Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-09-06

0reSnam ana The TWO ladies' Oh Tile We
randa looking after him.
The horse was Il beautiful one, but
celebrated through the whole county
for his bad disposition; and aunt Rhoda
had been in despair at the idea of his
purchasing it.
So he rode away with laughing
words on his lips, down into the high
road, and in less than an hour he was
brought back, dying, As they believed.
The,plan who hal seen the accident
told them of the struggle between the
horse and rider. Dudley has. managed
him well enough. but at last he reared
and fell backward. carrying Clement
with him and crushing him under i'm
the fall. =srs-- ..-rs.-
The physicians came-grave enough
they looked. There were in
Eternal il,juries-he might die soon ie
might live-fo months or years. bur pro-
badly would be ii helpless cripple all his
days.
Who was TO tell Lindsay? For once
aunt Khoda's courage gave way; she
was utterly helpless, and Miss Clare not
much better; so the painful task de-
volved upon Harry Gresham.
Lindsay heard their cries outside her
doerss ape1ha psy soaie prehoinilion of
new trouble came over her ksfor she
sprang ont ofbed, wrapped a dressing
gown about her, and opening the door,
Suddenly appeared before them like the
ghost of the happy creature they had
yesterday thought so beautiful.
"What is it?" she demanded, in Il
sharp, strained voice. 1'What has hap
pened:"
Aunt Rhoda could only cover her face
| and sob, and Gresham, gently as he
could, told her what had happened
/ ''Is he dying?" She asked. il. whis-
per, that seemed TO her listeners would
ring in their ears forever.
Gresham knew that the whole truth
was best; he, told her exactly swhateth
surgeon had said.' 80 'ss' --- IS 's
Without a word she went back to her
room, dressed, knelt down, and prayed,
at least, that she might stand by his
bed without one hitter feeling Her
| first IMPULSE had been to tell them the
! whole story; at least she could save his
memory from reproaeh.set
| Hours after, when Clement dudley
returned TO consciousness for Il brief
space, Lindsay was sitting by his bed.
FIhere was much that was good left in
his nature still; and the pang of remorse
4 that wrung his heart was worse than
the agony of death would have been.
Weeks after, when he WAS out of dam
ger, could talk and be talked to- the bur
den of his secret was more than he
could bear. He broke out suddenly rs
Lindsay sat by him.
81 shall be a cripple all my days." he
said. 'Don't be sorry, Lindsay; be
glad, for was not fit to marry you-l
meant to do you great wrong"
81 know" she said, gently. 81
heard your conversation with Mr.
Gresham that night"
He turned away his head; after i
briefsilence he said:
lyon meant to have left me?"
eyes; | never would have seen yor
again.
'HHowh you must hate me, Lindsay
Aud you have been SO gentle, so good
The doctor says yonr nursing has done
Eas much As anything to save my life
They can move me soon now, Lindsay
shall not trouble you any more
They did not talk much but the sIIf
fering he endured, the humiliation o
feeling that she knew the truth, ant
that lac had SO long lain there dependen
on her Kindness drought back the feve
land that night they believed him dy
ing.
He thought so, too.
"I am glad of it, he whispered
wearily, to Lindsay. ''Send them al
out" ss-~fszs
She sent them away, and came bacl
. 20 the bed.
~ He stretched out his wasted hand TO
, hers. and said, brokenIy.
''YOu can believe me nova dvin;
} man doesn't lie. Lindsay, die lovin
yon- know that old maaln ess was u
reality never loved any woman b,i
E you. Remember that always, and thin
l as gently of me as You caiI.''
III His eyes closed, his head sunk bac
, on the pillow-Lindsay thought it WI.
/ all over. ! tssA ,t.,s.s n
? But he did not die and months after
when he could get about on cr,ltches
and was going to leave them, Lindsa
told him the truth.
. 81 don't mean to let you co. 'sh
[ said, "for | love you.''
And she married him. That was fiv
b years ago. To-day he is well an
> strong, does good with his life, useful i
: his day and generation; and Lindsa
y has never ceased to thank God, tn:
: helped her to forgive. She has til
best reward that any human being ca
Y haye-she is loved.
|