Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-07-05

her whole heart that she had passed
their open portals in her purity and in
| noCFnce.
Mollie Sterne Installed herself as
| nurse, and never had invalid tenderer
care, or more patient, faithful nursing.
Through the long, hot days, Moliie
never thought of weariness or discom-
fort where her comfort was concerned.
| And at last she had her reward by see
ing the faint color creep into the trans
paren cheek, and something of the old
brightness TO the pretty brown eyes.
But there was a little shadow there al
ways-a vague, indistinct shadow-like
the reflection of far-away oyer-hanging
\ trees in a woodland pool. 1t troubled
her not little, and one night it came in
to her dreams. She thought she saw
Lena lying faint and bruised at the bot
| tom of wild, dark ravine. Sharp, pre-
cipitous rocks shut her in on either side.
and at her feet, writhing in and out
like beautiful serpent, swept swift,
| cleaning Fiyer, whose transparent wa
ters took cO1Oring from every rock, and
tree, and cloud reflected in it. But as
she looked closer she saw cruel rocks,
and dark whirlpools under the beauti-
| =
nearer and nearer the helpless girl, and
she knew when it once reached her feet,
| that it would bear her away oh its rest
less tide. She stood spe1f-bound, listen
| ing to the soft plash of the bewildering
river, and Watching it creep nearer and
nearer with soft, sinuous motion. All
at once, just as the waters were tapping
the hem other garment, a hand was
suddenly lowered from above, which
lifted her safely and steadily out of the
| gloom, and darkness, and danger, into
the bright sunshine. AS the shadows
OF the rock fell away from them, and
the light struck across their faces, she
saw. as plainly as she ever did in her
waking moments, the calm, strong face
4 of Basil Dinsmore, bu t-tf1pre was new
4 Slefy-an indescribab}e radiance ilfum-
ing it, which she never had seen in her
| waking moments. Long afterwards,
when she had nearly forgotten it, it all
came back to her, as she waited with
more than the olden terror and suspense
for Its final fulffllinent.
1t was very evident that Lena was no
longer a subject for medicine, though
Doctor Dinsmore still continued his
visits. He timed them little different
ly, however,. for; instead of making a
| brief morning call in con- junction with
|
til: evening, or such other time as he
was most atsleisare. tAnd whatever eff
feet his visits had upon his patient, it
was very evident that upon the physi-
| clan himself their effect was truly Won
derful. There was a new elasticity in
his step, and IA deeper light i'm his eyes.
He smiled oftener, and altogether diff
ferent sort of a smile. 1t struck MOllie
one day that Doctor Dinsmore was grow
iug h3idsome, and she mentioned it to
Lena. To her astonishment Lena
blushed and was silent. She pondered
ibever IN, her heart all day, and when
Luke happened in (which happened
pretty often-too. often 1 am afraid for
the Interest off ''science, she an
nOunced that she had made a discovery
and asked him to guess its nature.
''Than- Il am in love with you,' he
said, laughing, to hide his .embarrass-
ment at his own boldness.
"Nonsensei do be serious Luke Var
l'iiey 1ier ruddy face taking on deeper
Shade.
make you realize how very serious l am.
If try to tell you, you turn me off with
light,Worls, aud Flangh at me. o Mol
tIietif you only knew" 49, -
".Where ignorance is bliss,''' she
laughed, @you know the rest, Luke. But
what started to tell you was of more
importance than-than-"
. "1han my love. Mollie, do you mean
that? a Slight quiver in his voice.
"Don't interrupt me, Luke. l shall
! never be able to tell you in the world
| at this rate" looking at him with lit
tie wicked, sideways glance. 'But you
you wont xbreatfle<a word of 1T to any
! living soul. L wouldn't tell anybody
but you, Lake, not. for anything"
The tsyou" brought Luke around in
stanter, and he was willing to promise
, any ythihg and everything fact, s
good deal more than she was quite ready
to have himl =
"WeH,n she said, after he had taker
/ / the requisite number of oaths, 81 thinl
i Doctor Dinsmore and Miss Lena are il
! love with each other. What do yo,
think of that?"
: 81 think it's more likely than tina
taeo other people that know of ever viii
4 be-leastWays, one. Of 'em. a.
III wish hadn t told youe' Mollie ex
q claimed. - "a
q "No, don't say that, dear-I meal
n Mulhe. lido think it is real queer
n though, and him SO much older. Blu
+ I'm very. glad if it is SO, for recko
. Mr.. Walter didn't leave much, and Mis-
q Lena amt much used to work, and she
! too proud TO be dependent"
10 While Luke and Mollie stood in tn
porch discussing the subject, Docto
a. Dinsmore himself came in at the gat
q i and passed into. the little sitting room
- The Thought ef- what Moilie- had sal
20 came into Lena's mind when sh
" glanced mp at him. and sent a soft show
is er of brushes to her neck and brow
p Perhaps it was this that enabled him
come and stand over her chair and Ii
r the little blue-veined hand to his lips.
"Lena,'' he said, 'ssDo you remembs
thI the first tme ever came here, and thl
III you totfched your lips to my hand ?"
Id eyes," she said, dropping her eyes.
IS "Well, little one, I lave loved yo
n! ever since.' He paused as if he hs
IL dropped over the do Sncast eyes, and tt
Mt little hand in his. fIittered like tim
er bird. .'sSpeak, Lena; you are not a
r. CRY ?''. he pleaded. 81 don't wish
in make you unhappy. with my love. 1t
nd kno IDLE words that d speak when s;
ed thatsI had FATHER die. than bring sha
ey ow of regret or pain into your heart.
he know that am twice your years, br
til o dAiliragd my heart is young and fres
lr- I never loved any woman but n
ere mothe rbeforeY saw you, dear. But
II
;tb get that ever told you of it.''
rer .sIde not wish to forget it," she sa
IA i'm low, clear tone, a soft, peacll-blot
no pink sufiasing her pure cheek.
nd He stopped suddenly and looked
the her, face, and with a little glad cry, to
i'm her TO his heart, saying over and o,
Mide M Fagain, ''my love!'' "my darlingr'-t
nan same old words, that have been said,
sl sl,a many millions Of times, but VIII
,co sweetness never wears out.
INK "You are quite sure you love 1
dear?" he said .Iwhen he had relea.
the her, andssat looking at her and mary
alf- ling at his own happiness. "You
ing quite sure. You will never regret it?
she canse Ryoitare not, though could n
er love you less, would not be
nth clog or hinderapce to your happin,
and which is more TO. Ine darling-a tn
his Sand times more--than my own can 6
title be-"
loor Did any dark shadow of the future
his like spectre across his path? If itt
aiel, it vanished when .Lena's clear W
he said: - =
and eyes, Basil, am quite sure that |
de- you." -a 60
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