The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-02

NO one knew where was. knew |
nothing of the whereabouts of"any of
my acquaintance. There were few
ladies at the hotels, principally invalids,
for there were springs thereabout that
had great medicinal reputation +; but
it was not the sort of place to tempt
"our set."
I anticipated no unpleasant meeting
with people who would want to know
why Milly and had parted. And fancy
my establishment and horror when, one
evening, as took my seat nj the table,
/ saw straight opposite me little, pale
shadow, which recognized as all that
was left of Millicent Hood. Her portly
grandmother was with her, and the way
that old lady didn't look at me was more
dreadful than the most awful looks
could have been.
1 made a short meal that day, and I
resolved to leave the place by the morn
ing train. Unfortunately, I oversight
myself. Wait minute-was it uhfor-
tunate I? It seemed so to me for good
while. I missed the stage at all events
There was no other way OF reaching the
cars, and I went out to spend the whole
September day with Briggs and our
guns. There was an evening stage also.
I intended to go out on that.
| Out in the woods, and having pur-
posely lost sight of my companion for
a little while, sat down at the foot of
a tree and fell to thinking of Miliicent
Poor little girl how worn she was
did she? But no-no-she had de-
cIared that she hated me. All, there
was truth in Moore's song
"There's nothing half sweet in life as loves
| young dream :"
and I had awakened from it. I sighed
and rested my head against tue old tree.
In moment more-crack, crack, crack
terrible pain through my head. A
cry of 'Oh, Lord, thought you were
a squirrel p and I was dimly conscious
that Briggs had hit something at last.
He had hit me.
I came to myself after weeks fever
and delirium, quite blind. My eyes
were untouched, but the nerves had
been somehow injured. There was
something horrible in the surgeons
vague premises OF improvement in time;
and all I could say to the penitent
Briggs was: Why didn't you hit a
vital part while you were about it ?"
It was horrible time. I don't like
to think about it even now. L was not
sure how time passed. There was no
day to me, and I seemed suddenly to
have been launched into a dark eter-
nifty.
One day 1 had terrible longing for
fresh air, and as there could be no rea-
son for keeping me indoors, ordered
my nurse, an old colored man, to set a
chair for me in some lonely spot where
strangers would not be apt to spy me
out. He did SO. There was little
; nook which knew well, where no one
save some rural fisher came. Here /
bade him leave me, and return in an
hour He obeyed
"Ah," 1 thought to myself, "were
Millicent my wife. I should have one
who wonld love me even now; one on
whose truthful bosom I could rest my
weary head"
"Millice1tI' / whispered softly,
MiIIicent bIillicent 20
The name brought back sweet recol-
lections. I rested my head upon my
hand and indulged in them until, being
still weak, sleep overcame me.
; Then dreamed Of her.
We were together in some beautiful
, spot, and my arms were about her and
her kisses were on my lips.
How vivid the dream was.
I was awake but I felt the kiss still
:. another and another. A hand seemed
to rest on my shoulder. Involuntarily
I strove to clasp it in my own. Then,
" then knew it was no dream. A hand
was there. It did not resist mine-a
and warm, and sweet Millicent's Owl
dear hand. knew it before I drew hel
= to me.
cts my little one" said. "speal
to me I cannot see you
"I know ought not to be here" she
sobbed, =" but II could not help it
I am SO sorry, 80 very, very sorry fol
: you"
"Tben you've got over hating me-
hIillicent,'' said.
't I never hated you," she said. SCI
only said SO, But there-L-I did,
: mean you should know L was here.
, thought you were asleep, and suppose
: it was very wrong for me; and Miss
e Martin would be justly very angry"
f' Miss Martin p said I. sc You dom
1 believe that story9 The poor blind fel
t low you see before you would have
e little chance with Miss Martin, even il
e he wanted her and he don't. But I beg
: your pardon, Miss M1llicent; I ough
4 not to hold your hand SO long. Mr..
s Brown might object"
S "Oh, don't, Harry" said she. ''1
e can't be proud any longer now. hate