Year: 1878

HG1HEN was young 1 Eeart


wv much and read more about


,HscH, broken hearts and blighteG


GS2S lives than it has been the


fortune or misfortune of many 9th


ers to do. In the years between my


twelfth and eighteenth birthdays


my daily occupation was novel


reading, and shed more tears over


the sorrows of those people of mere


brain creation than | ever have over


my own troubles (of which heaven


has since given me my share). And


when reading those stories of heart


piercing anguish, l wished that 1


might some day become the heroine


of such a grief, and know by my


own experience all the agoHies of an


undying sorrow. But meanwhile,


as | was far too young to hope for


any snch dis,tin notion for many years


to come, L looked right and lerG


among my friends and acquaintance


for one who bore the traces of such


a woe, but | must confess that my


search was in vain; for there was


not one in our midst that seemed to


have any trouble that few days
could not dissipate entirely. But


foremost in the merry crowds that
so often gathered in the parlors of
the village homes and the one whom


L chose for my friend and confident


was a maiden of about four and
thirty, whose past life 1 fully be
lieved was free from all trouble, for
her large flashing black eyes bore
no trace of sorrow; her raven ring
lets were still untouched by the sill
yer threads of time, and her dark
clear complexion bloomed with all
the freshness Of younger years.
There was no company of pleasure
seekers in our village deemed com
plete without the presence of gay
Ruby Wilmont. She was loved by
all that had the pleasure of know
ing her, for she ever proved a true
friend to those who sought her in
time of trouble. She had been left
her own mistress at the age of sew
enteen, and also the mistress of a
fortune, which she spent
as her fancy dictated. She had Wis
tied many different countries, had
been received at the courts of kings
and queens and had been sought
after, courted and fiattered by the
proudest, the wealthiest and the no
blest of men, but to all outward ap-
pearances she had remained proof
against Cupid's shafts, and returned
to her native village still heart
to be praised, ad
mired, loved and half worshiped by
all she came in contact with. Rich,
gay, beautiful and accomplished,
she seemed to realize my ideal of a
perfectly care free and happy wo-
man; and though so many years my
senior she was my chosen friend
and companion in all my pleasures.
We were nearly always together,
and loved each other dearly. She
was fond of books of every class;
our tastes were very much alike,
and l always read to her my favor
ite pieces of prose and poetry. But
ler ringing laugh and sarcastic re-
marks would often put TO shame
the tears which would, in spite OF
all my efforts to prevent them,
sometimes steal down my cheeks.
She did not appear to believe in LIE
grande passion, and the poets
dream of love and its power to make
of earth a heaven only seemed to
excite her ridIcule. She woulI Of
ten laughingly say, "What non
sense! Pearl Montley. You do not
believe that stuff, do your" and
would answer, "Yes, Ruby, l believe
IT, Why shouldn't IY' She would
only shake her head and repeat,
'What ncnsense!


Thus / came to believe her per
feet skeptic in love, heart-whole and
fancy free. Il do not believe she
mas ever loved any one" l said to
nyself one day, as entered her ele
yant home with q volume of poems
ust fresh from the press, which she |
rad asked me to bring and read to |
her. Love poems they were, and
Knew how numerically she would |
1uiz and laugh over each verse; still |
,he should hear them.


| entered parlor, library and mu-
sic room, each in turn, but they
we're all vacant; so with the free
iom of a privileged character l ran |
lightly up the richly oarpeted stairs
to her boudoir, and softly opening
the door, entered, hoping to sur
prise her; but instead ] surprised
myself more than any words have
power to describe. did not ad-
vance three steps before l stopped
still. as if rooted to the spot. AT
.he far end OF the room there was !