Year: 1865

| tHtIc 1uleC ana SelI-pOSSeSSeO
hare accepted him."


There was no emotion in the tone The
sunlight shimmered through the greer
leaves on the calm face and one bird war
bled on the pare tree just outside
Edith love you better than my own
life !"


The words burst from him involuntarily
lie meant to have concealed it all, but his
exquisite agony wrung it forth. There was
no preceptible change in the face by the
window, and then the vast tide Of Claude
Clay's love welled forth, sweeping away
the foodgate Of prudence and reserve.


4 love you, Edith" and the tones were
passionate and hoarse, "I love you with
the whole force of my being Year by
year that love had gathered strength, till
it is like mighty river that will not be
controlled I have folded you away in
my inmost heart like some priceless gem
You have been the beacon light that has
guided me on through struggle and toll
| cannot, CANNOT give you up. 1t would
rend every fibre of my soul !"


And Edith what of her? Dearer than
her own hearts blood was the man before
| her but he must never know it.


There was a hoarse gasping in the young
mans throat, and then he went on this
time bitterly.


"But | am only clergyman at best !;
and he is a son of wealth and fashion,
| Of course he could not choose a bride from
the daughters of high degree but must
claim the one blossom that my whole heart
craved Thus says fate but l could bet
ter see you die to-day, than behold you the
wife of another !"


The rose was crushed till thorn was
pressed deep into her finger-but she heed
ed not the pain, so insignificant it was,
compared with that which was soaring her
heart forever


There was long pause-and when he
spoke again, all the passionate harshness
was gone from his voice.


May the pitying Father forgive these
rebellious thoughts, he said, in low, mourn
full tones, | had hoped so fondIy for a sun
ny home in the future that would be yours
and mine but it is over now, must be
content In Gods own time, shall know
why this crushing blow was sent ;" and
with bowed head, and bended knee, ac-
knowledge the stroke was just.


She rose abruptly.


LET this end now now," she said. zone
month hence, we part before the World
let US say good bye in reality now. Al
ways your friend, Claude, with out stretch
ed hand.


He looked at the dainty fingers lovingly.
" l cannot take them with the feeling of a
brother" he said at last, the right to
clasp them with other sentiments belongs
to another. Farewell, Edith. May the good
God bess you forever"


And the roses waited in their sweet per-
fume the single bird in the green tree-top
poured forth its richest melody but they
heard it not; while the sun showered
down his golden rays as gaily as though
two hearts had not just been bHghtcd for
life


Thus goes the world In the comonm,
familiar life around us, hearts are breaking
every day lives are hourly growing more
und more a burden of misery and souls
are blighted for time and eternity


''But even paced come round the years,


Another Nature changes not"


1t was over at last, and Edith went from
her early home a bride Went to move in
frigid yet fattered dignity amid blaze of
splendor went to find how utterly cold
and selfish was the man whose name she
bore ; went to wear a weary aching heart
beneath a silken bodice, and to realize how
much better it is to


Range with humble ivers in content,


Than to be perked up in clustering grief"


1t was gloomy afternoon in mid-winter
that she sat by the window Of her elegant
chamber, gazing forth at the storm, feeling
all the while that it was not half so desc
late as at her own heart. Her husband
sat opposite, doing over book, but rous-
ed himself soon, and remarking, am 60
ing down to do some writing wife" left the
room The door closed sullenly, the storm
grew wilder without and she sat there
thinking thinking.


Four years of married life, and what had
they brought her? Throbbing brain, an
guished heart and sleepless nights. So it
would be in all the years to come. She
looked forward towards the never ending
future that lay beyond 1t was utterly
rayless. No pardon or peace i'll the world
cry holy sentiment and fostered pride and
ambition in this.


The storm grew fiercer. The soiled snow
whirled in angry cddies back and forth,
while the wind chanted dismal dirge.-
There was one little spot Of marble pave
ment that had escaped. Round and round
it whirled the snow, but there it lay, white
and shining and Edith bent forward and
watched it with anxious wistful eyes, as if
it had been a human soul Over it spreads
the snow-of again-over it and off again;
then it piled on gradually. The dark eyes
were strained intensely. There was a
mournful windwail; then one little glimpse
of the pure stone, but it was the last
Swifter and swifter whirled the dark snow,
hiding it deeper from view.


There was great groan that weled up
from the aching heart, and she rose sudden
ly, pacing the rich carpet with stony eyes
and white lips going at last to half
open drawer and tossing over the contents
aimlessly. All at once her fingers drew
forth something from one corner little
golden locket with pictured face therein
a sweet mouth earnest eyes, and white
brow stamped with intellect. She grew
deadly pale, and clutched at chair then
the reaction came. All through these days
and nights of agony she had kept it under
control, while it gnawed deeper and deep
er into her hearts core, but now the icy
calmness of years gave way.