Year: 1871

graph was taken at his request
They had been for a long ramble in
the fields, and he had crowned her
with daisies, making her so beauti-
full in her loving eyes that he would


not rest until she consented to allow


him to carry away the picture of her


face as he had adorned it. One year
of betrothal, and the wedding day


was set for q certain seventh of Oc-
tober, when, again absent from


home on a professional visit, Albert


found the face of the woman he had
loved almost to idolatry inclosed in
a letter answering a matrimonial ad-
vertisement.


1t is impossible to describe the
shock given to the fastidious, sus
picious nature of this man. He had
given, for the first time in many
wears, the confidence of his heart to


another's keeping. He had thrown
aside the suspicious of all human
nature, that had warped his own
character, to give trusting, per-
feet love to one woman. In her he
had found all that his starved heart
craved Of gentleness, affection, and
modesty. All her letters were filled
with a spirit of devotion, toned
down by a sweet, maidenly reserve,
that had commanded his respect as
well as his affection. Loving faith
fully, trusting utterly, he had looked
forward to his future happiness as
thing assured and certain.


And now, to find this women, his
promised wife, his ideal of modest
refinement, answering vulgar mat
rimonial advertisement, sending the
picture, for which he had been forced
to plead and petition for hours, to
be the sport of an unknown man,
writing letter that was an invita-
ton for future correspondence, and
all only by the flimsy veil
of disguised hand, and a post of
flee address few miles from home.
Some friend in Hilton, probably,
mailed this precious letter, and would
call for the answer. Well. his dream
was over. He brooded for long
time over his duplicate pictures,
then, tossing one back upon young
Holmes pile of letters, he inclosed
the one he had carried over his
heart for a twelvemonth in a short
letter, directed and sealed it, and,
taking up his hat, left the office. His
return to Cincinnati the same eve
ming had been settled before the re
ceipt of the momentous letter, so
his friend was prepared for his de-
parture, though scarcely for his alb
rupt and hasty farewell.


And while strangers and her dear
est were thus ruthlessly destroying
Sadie Elkington's love dream and
hopes of happiness, she was living
her life of peaceful daily duty, ma
king the sunshine of home, and
looking forward to a future of mar


1ed bliss. Already there were piles
of snowy linen, daintily embroid-
cred by her own skillful fingers, ly-
ing in readiness for the t1'ousseau,
and daily some such needlework
passed through her busy hands,
while she sat and dreamed of AL
bert, his love, and her own powers
Of rendering him happy. 1t was a
very pure, unselfish love this fair
young girl had given to her be-
.rothed. With quick, womanly in
stinct she had read the character of
.he reserved suspicious man, pene-
rated the crust of his proud reti-
,ence, and knew that her love was
10 him almost his sole hope of faith
IN anv human excellence. She knew
also, that from this hard mistrust
md cynicism, it was often but one
step to positive infidelity, and it was
her earnest prayer that she might
De permitted so to soften this noble
leart as to let in upon it a fuller
light and higher faith than it could
,ver know whilst clouded by doubts
If all mankind. Sadie Ellington
would have smiled had any one sug-
rested to her that there was any
Iacrifce in her prospects for the fn-
ure. She loved Albert Clayton with
III the fervor of first love, and it
lad never occurred to her to con-


rast her own home with the one
waiting her. The eldest of a fam
ly of nine children, she had learned
,arly to make all the little sacri-
ices of her own comfort daily re-
luired from the oldest sister in a
arge family. Her father almost
her, while her mother
,ould scarcely endure the prospect
If seeing this loving, tender daugh-
er leave the home she had bright
med so long, for one so far away.


Yet hiding away their own grief,
,he loving parents were aiding in
he preparation of a bridal outfit
hat was to be as perfect as ample
means, taste, and loving care could
make it. The mother and daughter
we're in the sitting room just before
he dinner hour, discussing the mer-
is of new collar pattern, when
Mr.. ELLINGTON came to the door,
holding a bundle in one hand, a let
er in the other.


There, Miss Sadie he said, open
ng the paper to unroll q piece of
superb blue silk, see if. you can get
petticoat out of that. Mamma,
here, will lend you some old cotton
ace to trim it


Not yard laughed his wife.
Why, you extravagant man, this is
lie third Irish poplin.'


Fully paid for by the kisses Sa-
lie has just given me. What are
You gazing at this letter for, Sadie?
Women are never satisfied. Give
hem finery and they want flattery.
Well, there is your sugar plum


Sadie. Sadie!


1t was a startled cry from the
mother that broke the interval of
silence following the opening of the
etter. The young girl tried to an
iwer the cry, but the stiff white lips
we're powerless to move, and with
moan of pain she tainted, falling
heavily upon the dress just received
With warm, shy bushes, and repre-
enting so much thoughtful love.


Mr.. Ellington took up the letter
which had fallen from the nerveless
land, and while his wife was trying