Year: 1878

1ulgence, hoping that her decision would .
De in his favor. In this. however. he
was disappointed. for think Of it as she
might. Lima could not make up her mind
20 retreat from what she SO oconscientious-


y believed to be just principle OF duty.
SO when he came to her week later,
she told him that she could not marry
him until the purpose tor which she was
going to sacrifice her entire happiness
was accomplished. Then and not until
then would she give herself into his
keeping; neither would she engage her
self to him. Her reason for this she said,
was that she did not wish to bind him by
= single tie which he might not, if he
desired, feel Tree to break. To these
words he replied in most pleading
way. Lima. darling, you love me, and
1t is cruel In you to tear yourself from
me thus" He plead with her until he
found that his persuasions were of no
avail. then he left her, not angrily, but
oh, so sadly. Lina's parents knew moth
ing of this; they never dreamed OF the
trial it cost her to leave home. They


thought that she anG the doctor were
friends and nothing more. SO to-day.


another letter was handed her. This one !
was not from home, but from Nellie
Murrrll, her bosom friend, and in it she
had said that DR.. Morton was married
and gone to Europe Poor Lima, for one
brief moment it seemed that her heart


must break. She did not regret the loss


OF one so unworthy. but in the bitter


ness OF her soul she rcpented having


giving the first, the only pure love of


her lite, to one who could throw 1t so


csrelessly aside for another. Her head


dropped on the piano, and tears of deep


humility. traught with grief, coursed
their way down her cheek and fell in
great drops upon the pearly keys. from


which moment ago the soitcst strains
OF music flowed. Her school, mates look


ing on. supposed it was a letter from


her mother, and the great respect which
| they entertained for her on these occa-
| sons OF her depression. kept them silent.
At last, when she raised her head. every


trace OF agitation was gone, and no one


looking into her calm, sweet face would


dream what = dull pain fingered even
| then about her heart.


Upto this time Lima life had been as a
Ijoy-giving dream, gathering sunshine as


she went and leaving the shadows for


darker days. and it seemed to her now


that those days were inevitably upon


her. She was brought face to face with


the reality of which she had sometime s


read, but which she had never asso-


cated with herself. At this juncture


she adequately comprehended the fac,


that these trials were only the commen-


cling OF her warfare in life. Yet after


reasoning with herself she was fully o


the opinion that she was too young to


allow the very essence Of her being tc


be consumed by the faisity OF simply


one human being therefore she determin
ed that by most strenuous exertion:
} she would overcome the wrong which
, threatened destruction to her peace. by
erasing forever from the tablet of hcl
. memory the image of her ta,thles:
) friend. In loving him, she felt that sh
had not been guilty of one thing tina
could bring reproach upon her name o
| tinge it with shadow of disrespect. TO
: her nature WAS marked with that beau
tiful simplicity from which results limo
r cence and virtue. Therefore she coul
} not see wherein it was wrong to give
r her love, when she thought such pcriec
, been more thoroughly disciplined il
: regard to the weakness which so oftel
, predominates over the purer motives o
the heart possibly she would have re
e garded what she had read in ditferen
j way; and had the circumstances OF he
i life introduced and submitted her view
/ to larger and wider experience it il
] quite possible that her present trouble
9 might have been obviated; but as it was
: she could think OF nothing else but Grad
S icaiing from her mind every thought {
t him whom she had trusted so contidinsly
/ and thou gh she knew that it would tax
s months. perhaps years to do this, "
i Lima saw the necessity for this step an
s determined to act upon it; therefor
n she Went braveiy on with her studie:
r putting nobly aside the conscious ness {
9 every painful emotion. with an energ
1t which many older ones than sh
could not command. Lima knew ths
+ very soon she would be out and alon
i on life's uncertain sea; tossed by il
s angry waves from shore to shore, Will
G its dark waters would roll over he
5, frail barque, unless strength and coul
!, age would hold it above the storm
Q How successful Lima Is in her plan
,r low her through the many changes IN
,t vicisstudes to which her lite subject
g her. Clara Houston was Lina's bosol
e friend. They very naturally fell In Low
s with one another In comparativel
II short time after Lima came t. the CO,
n vent. Clara was a fair-faced. uirhaire
it girl OF sixteen summers, and was I'll
e only child of devoted mother. Hi
e father died when she was quite bah,
n Her mother lived in New York and live
,r q life of luxury and ease. She inherite
d very comfortable fortune from hi
'r husband. which admitted her into the be
'f circle OF society. Being young. brillian
ID and accomplished, she had man
r admirers. The one whom she single
1t out, the real object of her affections. ws
l. Claud Morton, a wealthy banker. {
h these proceedings Clara knew nothing
g until one evening she received lette
n from her dear mother, written hastily
: and preparatory to her starting
!. Europe on her bridal tour. At frs
s. Clara hardly knew whether to laugh c
IT cry. but If she indulged in the latter sh
II would be guilty OF disobedlence. for
K was her mothers positive injunction fc