through a
comrade who was at his side when he
fell and who had known Of your con-
duct In leading him on and then throw
ing him over like a broken toy.
You. Dorothy, the woman I love!"
And yet 1 could forgive you this. but
to know that you have allowed many
other men to kiss you, ave deliberate
~ led them on. only to laugh at them
1t is more than 1 can bear. Pool fools!
They believed in you, as l have done.
will d to your list of triumphs.
III l were to see you again I might
perhaps forget myself, might ever wait
for you to spurn me. So, goodby, Dor
othy; v in this life will l willingly
look on you again, nor can you gain
news OF me, for I have left here before
this letter reaches yOu, and go forth, a
broken hearted man, to serve my coun-
try under another name. to die. as Fitz-
gerald has died, IL God Ia good to me-"
The tears were coursing down
Molly's cheeks before she had finished,
while Tom blew his nose in a sus-
picious as he handed back the
letter without n word.
Yes. dears. I was punished. bitterly
punished. for I never found my George.
From that moment he vanished. COM
pletely, as II the earth had opened and
swallowed him up.
You have often. I dare say, won
dered at the ring l wear on my left
hand; 1t was our engagement ring. I
could not return 1t, I could not send
back these. for he had gone.
For a month after" I received that
letter 1 lay on my bed, tossing In the
delerium of brain fever. and when I rose
again, my hair was white, as you see
1t now.
Il don't know why l have told you
both. Perhaps because 1t is Just forty.
years ago today that George told me OF
his love. perhaps because I felt I could
no longer keep my secrat-that I must
have some human sympathy.
Molly. my dear. don't play with
love; 1t only comes once. It is Gods
greatest gift, and not to be lightly
thought Of"
Molly flung herself down on the
hearth rug and buried her face in the
woman's lap. sobbing the while.
Tom, for his part, had crossed over to
the window, and a looking out, when
he saw a man., plainly a gentleman.
stop a small child playing near, and.
then make his way to the little gate.
which stood at the entrance to Miss.
Harley's cottage.
To this day Tom declares that he
does not know what prompted him. but
he went swiftly across to where Molly
knelt, and, lifting her in his arms, bore,
her gently from the. room. much tOl
Miss Harley's establishment. Molly's,
own Indignation had been promptly!
suppressed by a curious thrill in herr
lovers voice as ne muttered: "Hush!"l
Scarcely were they out of the room
a knock was heard and the maid,
opened the door to admit a tall, broad-'
shouldered man. with iron gray hair,
and a soldierly bearing.
Molly having grasped Toms idea,
quickly went out INTO the passage, and
having dismissed the maid, asked the
visitor his name.
George Ormond, at your service,
young lady. but does Miss''-
Yes. yes. come along!" whispered
NOoit eGAAA i Ru6Illklk LII0
man In as she called OUT
A last. auntie!" and shut the doors
oh. Tom, o clever of you to think.
Of it! am SO happy. SO glad. Come
along. you dear old boy, and let us run
into the orchard. where I can shout!'s
and. suiting the action to the word, she
dived through the kitchen, followed by
Tom. and put into the field at the back,
of the house.
Two hours later. when it was quite
dark. they heard Miss Herley's voice.
calling them, and went in to find her
blushing n smiling as she introduced
her old friend. Lord George Ormond.
Rose Cottage is for sale, for two
marriages VIII a place shortly, and
1T will then lose it's com
mend such a romantic residence to the
notice of ON sweet old maid, or shall
we say bachelor girl?