The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-08-10

grave elder brother of her affianced hus-
band. She dropped her work, and put
her two hands into mine in quick, glad
greeting; and 1 spoke to her just as I
knew Frank would wish me to speak TO
her; watching all the while his face as
well as hers She was changed more
| than he was. The face that had been
almost childlike in its sunny beauty was
woman's face now deeper and graver,
but infinitely more beautiful, thought,
as saw its old bright, sunny smile still
there. She looked up at Frank, won
derful light shining in her eyes.
"Now you have all you wish, Frank"
she said. And 1 felt that she was as
happy in his love as he was in hers. 1
stood beside them, talking in laughing,
genial tones; hoping that she could
never guess how hardly 1 had schooled
myself to this.
Presently Frank passed out through
the open window, and Lettice, looking
after him, raised her eyes questioningly
to me.
"You think us all changed, 1 suppose,
Max, even Frank"
EYES," answered, absently.
"But you have not seen Amy yet"
she went on, smiling. "She of course is
most changed of all. Frank is gone to
fetch her, I fancy. He says she is like
what I was at her age, but that is only
his pleasant fattery, for she is very,
very pretty"
followed her words dreamily, wonder
ing whether it could really be seven
year since Lettice and had stood talk
| ing to each other last; while I felt how
impossible it was that the little one
whom we had all combined to pet and
spoil could be all what Lettice was in
those old sweet days.
Frank seemed to know exactly
where she would be-" Lettice went on,
little nervously fancied in my silence.
"You remember the low old seat under
the lilacs, MaxP Amy is as fond of sit
| ting there as-as l used to be when l
was her age. You used to say too that
you loved to rest there on a summer eve
ming; but you have been away 50 long,
doing so much, that those old memories
will be all buried now?"
"Yes. They are all buried" ans
wered, feeling the scarlet mount into
my face to contradict the GOODNESS of my
words.
She smiled, little wistful smile, which
had strange, brave tenderness in it.
"I too have lived seven years since
then," she said: "but the old memories
bury them for all the world"
Because it is so different with you
and me-" faltered. "I-1 think 1
have no courage left. How long Frank
stays"
al see them in the lower garden now,"
she answered, gently, looking away from
me as struggled with my pain.
How quickly Amy would have run
in to greet me in the old times" said,
speaking once more as had schooled
myself to do; only that little bitter
ness would creep into the tone.
EYES," laughed Lettice, softly, "but
she will not come this evening without
Frank. She has been quite timid about
your return. She asked me to-day if
you would think Frank had chosen un-
wisely because she is SO much younger
than he is; so ignorant and untried, she
said"
In the bewildered, breathless silence
which followed Lettice's words, she
looked up at me; deep shadows gather
ing in her eyes as if she too felt the
agony of the doubt and hope which
stirred me.
"Do you think Frank has chosen
wisely, Max, in taking my little sister ~
she asked, speaking plainly the truth,
which she knew now that had never
heard.
Lettice-Lettice, is it so?" 1 stam-
mered, my fingers tight upon the chair
below me, and my heart beating wildly.
"Yes, Max" she answered, ait is So"
And l knew that she could read the
whole story in my quivering face.
"And you, Lettice?"
a." she answered, in bright, low
tone" 1 have waited"
Then covered my face hurriedly for
boyish tears had overfowed my eyes in
the untold joy Of this surprise.
"Max," she whispered, her gentle
touch upon my arm, II thought that
you knew this, and had come for their
sakes."
"No; not for their sakes, Lettice fol-
Franks and yours"
"Why for my sake 7" she asked, tears
shining in her own eyes as she looked
brightly into mine.
Then, low and brokenly, 1 told her OF
my love; the long, hopeless love which
would not die. And at last she answered,
with her little gentle hands ON mine,
and deep, true gladness shining behind
the tears.
MAX, dear Max, am very glad l
waited"
"Max," said Frank that night after
we got home, "may have the old plate
put back upon the doorY"
We both laughed at the idea, for
Frank was DIR. Hamilton now, and had
half-a-dozen letters after my name but
we took candle and went off at once to
find it. Frank-sitting down and TAX
ing it upon his knee-brushed the thick
dust from it quite tenderly while, lean
ing over his shoulder, read the letters
as he cleared them.
Hamilton Brothers! 1t does not do
Frank, and yet thank God for the truth
it tells. We are brothers still; we will
be brothers to the end"
Three persons, woman and her two
daugters. were poisoned recently a
Lockport, Ohio, by drinking buttermill
which had lain for some time in a pat
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