The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1871-11-15

~ lGGk ttos ia d IT. GbN "ottIi MI
dcrstand what he had asked me TO do. 81
adj going away d stay ten years unless he
wants me-"
a"n he doeSHo. wait you, you prefer stay
ing out there"
"les. What prospects is there of any
one else wanting me?"
Il suppose none,' she answered quietly,
" as you say so; but we shall be glad to see
YOU when o return. Not that you will
care for that either, for you care for nothing,
YOU know, except fortuniZing your life."
Her words, in their quiet, simple scorn
stabbed me to the haart.
"That is a wide world, Lettice," l said,
"and a world which even yet l have not
fathomed."
"But you expect to do so in Melbourne ?"
"IhOpe so.'
With an odd little laugh she changed the
subject; and very 500 Frank drove up to
the gate. Mr.. Oldfield anu Amy went out
and stood beside the dogcart, talking to him,
while L followed more slowly. Lettice came
with me, and stood a minute under the
bare old lime tree, with the winter sun
shine on her bright face. And I-looked
down upon her-knew that this picture
would dwell in my heart through all my
life.
Her testing scorn was all gone now; only
her eyes were o little puzzled, and a little
sad.
"You will be quite happy, Max she
said, with that happiness which make
others happy too"
"Tell me how, Lettice." l cried, the
strong and passionate love of my heart
trembling in my voice. "Tell me how to
win this happiness"
81 cannot" she answered softly. az cam
not teach yon what you know so WELL"
"Lettice, !" | said, "my one dearest friend,
this is the last moment. Give me some
few words of help to take with meas a
sister would have given them to me-"
Very softly, while her clear, sweet eyes
looked bravely into mine, she whispered
the little verse, which has been ever with
me since, and has helped nae often, as her
voice could help MI in those far-otf days:
There is q cross in eyery lot,
And an earnest need OF PRAYER:
But q lonely heart that leans on God
Is happy everywhere.
From the gate 1 looked back wistfdlly to
where she still stood under the winter
branches, and she smiled one bright. quick
smile and ran in.
Then 1 sat down beside Frank, and Amy
sprang up, and gave me, with terrified
eyes, the onlp kiss among all my sad good
bys.
Later on, in the frosty winter morning.
VIC wv DiOblCISs WIN HUI ECcu tUkcIllcT Ill
our lives, parted On the deck Of the great
waiting vessel, with only 4 few broken
words, and one long, close, lingering hand
grasp.
"The ten years are passing, and you
must keep your promise, Max, and come"
/ read the words over and over again. II
was not yet ten, but over seven years since
| had set foot in Melbourne, and In every
letter Frank had sent me through those
long years l bad expected to tell me what
he had told ME at last. Yet, now that 1t
was told, the lines seemed to swim before
my eyes, and my fingers would not write
the glad and congratulatory words wished
to send him.
snow that my reward Is come, he wrote.
/" i claim YOU promise. We only DELAY our
marriage for your arrival. Max, old fellow,
you would have felt happy for me indeed, If
you had seen how willingly Mr.. Oldfeld
gave my darling to me. l had been a son to
him for years, he said: l could hardly be
nearer when l was his daughters husband.
when o come. How soon can you be
homer"
So, upon a bright spring morning, Frank
and l met once more In England !; and tired
with a tiredness which l had never felt be-
fore, / rested that evening in my own chair
beside the CHEEKY home fire ; striving to
look back joyfuly into my brothers beam-
ing face.
in his quick, glad tones.
ga little but was thinking how utterly
content you look, Frank"
$50 I ought to, ought I not? because I am
so utterly content. Do ] look changed in
any other way
$50 ! look utterly content, do /? yet !
have had trouble too. You ought to say you
see the traces, Max"
"What trouble has it becn:" l asked.
"A trouble of five years ago, Max he
answered quietly; "a trouble 1 never felt
that l could tell you in a letter. When 1
first asked Lettice to be my wife she-shere
fused me, Max"
81 feared so, Frank ! said, so low that he
stepped forward to catch the words. 81
feared so from your silence at that time.
But never mind, dear fellow, as it has ended
SO brightly"
"No, 1 don't mind now one atom. 1t has
ended so brightly, as you say"
1t seemed like a dream to be walking once
more at Franks side on the shadowy street;
and still more like a dream to be entering
unnoticsd, the pretty, familiar room, where
Lettice sat alone at the window sewing in
the twilight.
"Lettice," cried Frank, in gay eagerness,
"Here's Max"
l was standing opposite her, lookieg down
upon her with still, calm eyes ; the grave,
elder brother of her afianced husband. She
dropped her work, and put her two hands
into mine In quick, glad greeting; and I
spoke to her just as ! knew Frank would
wish mt to speak to her ; watching all the
while his face as we'll as hers. She was chang
ed more than he was. The face that bad
been almost child-like in its sunny beauty
was a woman's face now; deeper and grav-
er, but infinitely moro beautiful, l thought,
as l saw Its old bright, sunny smile still
there. She looked up at Frank, a wonderful
light shining in her eyes.
NOW you have all you wish, Frank" she
said. And l felt that she was as happy in
big love as he was In here. stood beside
ihsr. 4alkinn L.. laInhin na.ial Lana. La.