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Show GOOD-B- SWEETHEART! Y pleasantness had been forgotten, and all the old wounds healed. Nine months passed, and Ralphs wanderings had at last brought him to a quietlittle village in Switzerland, and here he found peace and contentment, if not happiness. It was with a feelings of half regret that he received one day a large packet of letters that had followed him from place to place for months, and, almost overcome Ipy a feeling of languor and inertia, he decided to leave them unopened, when the sight of a familiar g caused his heart to thump as it had not done for nian3' a da3', and he was obliged to wipe awa3' the mist that had gathered in his eyes many times before the letters became legible. Poor Aimee ! Could he but. have seen the wan, pitiful face that bent over that letter, and the trembling little Hands that almost refused to guide the pen, his feeling of disappointment would have been lessened. For Aimee wrote only of Idlewilde; of the changes great, and small that had taken place during his absence ; of ever3'thing save herself. And yet, in the pathetic closiig of her long letter, in the burden ot whole life. I In a short time, she wrote, shall be nineteen. Why is it, Ralph, that 1 so often forget eighteen years of happiness to remember oue of misery and trouble ? Last year I had my,dear father and my dear obi Ralph'; this 3'ear I will he alone. Ralph read his letter over and oer again, and, when he at last folded it, it was to place it reverent next his heart ; but he sighed to think he was so oon forgotten, and he quite resolved to end his days in this peaceful little village, forgotten and forgetting. Man proposes, but God disposes, is a trite, but true, saying. And Ralph Latham, prostrated upon a bed of sickness, was a very ditferent man from Ralph Latham, well. His languor, and exceding distaste for all mental exertion, could now be attributed ro physical rather than moral causes, and the longing for home increased da3 by da3. Oh the passionate craving for the intoxifor cating odor of the honty-suckl- e the ghostly rustling of the maple leaves, as the3' descended in showers of crimson light on the green sward of Idlewilde. For the noisy buzzing of the hone3r-bee- , as it tlitted from flower to tlower ; for all the scenes of borne. He could not see in another and a clearer light the events of the past months. How selfish and cowardly seemed his desertion of what ought to have been to him a sacred And this is your final determination ? Aimee, darling, consider well ! Remember it was your fathers chief desire his dying request. O Ralph If I Remember ? Does it not haunt could only forget lie sleeping and waking has it not made me so unhappy ? But Ralph and Aimee crept closer to the stalwart, dignified form ot her guardian, Ralph Latham, as if so secure in the thought that he could shield her from all harm you who are so much older, so much wiser, you surely would not counsel me to marry one I One you do not love, finished But, Aimee, child, do not ask Ralph. me to decide for you ; for, loving you so well, I could but counsel you to obej j our fathers request. But, Ralph, I do not love you at least in that way. When my father asked me if I could love and respect you, I could but laugh ; for did I not already love you very, very dearly ? But when he asked me to think of you as my husband, I shuddered at the thought ; but still 1 promised and, Ralph, I have tried oh, so hard but I can only think of you as my dear old Ralph, who used to fondle me and pet me as a child, and who has always been a trueand devoted friend. O Ralph Be true to yourself to that voice that must whisper to you that nothing but misery could result from a marriage like this. have thought it all over, Aimee, time and time again, and I can only repeat my declaration that you alone can free yourself from this hateful marriage. u I cannot give up; but, should you refuse to obey your fathers wish, you have only to make known your decision to your fathers old lawyers, Latimer and Morrow, and I can but acquiesce. Bivt, Ralph, you surely will not leave me ? You will still act as m3' guardian still be my best and truest I cannot give 3011 friend ? O Ralph And Aimee, remembering all up that she had lost, all that she was about to lose, wept in a perfect abandonment of grief and despair. Your best and truest friend, reAlways that, peated Ralph Latham. I trust, wherever i may be. But it would be impossible for me to remain here. The programme we had agreed upon, in the event of our marriage, shall be carried out only I shall leave you behind when I commence my wan- uerings. But 3o u will not stay long. You will But he would return ; he sobbed Aimee, as she chi-aereturn soon endeavored to arrest his departure un- would once more be a friend and adtil he had given her one word of conso- viser of his little ward, and not b3 a look or word would he recall the past. lation. Oh the longing for health and The future, Aimee, is with God alone, answered Ralph, and the words strength sufficient for the journey. But sounded cold and comfortless. hope is a good physician, ahd Ralph Oh the dreary da3's that followed slowly gained strength for an earlv deAimee wandered parture. . Ralphs departure Did time ever fly fast enough for from room to room, listless, dejected and unhapp3, And when, in a few anxious lovers ? Ralphs impatience da3rs, she received a letter from her increased tenfold as he neared home, father's law3-er- , announcing his inten- and when he at last reached the gate that led into the tion of an early visit to Idlewilde, she could but know that her guardian grounds of Idlewilde, it was with a had carried out his intention to the light heart, and the buoyant step of ver3T letter, and that he hod left her, 3'outh. Entering the house unannounced, he perhaps forever, without one word of could but be conscious, of the change forgiveness. When Richard Latimer followed his that had taken place in his absence letter, a few days later, he could but be How quiet and deserted the ver3r surprised at the great cnange that had grounds seemed. Surely some pretaken place in the once n:err3, light- monition of what he was to meet caused hearted Aimee Atwood. And