The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-10-28

To-day received the appointment to
| travel in India for the firm of Melting
ton s. Wellington. II she will go
with me-"
| Ellyot leaned forward to shake
hands with his friend.
"You have my best wishes, Char
ley" he said earnestly, and if you
win her, you viii win jewel of the
very finest water!"
AS Charles Austin walked home
ward through the darkness OF the
stormy February night, musing on the
newer and brighter life in store for
him, the Fate which lies in wait for
US all when we least expect it was
biding its time, stern and inexorable.
just as his fancy was picturing a fire
lit hearth, with Little Lily's dove-like
eyes shining beside it, his foot slipped
on an ice-glazed curb-stone and he fell
with his whole might on an unlucky
ankle bone. There was one instant of
sharp intolerable pain-one thrill as
if nerve was telegraphing to nerve
through his whole body-and then he
tainted on the pavement.
When he returned once more to
something like consciousness, he was
lying on the sofa in his own bachelor
parlor at the St. Breadalbane Hotel,
his ankle bandaged, his brows wrapped
in iced cloths, and a sickfy smell of
drugs permeating the whole room.
whats the matter?" he cried out.
Have / been sick?"
And the recollection returned to
him.
"Is there much damage done" he
faltered.
"No," they told him; she had
great reason to be thankful that his
life was spared to him."
| Am 1 a cripple? ?" with. a down
ward glance to where his throbbing
ankle was supported among pillows,
and the Surgeon answered:
1t will be months, perhaps years,
before you will entirely recover the
use of your hurt limb. Nor can l
promise it ever, as an absolute certain
typ
A low groan broke from between
Charles Ausin's parched lips. The
glittering castles in the air that his
fancy had SO lately built up; like a
dream they melted away. And first
in all the bright vanishing phantas-
magorias shone the pure, peaceful face
of Little Lily!
1t was all over now; he must teach
himself to forget! The bitter, bitter
lesson-to forget!
And then came on fever, and long
days when life, hung as it were ON
mere cobweb Of chance, and death
watched gaunt and grisly, close at his
side; and when Charles Austin walked
out cf the istless fever-dream, he was
weak as any babe!
Is it you, Ellyot?" he gasped fee
bly, when he had rallied strength suf-
ficient to speak. {. l thought it was a
woman's facew
You mustn't talk. old fellow I"
said Herbert, approaching with some
medicinal draught. Woman's face?
OF course it was woman's lace.
Betty Briggs has just been washing up
the hearth and oil-cloths."
Austin frowned feebly. Betty
Briggs, indeed? as if those deep
dreamy eyes, that velvet touch be-
longed to Betty Briggs. But he was
too weak to argue the matter, and so
he swallowed his draught, and went
feebly to sleep, still wondering vague
lywhat woman had sat at his bedside.
AS the days went on he grew
stronger, until at length they allowed
him to sit up amid big cushions in a
capacious easy chair by window.
"This is splendid, Ellyot." he said,
without turning his head, as a foot
step sounded on the threshold. But 1
am very weak still, old fellow. What
made you stay away so long?"
There was no answer. He locke d
round-straight into the blue limpid
deeps of Little Lily's eyes!
"Little Lily!"
.'Yes, Mr.. Austin-Charley- is
l." she said, laughing, and coloring as
pink as sweet pea. "Now you
mustn't take hold Of my hands-how
can l talk 2"
"You don't talk through your fin
ger-ends, Little Lily!" For the poor
invalid could jest still.
" No, but listen to me. 1 am not a
governess now, Charley. I am rich
heiress. The South American mining
shares have proved success. My
aunt's Investment has quadrupled!
Charley, why do you look so sorry 2"
His countenance had fallen. He
had had many long hours for thought
during his illness. He had made up
his mind that with the money he had
saved, not much, but still enough, he
might ask Little Lily to grace the
poor cripple's home. Surely it might
be better than theill-paid drudgery of
a governess's life. But now
Do look sorry, Little Lily only
because it widens the gulf between US
still more hopelessly."
His head dropped deiectedly on his
hand. Little Lily came to his side.
"Charles," she faltered. 81 know
not how to say it,, ut-but-while
you were i'll, and L was here helping
to nurse you"
!" You here then it was your face ?''
e" Yes, it was my face" she nodded.
AT that time we thought that the
valley of death was already encom-
passing you, Mr.. Ellyot told me of
what happened on the night of your
accident"