Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1869-02-06

Three hundred dollars y
"Irs a miserable pittance, Lilly"
i, viii be . small fortune to me, Miss
Sarah" the girl answered, smiling.
Miss sarah shook her head and said
II think Charles Austin ought 10 have
married you. Every one thought bis in
tentions meant something serious T.
Little Lilly suddenly grew rosy all over.
che dropped pair Of Cindrelia-iike Sup
pers on the door, and came near putting the
psker in her trunk
Mr.. Austin was very kind to me al
ways" she said. hurrisdiy, "but-but he
never gave me any reason to suppose--.-
yes, YES" said Mrs. Sarah, II under.
stand. You're good girl. Lilly.-and il
you give me these slippers, IN sew on tbs
black satin ressttss, while you finish
paskipe.n' -
1t vas late when she kissed little Lilly
good night, and trudged home through the
snow-but ~ she battlsd her way through
the dpsk aed wind shs still outtsrsd reso-
lutely to herself:
s"ShS may say what she will shdii
maintain 70 my dying day that Charles
Austin. after oil his attentions, ought TO
have oesss forward like man asd married
her new"
Il was soma thinK like month subss
qusn,ly to the scene above sks,ched whom
Mr.. Charles Austin sat in Herbert Ellyots
library cententedly sharing with tho last
named gentleman the Injuries Of cigar, .
crate fire and tste a tete.
"well. Elyot," he said, after one or two
topics Of conversation had been exhausted,
"aud how goes on your wifc's new govern
css -
LAS good as gold and as true - steel y
answered the gentleman addressed. shes
WORT score Of city bellies. with all the
stars Of Saratoga and Newton thrown in,
Austin; and if you dsn't marry her, I'll
call you out-pis,ols ct ten PAGES and no
compremiss y
"You nsedn't give yourself that unnsc-
essary trouble" answered Austin, ! an 60
ing to marry her"
"And Why the ducs haven't you done
Il sooner 2" demanded Ellyott, perempto>
rIly.
II wanted TO try hsr-to prove the solid
worth end ssseurces OF her character"
And are you satisfied nowv
81 am satisfied. She has been weighed
10 the balance sud not found wasting. l
mean to ask her 10 marry me to morrow !"
IL am glad Of it, from the bottom Of my
heart. l know you. Charley Austin, Blu,
the world does net. DO you know what
Mrs. Gundv has been saying about you p
"No--vhatY'
THAT you deserted Little Lilly because
her aunt's fortune vas dissipatsd 10 these
South American mining scht mes"
Austin celsrcd little.
LET the world talk" he said impetu.
eusly, what care for it's idle buzzl Up
to this time have been unable 10 support
. wife 40 one like Little Lilly ought to b
supported. To day | received the appoint.
msnt TO travel 10 India for the firm Of Mel
lington l. Wellington. II she will 20 with
me-"
Ellyss leaned forward to shake hand,
with his friend
"You have my best wishes Charley,
he said earnestly, land il you win her,
you will win . jewel Of the very first
water ~
As Charles Austin walked homsward
through the rknsss: Of the stormy Feb
brighter life in store for him, ths Fate
expect it was bidisg its time, stern and
ins1orabie. just as his fancy was pictur-
ing fire lit hearth, with Little Lily's dove
likeeyes shining beside it, his foot slip
ped on an ice glazed curb stone and he fell
with his whole might on an nnlucy ankle
bone. There was one instant Of sharp t.-
tolerAbls pain one thrill ~ II nerve was
WAS telegraphing to nerve through his
whole body-snd then he :fantsd on the
pavement.
When he returned once more to some
thingike consciousnsss. be was lying on
the sofa in his own bachelor parlor at the
St. Brsadalbans Hotel, his ankle bandsgsd
his brows Wrapped in iced cloths, and a
sickly smell Of drug psrmeating the whole
room.
whats the matter ?" he cried out.
"Havs | been sick p
And the recollection returned to him.
"ls there much damage done ?" no fall
tered.
mo" They told hin "he had grsa,
reason to be thankful that life vas spared
70 him."
IAN cripple 2" with downward glance
to where his throbbing ankle Was supp ort
cd among pillows, and the surgeon ans
Wered
1T will be months, perhaps years. be
fore you viii entirely recover the use oi
your hur, limb. Nor can promise i, ever.
rs an absolute certainty -
"A low groan broke from betw cen
Charles Austins parchsd lips. The gilt
tering castles in tho air that his fancy had
50 lately buiit up; like . dream, melts /
away. And first in all the bright vanish
ing phantasmagoras shone the pure, peace
fol face of Little Lilly.
1t was all over now. he must teach him
self to forget The bitter, bitter lesson
to forget
And then came on fever, and lenR day
chen life. hung IS It were On . mere cob
web Of chance, and Death watched eaunt
and grisly, close At his side; and when
Chatles Austin walked out Of the listIess
fever dream, he Was weak ~ any babe!
ia it you, Ellyoty" he gaspsd fesbly
shen he had rallied strength ssficisn,
10 speak. II thought il was . ~eman'a
face"
lyon muss talk, old fellow - said Her
bort, approaching with some medicnl
draught. Woman's face Of course II
was . wonan's face. Betty Briggs has JUS
been washing up the hearth and oil
| cloths"
Austin fro~ned fsebly. Betty Briggs
indeedi A. II those deep, dreamy eyo
that velvet teoeA belonged to Betty Brigga
But be vas teo weak to argue the matter
end - be swslleWsd his draueht, and ven
festly = el1sp, still wondering vagusly
what woman had at ct bis bedside.
A. he days Vsnlesn be grew stronger
untii atie0eSh they allowed him 70 cit Or
amid HE cushions in capacieus easy ehai
~ . window.
"rhis 10 splendid, Ellyet." he said, With
cut turning bic head, a. . footstsp soundss
on the thrsehola. "But am very veal
still, old fellow. What made you stay
away % long I"
There was no snsWsr. He locked srsunt
: Straight int the blue liDpid dssps .
Little Dly's eyssi
Little Lilyr'
eyes, NJ. Austin hasley--it 10 H. Oh,
said laughing. end cslsrins - pink % I
sweet pea. Nov ysu mustn't take he'd o
my hands-how can talk p
"Yeu dent talk through your Anger
ends, Little Lily y For the poor invaiit
could jest still.
mo, but listen to me. am net gov
srress now, Charley. am rich hsiress
The South American mining shares have
proved . success. Nv aunIs investment
be-, quadruplea Charley, who do 20,
look so sorry y
S. HIS csun edance hs d fallen. II, had n,
many lor9 houra for thnu,h< dnr;,~ ~