The Republican journal., 1870-11-17

since hCF COnNalcSccncc. 30 SHc utoSScQ ncf-
sell in her gayest attire, she put on her most
spirited manner, and wore her smile that
was like q sunbeam athwart cloudy weather
Lovers who had hung about her to distraction
passed with q nod-at most with a touch of
estranged fingers, and congratulations upon
recovery, with an effort at appearing natural.
Rival beauties, who hitherto had exchanged
only CONCEALED commonplaces with her,
sympathetically assured her that "the scars
would wear away in time"
Il know it," she answered; ''but while
they are wearing away, SO am -
Beauty is worth everything here" she
thought, 'Down at Briarbanks perhaps
they discount it." SO she wrote to Mrs.
! Jacob Andrews, ''Tm coming down to see
you for a day or two.n
"Ahem y said that far-sighted matron, s'to
see John. Why can't folks be honest?"
When John and Lillian met, Mrs. Andrews,
discreet soul, contrved to be engaged in her
dairy.
II suppose you came down to cure me
with that scar" said he; ''but when | look
At you don't see itn' And then the impu-
dent fellow up and kissed it all the same.
| The ancents believed in the ordeal by
fire. said Lii.
Because fire destroys whatever is not i'm
mortal,n returned John; "thus ruth and
love survive it,
'IIe kissed this poor marred face" she
said, regarding it that night before the mir
ror. cit cannot be love, it must be pity
He misjudges his own feelings; by-and-by
he would come to his senses, and where
should be? No; it would be wicked for
me to takc the advantage. And then what is
to prevent him from thinking that esteemed
my charred face good enough for him, now
that the idle mncing youths who once
adored me pass me by
''You'll never do better than to marry
John,' said her outspoken aunt, ''with that
face Of yours. You won't find everybody to
overlook it,
Il know it." said Lii humbly. ''Thats
Just the point. He's so GOOD that ! don't like
to impose upon him."
"Well, for my part, | don't see how it
matters, Il little beauty more or less, Jacob
there want a palmer man to be found, and
I'm no great shakes, either
50 Miss Lii returned home, and waited
five, six, eight years. At the third year the
scar had begun to grow dim; at the sixth
it was scarcely more than a shadow at the
end of the eighth strangers who had not
heard Of its existence never guessed it had
been. Only these who were used to the
sight, in certain lights, recognized its ghost
But by this time Lillian was thirty years old
people were beginning to speak of her as
passe; younger girls were springing up to
take her place; yet, for all this, lovers, one
after another, liocked back to her standard.
The scar had been 4 false alarm-thcy We're
not afraid of shadows. Surely, now that she
held fortune in her hand it was time for
while She deliberated, John came up from
Briarbanks to invest some money for Mrs.
Jacob.
"Shc says i is for your wedding dover,
Lillian" he explained gloomiy. Il suppose
YOU viii marry some day, like other people
| never expect to, since you refused to marry
me"
But, John, was = sight TO behold then
and
You are always . pleasant sight 10 hc-
hold"
And then you know, you were going tc
marry me-oh! what am saying? whether
would or no.'
And so am! It's the very thing came
for; the other was only Il mAle-bclicvc,
guess. Shall it be this day month -
But, john, is the scar
"Contound the scar. twas only a beauty
spot"
''perhaps But you are the only one who
said SO and | wouldn't have YOU think that
married you .lack~ata pinch believe You
kissed the scar away, rs the children say OF
their bruises.n
"Then I'll t.y and kiss it back again
And there is every reason to believe that he
was as good as his word.
So John Yarmouth married lii, as he had
vowed he would, and took her to BrarbankS
And though her friends looked grave, ant
predicted evil results she makes i mode
farmers wife, fullills her duties with u grace
peculiar to herself, and has never wasted /;
regret on her final choice
And Mrs. Andrews mods over her specta
cles and says
Nothing could have pleased me better
as il She were the principal one to be suited
"And John and Lillian shall have every
acre and every iarthing when Pm gone"