Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1875-01-28

oaly her eyes and forehead were Wis
be And these she averted as thoug
sdme distant object in the room wa
attracting her attention. Present.
size turned to Mr.. Britner again, wit
a feigned look of indifference.
| Excuse me" she said, with laugl
"Let me see. What were we talkin
ahOut2 o, to Bermuda. Mr.. Millet
then, has gone to Bermuda?'
| Yes! He thought he could d
well there, and has gone there to set
tle. He win act as our agent"
tWhy didn't he come to bid u
gopd-byY'
fHe doesn't care for you."
charlotte perked her lips and sal,
she rather thought that the indiffer
elee was reciprocated. And sh,
pulled at her fan till it broke, anC
tlnn she sighed over the fan in a fl
of abstraction, from which Mr.. Brit
nF recalled her by reaching out hi.
hand and slightly grasping her arm
He leaned forward, and whispered
something in her ear.
"What9" she said inquiringly and
albud, as though the whisper, de
nding as it did something secretive
had grated harshly on her ear.
What Mr.. Britner wanted to say
w.s that he wished to see her alone
Might he accompany her home!
Did he have a message for her from
Ton? She consented.
Two hours afterward he was with
her alone in her own drawing room.
What little girl she was! So del
icste, so soft and pliable she looked
While he, Mr.. Britner, looked so
strong and commanding and fascin-
ating-so he thought. With ahushed
face he looked down into the girls
upraised face and spoke.
What he said she heard; aGd she
shrank from him with look Of hor-
ror. And then she stretched herself
to her full height-which was not
many feet and inches-and with her
eyes fairly blazing upon him, she
raised her hand and pointing to the
door, said:
"Leave the house,
Mr.. Britner had mistaken his per-
son this time.
Charlotte Lilly did not sleep a wink
that night. She went to her room and
sat there in her white dress till morn
ing.
lnsulted.
Her lips looked thin and white and
were nervously compressed. Her
hand was clinclled before her.
"If | could call down vengeance
from Heaven upon him, l would do
it," she said. 81 could crush his
heart. am woman, with no father,
no brother; only a mother-alone"
Is site-wus sittiag IN the sitting room
alone the next evening, when the
loor-bell rang; and when Mr.. Britner
She rose quickly to her feet
md stood there like statue before
llm, cola anu Stlll.
Mr.. .Britner bowed low before her,
and for few moments stood in 81
ence, with his eyes turned to the
ioor.
81 made dreadful mistake" he
said at last. 81 could worship you
Is worship the God above me.
How shall | atone? | was not pure
ike you, and you seemed to me like
myself. l loved you; but my love
vas earthly. Now l am Il changed
nan, for you have given me of your
ipirit. In your forgiveness and your
owe, | can see the only heaven of
which | know"
With her eyes fixed intently on his
ace she said:
'Are you in earnest?"
Before Cod" he exclaimed, kneel-
ng, and lifting his eyes, 81 answer,
-esr
'But do you desire to wed me"
He sprang to his feet; but she
withdrew and motioned him back.
'.As l desire heaven" he said. II
rould be a changed man even as you
Yould make me"
'Well. But l must test you"
She instantly turned and left the
DOM.
He stood there a few moments as
hough trying to realize his situation,
nd then raising his eyes, he uttered
he words:
"As | live, for her sake, / will
enceforth be true"
Turning away he left the house.
Britner had told Charlotte what
as not altogether true concerning
ON MilleJ. Tom was not going to
to live. Britner had only
ispatched him thither at a moments
office, in order to get him out of the
ay. So Tom turned up again, with
| a month. 1t was on Britner's we'd Z
ing day. Not finding him at the
lace of business, Tom made his way
all haste to Britner's house, where
e found Britner preparing for his