The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-07-19

in wait for US when we least ex-
pect it, was biding it's time, stern
and inexorable. Just as bis fancy
was picturing q fre-lit hearth,
with Little Lilly's dovelike eyes
shining beside it, his foot slipped
on an ice-glazed curbstone and be
fell with his whole might on one
unlucky ankle bone. There was
one instant Of sharp intoleraole
pain-one thrill as if nerve was
telegraphing to nerve through his
whole body-and then he tainted
on the pavement.
When be returned once more to
something like consciousness, he
was lying on the sofa in his own
bachelor parlor at the St. Bread
albane Hotel, his ankle bandaged,
his brows wrapped in iced cloths
and a sickly smell Of drugs perme-
ating the whole room.
"What's the matter2" he cried
out. @Have [ been sick ?"
And the recollection returned
to him.
"Is there much damage done ?''
he faltered.
"No." they told him; "he had
great reason to be thankful that
life was spared to him."
Gam I a cripple 2" with a down
ward glance to where his throb-
bing ankle was supported among
pillows, and the surgeon answer
ed:
1T will be months-perhaps
years before you will entirely re-
cover the use of your hurt limb.
Nor can I promise it ever, rs an
absolute certainty!"
Allow groan broke from between
Charles Austin's parched lips
The glittering castles in the air
that bis fancy had so lately built
up-like q dream they melted
away. And first in all the bright
vanishing pbantasmagoria's shone
the pure, peaceful face of Little
Lilly!
It was all over now-he must
teach himself to forget! The bit
ter, bitter lesson-to forget!
And then came on fever-and
long days when life hung as it
were, on q mere cobweb of chance,
and Death watched gaunt and
grissly, close at his sidc-and when
Charles Austin walked out Of the
listlcss fcver-dream be was weak
as any babe.
"Is it you, Ellyot?" he gasped
feebly when he had rallied strength
sufficient to speak. II thought it
was q woman's face"
"You mustn't talk, old fellow p
said Herbert, approaching with
some medicinal draught. "Wo.
mans face, of course it was a wo-
mans face. Betty Briggs has
just heen here washing up the
hearth and oilcloths."
Austin frowncd fcebly. 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 wan.
dering vaguely what woman had
sat by his bedside.
As the days went on ho grew
stronger, until at length they al
lowed him to sit up amid big cush-
ions in q capacious easy chair by a
window.
"This is splendid, Ellyot," he
said. without turning his head, as
footstep sounded on the threshold
HBut I am very weak still, old fel,
low. Wha: made you stay so
long?"
There was no answer. He look.
cd round-straight into the blue
limpid deeps of Little Lilly's eyes.
"Little Lilly"
eyes, Mr.. Austin-Cbarlie- it
is l." she said laughing, and color
ing as pink as sweet-pea. "Now
you mustn't take hold of my hands
how can | talk ?"
"You don't talk through your
finger ends Little Lilly p (For
the poor invalid could jest still.)
"No, but listen to me. l am
not a governess now, Charlie. l
am rich heircss. The South
American mining shares b ave- e
proved success. My aunt's IN
vestment has quadrupled. Char
lie why do you look so sorry ?"
His countenance had fallen. He
had had many long hours tor
thought during his illness. He
had made up his mind that with
the money he had saved, not much,
but still enough, he might still ask
Little Lilly to grace the poor Grip
ple's home. Surely it might be
better than the ill.paid drudgery
of a governess' life. But now
do I look sorry, Little Lilly !
only because it widens the guilt
between US still more hopelessly."
His head dropped dejectedly on
his hand. Little Lilly came to
his side.
"Charles," she faltered, II know
lo- k1 eo-st hr% -hSlo