Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-30

4
her reason and eased her throobing heart.
A settled melancholy had seized upon her,
and after repeated solicitations from her,
and with the advice of q physician, Ger
aid resolved TO revisit the scene of their
loss.
The many beautiful scenes through
which they passed seemed to have q
tranquillizing effect upon Lillian, and sf-
ter devious windings, and brief sojourn
in N where Lily 30 mysteriously disap-
peared, they proceeded sorrowfully to
the city in whose vicinity resided Clar-
ence Everton, all unconscious that the OBJ
ject of their solicitude was so near them.
They had been there several days, and
were driving out through the surround
ing country, when they encountered 9
party upon horseback. One figure riveted
their attention, lovely maiden, whose
chestnut locks were Oyer-saadowed by a
dropping plume which but lent an added
| charm to the beautiful face beneath. AS
| the eyes of the maiden rested upon the
pale occupant of the passing carriage,
che bent IS if in recognition, and was
then borne rapidly along by her spirited
horse. One glance Lillian gave, and
quickly suppressed cry escaped her lips.
so, Gerald, it is, it must be Lily. So
mist she look after all these years. Find
her, Gerald, or my poor heart will
break, F" and faint and exhausted she fell
back upon the supporting arm of her
| husband.
He stopped the coachman and in
quired if he knew the young lady who
had just passed them, and was answered
that it was 'sMiss Everton, daughter of
Mr.. Everton of Oakland"
Gerald had been much startled by the
striking resemblance of Miss EVerton to
his wife, and the hope that had revived
at the sight of her faded at the words
daughter of Mr. Everton." The drive
home was thoughtful one, and he re-
solved to know more of the Evertons, of
Oakland.
The shock to Lilian's shattered nerves
was such as to confine her to her room
aud couch, and Gerald glanced with a
sinking foreboding at the ethereal lovli-
ness of his adored wife. Search diligently
hewould, though no means had been left
untried by which intelligence could be
gained of the missing one; but chance
favored him when least expected.
Standing disconsolately one afternoon
on the steps Of his hotel, he was startled
by hearty slap, and, turning suddenly,
stood face to face with an old companion
and classmate of by-gone days, no less a
person than Clarence Everton.
'Gerald, old fellow, how heartily glad
l am to meet you once again"
ga Il
pleasure. l never hoped to meet you
again in this vale of tears, and cannot
express what feel at this meeting. But
come into the house, and acquaint me
with all that has befallen you since last
we met" So saying, he led the way into
the parlor, where they were soon engaged
in the exchange of mutual confidence.
Clarence was surprised to find in Gerald
Lacy, his rival for Lilian's hand, as,
since the night of his rejection by her,
he never heard aught concerning her.
He urged Gerald to make his home their
own during their stay, an invitation cor
daily accepted for the invalid's sake. He
felt that he could now meet Lillian with
no feeling save that of friendship. Gerald
at last unbosomed his heart and acquaint-
ed him with the loss of his Lily, which
knowledge he had at first withheld, from
the pain it ever caused him to allude to
it. Instantly it flashed through Clarence's
mind that the father of the Lily he called
his own stood before him, and now COM
menced mighty struggle. His emotion
was so great that had Gerald been less
| painfully preoccupied, he must have OBJ
served it. With an effort he succeeded
in calming his agitation, and listened
silently to each minute detail of his COM
| panion. But not yet was he sufficient
master of himself to undertake the task
of restitution. Lily had become such
part of his very existence, that the mere
| thought of separation wrung the heart
of the strong man until drops of agony
| stood upon his broad brow. Promising
| to call on the morrow for his invited
| guests, Clarence left, glad to be alone
with his own sad thoughts. He dwelt
with bitterness on his first fatal love, and
now must she again stand between him
and hsppiness9 Long he battled with
| conscience, but the remembered teach
ings of his Lily prevailed, and, hard
though the struggle, he resolved to in
form her of the change to take place in
her life. He had passed through the
ordeal, but its traces were left upon his
brow, and haggard countenance pre-.
| sented itself to the gaze of Lily, who
anxiously awaited his coming.
"Whst is the matter, dear guardian,
are you i'll 2" she said, advancing towards
him.
With q deep groan he sank into the
nearest seat. Lily would have summoned
assistance, but he detained her. 'It is
nothing, Lily; faintness that will soon
pass away. But sit down, have some
| thing to tell you"
After some hesitation, he commenced
the narration of what Gerald Lacy had
told him, Infinite delight filled the mind
of our gentle Lily, and tears of Joy
welled from her eyes.
go, it must have been her met in my
ride. She was apparently a stranger
here, but it seemed that somewhere had
| known and loved her. Tell me, dear
guardian, was it not my own precious
| mother?" She told him of the meeting,
and he knew her spirit but spoke truly,
and nature had guided the recognition.
Chow very, very happy you have made
me. Can not go to her now?n
'CNot tonight, Lily. She must be
| prepared. The unexpected happiness
would prove fatal in her precarious state,
but tomorrow she is coming here to meet
her child, and bear her to her happy
home. But, Lily, Lily, my JOY, my
treasure, all sunshine will vanish from
my home, and be left so desolate. How
can part with you, Lily, how give up
one who has so long been the light of my
life. But forgive this selfishness that
should rejoice in your new-found joy,
and promise me, darling, that you will
never forget or cease TO think of your
guardian.
Forget you as if could ever for
get What would have been my fate,
had you not taken the friendless wander
er in, and through all these long years
extended the same loving, watchful care
around her, fearful that aught should
give her pain Why should part with
you, desr guardian, could ] live with
out you, even in the happy home of my
parents, secure in their precious love9 o,
relentless fate, that in restoring me to pa
rents SO yearned for, yet tears me from a
guardian so beloved9" And Lily, I'M