The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-11-14

Arthur was. Inc OLD mans race Qarheneu
and he said he did not know.
}, "He has come home," thought Mr.
Hartley, "and dare not tell me that be
wants to break his engagement with my
poor girl"
Summer had come round again. One
calm evening Lillian wandered slowly and
cautiously y over the smooth paddock she
hasbeen accustomed to blindness now,
and could find her way about, with no
other guide than the old Newfoundland
dog Nero, who nigh: have known bis
mistress's misfortune, he was so careful
never to leave her side. Lillian sat down
on the rustic seat beneath the garden
wall. As the twilight crept on she could
hear the jug jug of the nightingale, and
the faintwhirr of the broad winged moths
as they flew past. Nature seemed draw.
Ing deep breath after the stili, hot day,
as,the faint breeze swept dreamily through
the thick foliage. 1t was on such anoth
er evening as this that Arthur had told
his first love. 4 tremor passed through
Lillian's frame as she remembered tha.
she could see everything then, the fading
light, the golden sky in the far west, the
gathering clouds, the green trees--ah. how
little she could know of nature now how
life itself had changed, aud all the bright.
ness gone.
! Suddenly the dog at her feet spraug up
with an angry, bark, and dashed into an
opposite thicket; Lillian started up, and
tried, poor girl to look her hardest in the
direction of the sound Presently a man
issued out of the gloom, and stood with.
in twenty yards Of her hesitatng to ap,
proach, or waiting for some sign Of recog.
milton. He wore broad. brimmed bat
slouched over his face, and long cloak
hung from his shoulders =; but the dog
knew him, and crouched with whine
at his feet. Why then did she stand SO
motionless? There was only one expla,
nation she did not know him. Who
would know him now? Who could real
lied the fearful change?
He stole little nearer through the
tall grass he could see her white figure
distinctly, and her face was towards him;
even her eyes seemed to look at him, yet
they did rot seem concious of his presence
She waved her hand and called the dog.
Moro looked IN his old masters face, Mute,
ly asking why he stayed behind, and then
obedient to Lillian's second call, he went
slowly after her
The stranger drew hard breath, watch
ing the pair as they passed beneath the
old elms; at the gate the dog turned once
more and looked back, then trotted on.
Arthur sat down on the seat Lillian had
left, and covered bis face with his hands.
An hour later the broad, full moou lit
up the fields and lawn, and threw sharp
shadows of the overhanging branches on
the carriage drive, Arthur stole softly 10
the front Lawn; the old fashioned win.
dows Of the drawing room were open on
the grass. and he could see distinctly
iuto the room. Mrs. Hartley was reading
By the lamp; Lillian sat in a comp mparative
shadow playing the piano, no notes on
the stand.
Presently Arthur recognized the air
it was one Of his old favorites that he had
heared her play dozen times. Did she
remember who had once listened to it so
lovingly? Was it left for him to break
the spell of her happines, by betraying
his hldeous secret? All better that she
should have forgtten him; better tnat
he should bear all the pain, than that she
should ever feel particle of the horror
he had gone through.
II will see her father" he thought ~
will explain it to him, and leave it in bis
hands to decide between US. He cannot
wish to spare her the shock Of seeing me
more than do; he cannot be harder on
me than fate has already been and at
least have seen her once again"
The entrance of servant disturbed
the quiet trio il the drawing room.
off you please, sir, gentleman wishes
to see you in the library"
"To see me 2" calculated Mr.. Hartley,
only half awake. "Show him up, Ste.
phen."
"He particularly wishes to see you
alone,i you please, sir, and wouldn't send
up his name" said the man.
"Very WELL I'll come" said Mr.. Hart
ley; and he went.
81 wonder who it can be ?" said Mrs
Hartley, looking up over her spectacles.
Lillian did rot know, aud resumed her
playing. A little time back such visit
or would have made her tremble, now
hope and expectations had laid too long
dormant to be so easily aroused.
In the library Mr.. Hartley found the
tall stranger standing on the Hearth-rug
he still wore the slouched bat, and his
face was too completely shaded to be rec
ognized, hardly to be seen. Something,
however, in his bearing struck the old