it was his hand to tremble as he es?a3'ed to open the door, and he stopped to stay not ver3' long before the law3'er had an insight into affairs, and, the loud heatings of his heart ere he at deeming Aitnees grief to be caused as last entered the room. What a vision He much by the absence of the living as of loveliness he encountered her sorrow for the dead, he hastily in- could scarce believe it was the last dited a letter to his old friend, telling scene of Aimee Atwoods life, enacted him all his fears and counselling a almost in the presence of Azrael dark angel of death. - How vividl3' bright speedy return. Ralph Latham smiled in quiet con- were her lip3 and cheeks how bright tent when he received the letter dis- her lovel3' blue e3es. And when, at the patched in such haste from Idlewilde ; sight of him, she raised herself from but deeming Aimee s sorrow at the sur- the pillows with an exclamation of 303', rendering of all old ties as but natural, Ralph could but wonder what had caused and to be expected, he consoled himself this grand transfiguration. with the thought that, as soon as time Oh, I knew 30U would come, sobshould reconcile her to the change, she bed Aimee, though the3 told me it would thank him that he had placed a was a forlorn hope. O Ralph ! I have barrier to their future intercourse and pra3'ed so fervent for this and now association, at least until all the old un I hare onh' seen you to sa3r good-h3- '. ! 1 hand-writin- y-- well-remember- 1 P I ed . ! well-remember- keen-sighte- d ed WIi3f Aimee, 3'ou must not talk so you are not going to die. Surely, this is some horrid dream. And his his hands over Ralph pressed 03'es, as if to exercise the fearful spell. Yes, Ralph, I have only a few moments to live. Doctor says so. Ralph then for the first time saw his old friend, I)r. Stanley, standing near Aimees d3ing bed; but be returned the look of agonizing appeal that met his in recognition with one of despair, and Ralph could only' gaze into the face now settling wiui the peace of death with a perfect agon3 of horror. Aimee passed her hand caressingly over the head bent beside her on the pillow, and endeavored to soothe the' loud sobbings, as Ralph at last realized the horrible truth that his repentance had come too late. Do 3'ou remember the words of that old song, Ralph, I am wearing awn, Jean, to the land of the leal ? I have thought of it so often lately To the land of the leal. The voice grew fainter and fainter, and Ralph, raising the slight, attenuated form in his arms, received the last look, and caught the last faintly murmured words of Aimiee Atwood. Hold me closer. Closer, father And she fell asleep, to awaken in his arms. The grass seems to grow greener, and the rain fall with a softer touch, on tho little grave at Idlewilde. And n and reRalph morseful, makes many a pilgrimage to this lovely shri$. But Aimee heeds him not. She is past all love rapt in i m moral i t3. Wji ver le3' s M agaz i n e. Lathaim-sorrow-stricke- The Cottonwood rothers. 0 9 Salt Lalce City. A Newspaper Semi-Week- ly Tocers Published in the semi-weekl- And Largest aiut Most Flourishing Mining Camp in Utah , upimons of Contemporaries. The first number of the Cottonwood Contains lull and correct information Observer, published in Alta, reached us last night. It is issued Wednesof th and Webb and days Saturdays, by Simcoekes, and presents a neat appearance, being newsy artd with reading matter. It carries evidences of vita lity with it ; and a semH weekly is about the right thing for Alta. Numerous Mines in the Salt Lake Herald. The Cottonwood Observer is the title of a good looking the first number of whish came to hand yesterday. Its editors are Messrs. Webb and Simcoekes, and place of publication Alta, Little Cottonwood. They evidently understand what is required of a A paper for newspaper published in a mining camp, for thc3 devote much space to mining matters. We wish the Observer a more fortunate career than fell to the lot of Mining Managers, its predecessor, the Alta Independent. Lake Tribune. Stock Brokers, An unfortunate cnlprit was recently brought before an Iowa Justice charged with assaulting and battering a maiden. And all others interested tn the devel Investigation showed that the defendant had merely saluted the damsel opment of the mineral wealth against her will. She was in court, and gave her testimony looking so ver3T beautiful that the Judge was compelled of Utah. to make a special ruling. He could not, he said, in couscience fine the man for doing what was done; ' for, said his Honor, I have been obliged to hold on to the arms of m3' chair to Subscribe for it keep from kissing the complainant well-supplie- Main Street, The Best House in the Ter- ritory to buy d y, --- Salt 1 Advertise in An English manufacturer recently itt laid a wager of a thousand guineas with a neighbor that he would take a pair of sheep at five oclock in the morning, and finish a coat made from their wool, before nine oclock in the evening? The wager was accepted. The sheep were brought at the appointed time; .they were shorn, the wool scoured, spun and woven; the cloth scoured pressed and finished at four in the afternoon. The cloth was then handed to the tailors, and twent3 minutes before nine oclock the garObserver will be issued on The ment was finished. The wager was won, and a feat hitherto unprecedented in Wednesday and Saturday mornings in the textile manufacture was accomeach week, the subscription being fifty plished. cents per month, or $5 per year if paid What is the difference between 3ou and my old doll? asked a little girl of in advance. Aw her sisters snobbish beau. 1 cant say' weall3r, m3' little deah, For subscription and advertisements and aw. Well, you have an address The Cottonwood Observer, my old doll has a glass eye, said the Alta City, Little Cottonwood, Utkh. triumphant urchin. eye-glas- s, J Staple & Fancy Groceries, Dried Fruits, Hams, Bacon, Cheese, Fish, Candles, Plug and Smoking Tobaccos &c, &c To Miners and Prospectors. We have on hand a full line of Picks, Shovels Drills and Drill Steel Striking and Hand Hammers Wheelbarrows, Blasting Powders, Fuse, &c. &c. Mining Candles, Oro Sacks, Twine &c. Call and Examine our Stock. Walker Brothers. |