The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-02-11
A JUST RETRIBUTIoN.


walk as fast as the slippery flags would
permit.
She and her sister lived alone in the
great, grey stone house, around which
The leatless trees Were moaning. Old
Mr.. and Mrs. Waters had been dead anu
at rest In the village churchyard more
than ten years; the sisters had wearied
of the city, and a year before came back
to the homestead, intending never to
enter gay society again. Here they
lived, with nothing to break the dreary
monotony, but occasional visits from
their brother.
Ada reached the gate, and fastened
the ponderous lock; then stood there,
gazing over the bleak stretch of snow.
The wind blew tiercely up from the river,
hidden in the darkness, and the air grew
colder each moment.
"What DIR, adiul night it will be-"
she said looking earnestly up and down
the road.
The snow fell faster and more furious
| ly, when suddenly something cold was
| thrust against her face from the outside
OF the iron bars.
She sprang back; and in the gray
| twilight saw u horse standing there, COW
cred with snow.
Ada let the shivering animal in, and
was closing the gate, when she heard a
loud "hellO!" far out in the darkness. 1t
was her brothers. voice; and she stood
waiting anXIously for him, thinking he
had been thrown from his horse.
lie came up TO her soon, mounted on a
little rough pony. Getting Gown from
it's back, he kissed his sister and asked:
"Have you been riding? 1t is strange
you did not freeze to death; and your
horse looks nearly SO. Which is it, the
black or The gray"'
1T is not mine Frank. He came and
put his head in a. me; and / was just
going to take him to the stable. When l
heard you, thought it was yours.
''Ihere must have been some one with
him, and he will die in the storm; the
snow is at least yard deep. If you will
get lantern will take the horse to the
stable, then come out and look around
here"
They went up the walk toward the
house, he leading the horses and she
talking rapidly. When the house was
reached, she ranin and procured the de-
sired light. Coming out again, she
found Frank waiting.
Taking the lantern, he hurried down
toward the road,and in halfan hour Ada,
him coming back, carrying baby.
In the meantime she had told Grace,
who was now trembling behind her,
looking out at her brother, who came
upon the porch and held the lantern
for them to see the lace OF the man. lie
did not look over twenty, and as Grace
saw the soft black hair and delicate fea-
lures, she cried out:
''How beautiful he is, and deadW
"No," replied Frank, "not dead; only
numb with cold. He will soon recover"
Frank carried him up the wide stairs
to his own room, where fire was burn
ing; and when Ada went in soon after
she found the stranger lying on the bed,
wrapped in warm, feeoy blankets. He
was still unconscious, and Frank was
own.
"You must be hungry, Frank" she
said. "Go down and get some supper. l
will stay here"
He went away, and Ada sat down by
the bed, and took up one Of the soft
white hands that lay outside the coun-
lerpane. She held it in her own, and
then sat there gazing on the handsome
face against the pillow.
Unconsciously she pressed the hand
SHE held.
There was quivering of the long dark
lashes, and he opened his eyes-sueh
dusky, shadowy eyes, of liquid black,
that gazed wonderingly up at ner.
"Where am l." he asked, in the sweet
est voice she everlistened to.
She told him how Frank had found him
in the snow, then he said
"You are very kind. think have
sprained my ankle. l was so cold, and
loosing my hold on the bridle, fell off;
my horse going on alone. Then think
! must have tainted, as l can remember
nothing after, until l awoke just now.
Can you tell me how far l am from High
clitfY
at is five miles from here, This is
Maple Lawn"
"Maple Lawn; then are you not Miss
Watersy'
"Ada Waters, yes SIR"
"Are you not acquainted with Miss
Arnold, in New YORK? l have frequent
ly heard her mention your name; and
she is very great friend of mine."
"You know Florence, thenw
"Oh, yesl am Mark Browning; she
may have spoken OF me to YOU"
"Indeed she has many times. We were
schoolmates, Florence and !, and love
each other dearly"
Thus they talked on, till Frank came
again; and the next day the doctor was
out at Maple Lawn. He recommended
quiet and rest.
A month passed away; and then Mark
came down stairs for the first time. Ada
had been his nurse all through the four
weeks Of his illness, and a faithful nurse
she was.
He had learned to look eagerly for her
coming; and in Ada's heart great love
for him had grown up.
Perhaps he had guessed 1t, for that
night, when they were alone IN the cosy
parlor, he asked her to be his wife. She
had said "yes;" and when she had gone
to her room, she wondered il there was
anyone in the world who was SO happy.
The wedding-day was fixed for October.
Ada did not wish it so soon; but he SAID
he could not wait longer, and she Con-
sented to haye it SO.
The next day q letter came that called
him back to New York. 1t was import
ant business, and he was to start imme-
diately.
He had been gone but a week, when
Ada was taken with the fever. Oh, the
days that followed, flied, as they were
with burning pain! thelong, long nights,
when she lay there raSing in dolifium.