Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-09-10

at the dancing IalTy.
Ha! that laugh, that sweet, rip
ping laugh! 1t was hers exactly; and
If this is not the Lillian of the i'll
fated steamer, it must be near re-
lation. Unable to bear longer the
torturing suspense, / turned to a
couple of gentlemen who sat near
me, and asked them if either knew
the name of young Lacy's partner?
81 should judge that it is Miss
Belle Gordon, since they seem very
famili iar," said one.
"Ah, Belle Gordon!" l mused.-
''She is Fred's betrothed. She is the
adored lady of whom he has so often
spoken to me as his future wife, and
in praise of whom he always waxed
eloquent.
How like she is to the one that
sleeps beneath the ocean wave! May
hap tits her sister! l never learned
her surname, and consequently could
not tell whether it was Gordon or
not.
Forgetful of my position, and for
getful of the brilliant throng around
me, | reclined my head YEARLY upon
my hand and allowed my thoughts
to drift back over my past life. I
was living over again those happy
days, those brief moments when we
stood together on the foreeastle,
while the quarter deck was wrapped
in flames, when in the midst of a
wild fright she sent thrill of joy to
my heart, and 1 folded her in my
arms and pressed a passionate kiss
upon her quivering lips-all this [
was living over again, and when the
cherry voice of Fred Lacy aroused
me from the profound reverie into
which l had fallen.
''Miss Gordon, allow me to present
my old friend and schoolmate, Mr.
Morton, who is to be chief grooms-
man on New Years Day. t,
l arose Internationally and con-
fronted my chum with his betroth-
ed. A small, gloved hand was ex-
tended to me in acknowledgment of
the introduction; and l looked
upwith the expectation of en-
ountering a pair of soft blue
eyes. What was my surprise on see
ing tall, queenly brunette, standing
before me, with great lustrous lux
uriant black hair, and rich, rosy,
Olive-tinted complexion.
This was Miss Belle Gordon,
Fred's afianced, and yet was not the
charming little fairy whom he had
Just been whirling through the
mazes of the dance.
"And this is the lady of whom
you have so often spoken in such
highly complimentary terms?" l in
quired.
''The same," he replied. 'Have I
praised her too highly?"
''No, indeed; nor have you even
done her justice. But my object in
asking was this: l mistook your re-
cent partner in the dance for Miss
Gordon"
"Why, that was my sister,
Phil"
''You JEST
''True as gospel! Didn't 1 intro
duce you? Wait here, and l Will
bring her forward"
''One moment-please tell me her
name?" I asked, eagerly, laying my
hand on his arm.
tHer name is Lilian!"
sank back upon the chair, unable
to articulate another word. My brain
began to whirl, and the room swan
before my eyes, and 1 pressed my
hand to my feverish brow, with
mighty effort to compose myself.
Again l was aroused by the voice of
my friend. ..,4.
"Here sheis, Phil" he said. "Sister,
allow me to make you acquainted
with my old college chum, Phil Nor
ton. But what in the deuce is the
matter?"
For she had started back at the
sight of me, with low, smothering
cry, leaning heavily on her brothers
arm for support! ~
What ''is the matter, my dear sis
ter2" again cried Fred, with a puz-
zled look.
She made no reply. Pale and
trembling she turned away, and left
the spot with unsteady steps. When
she was gone Fred cast a searching
glance at me. s-e
: HPhil Norton" he said, in low
reproachful voice, shave you ever
met her before?" zaf -1-i
81 have" replied, quite calmly.
"When and whereof s5naI
Five years ago, on the vessel
Victory" l answered.
"What" he calculated, almost
speechless with amazement, a"you
will not tell me that you are the
youth she and father have mention
ed so frequentlyP"
Il suppose I am the YOUTH" 1 re-
Joined. -.7- r.-r- ,rsre-sr q :
He could say no more, but could
only stand and gaze at me in over
whelming astonishment.. I began
then and related to him the whole
circumstance, thus informing him
why l had no intention of ever mar
rying, and was so willing to accept
his wager. saa1.2 E4AT
- When I had told him all I left.
him, and wentto seek his sister LII
ian. ! found her in the conservato.
ry among the flowers, herself the
fairest flower of all. She was sitting
on q bench, with her head inclined,
and her handkerchief pressed to her
eyes, weeping tears of JOY perhaps.
/ went and sat beside her and drew
her into conversation, I told her
how ] thought she was dead during
all the long years that had passed
since we parted on the rolling deep;-
and she, in turn, told me how she
and her father had been cast upon
an island, and subsequently saw
ed by passing ship. We talked
good while about those bygone
days, and then l took one of her lit
tie hands in mine, and said, in a
clear pleading tone: "And Lillian,
you remember how we stood togeth-
er on the burning shin. whilst the