Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-11-26

as Il lover OF L lltlan mlSnC look AT ont
of his loveliest pictures hanging ta
above him. For fully five minutes
she stood absorbed and motionless
with no thought that she was Oh
served; then she walked back, AM
Lon saw her belh over the bedside
of the sufferer, apparently the onl!
one in the sick room.
The next morning, at breakfas
none hut lover would have no
ticed that the lady's cheeks were
less glowing or her eyes les
brilliant. Lon took his place
opposite, and with a good morning
which sent the rich blood mounting
to the temples of his vis a vas, en-
deavorel to enter into an ordinary
conversation. Mrs. Marchmont, from
the next table, leaned over and whis
pered:
81 am told that. poor fellow dice
at day-break."
1t seemed to Lon that Miss HeFt
ley's eyebrows arched more hautily
tn IN ever as she said:
| "Whom does she mean? The
sick servant?"
81 presume so," said Lon, with /:
shiver. "What could not such :
woman endure?" He asked himself
All night she had ministered to {
dying man, and now, after death had
done it's work, she slips into her ac
customed place without word as tt
the previous hours
"It's perfectly dreadful to have sucl
things happen in hotel !" said Mrs
Marchmont, leaning over again.
"When heard of it this morning, !
Just wished hadn't come"
"That is unfortunate" said Miss
Heartily, contemptuously. 81 am
happy TO say it has no such effect up
on me-"
Once Lon Harrison would have
failed to understand this phase OF
character. Now it was as plain as
the sun at noon-day. 1t was difficult
for him not to betray knowledge
of her secret, but she gave him nc
opportunity; indeed, she SO closely
guarded every avenue to it, that he
dared make no approach.
All that day they were much to-
gether, and it seemed to Lon that
there was decided diminution in
the reserve with which she treated
him. True no word differing from
that of yesterday was spoken, but
there was q sweet something which
he felt and which gladdened his
heart as it was never gladdened be
fore; but this atmosphere was soon
dispelled.
"A day or two more, and the same
conventional barrier was raised be
tween them, and Lon spent most OF
his time wondering as to the cause
At the time our story opens he was
determined to have the riddle solved
This was new business to HIM, and
it is not strange that he cast about
for an expedlent for commencement
A few steps further on, and he said
very softly: t-.. .5.-a.
''Miss Hartley, wonder if you
will be kind enough to give me abso
luton if | make confession to you
this afternoon"
The watcr-llies in her hand trem
bled perceptibly, as she answered.
Her tones, though, were as steady as
ever:
"If' absolution lies in my over
Mr.. Harrison-which l hardly think
i will be the most generous OF
priests, and grant it without the con
tession."
"Please remember, Miss Hartley,
that at this point am not asking q
favor, but b gging forgiveness. This
you cannot give me unless | show
you in what | have sinncd."
eff the case is really SO bad, Mr.
Harrison, pray proceed"
1t was hard work at first, but clear
ness and eloquence came with the
newborn courage, nd Lon went on
to tell her of the love he could moi
help, even when he believed her cold
and heartless; how this love had per
vaded his whole being, transforming
him into a man he could hardly rec
ognize, when he found that the wo'
man he loved was the courageous
loyal, tender-hearted woman he had
that night, for the first time, under
stood
Miss Hartley's head was avcrted
but the little hand on his arm trem
bled, so that, at last the water-lilies
dropped, all unheeded to the ground
When Lon had finished, she cas-,
q longing, blushing glance at his
face. then withdrew her arm, and
walked on a moment in silence.
"Have you no word to say to me?'
he asked, in a tone so disappointed
that the young lady turned again in
voluntarily.
eyes, many Words" she said, al
last, with a sudden start. ''But yor
must wait"
A long shadow darkened theil
path. Lon looked up into the face Of
tall, dark, middle-aged gentleman
of most unexceptionable and 0istin
que appearance. Lon noticed absent
ly that his hands were full of water
lilies, and that when he took Miss
Hartley's han in his, he threw some
of the long stems over her shoulder
with the air of a familiar friend
But his very first words removed ali
doubt.
"My darling," he said, sis it here
find you? | expected to have beer
half day longer searching for you
How kind it is Of you to meet mt
here!"
"Mr. Atherly-Mr. HARRISON" sac
Miss Harley, in her usual s>ltcontain
ed manner, and then the last hopt
that the gentleman might prove to b.
the young lady's father, was cruelly J
and forever dispelled.
Mr.. Atherly offered his arm to Mss.
Hartley, and Lon found himself, how
he never could tell, on the other sid,
Of the stranger, and in this way the,
sought the hotel. A fierce and al
most ungovernable rage burned il
the young mans heart; but he replied
to the flood of small talk, and with
ont an aDDarent effort cOmnplled him