Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-06-02

| VIII, although there are very particular
reasons why | wish to attend the 'socia-
bic tonight"
"Thank you, dear, you make me
ashamed of my own daughters" said
her Aunt Evelyn, while Kate muttered
soto roce, II thought so, Miss Lille
I'm more than ever determined to 90
now"
The two sisters hustled out of the
room only too glad to have their cousin
sacrifice herself in their stead
AS they entered the elegant parlors OF
Madame NJ, the we'll known figure of
Richard Courtney advanced eagerly to
greet the arrivals.
There was an evident look of disap-
pointment upon his handsome face as he
turned to Kate Evelyn, and remarked :
$50 your cousin, Miss Lillian, is not
with you? | thought she would scarcely
fail to be here Tonight
Kate glanced at him slyly, as she
said
''Some within influenced Lille, at the
last moment, to remain at home. She
had fully intended to come until short
time before we left the house; but then she
suddenly decided that she had no inclina-
ton to accompany us, and in spite of
our continued entret ties she remained
obstinate, so we came off without her. !"
'.She's a heartless firt, as / feared, !"
muttered Dick to himself, with quiver
of the lip and sudden tear in his eye,
for he really loved the beautiful girl
Poor Lille
She was even then sitting by the bed
side of the sick woman. and while both
her little hands were clasped in the cold
ones of the invalid, she was thinking
ooh, what will Dick think of me
He will be sure to take my absence as
refusal, and | love him sol 1t was
cruel in Katie and Belle to both refuse
to give up the party, this night of all
others. But then they knew nothing of
the letter, nor why | so wished to be
there. Will he give me an opportunity
to explain, | wonder, or will he be very
angry and avoid me 2"
But three hours later, when Lille
was Fastening home to inform the family
of her Aunt Sarahs sudden death, she
was very thankful that she had sacrificed
her own pleasure for that of another.
The poor woman had, at last, dropped
off very quietly and suddenly, with
Lilies hand still clasped in her own,
and so gradually had the 'dread change"
come upon her, that the occupants of
the room supposed her to be sleeping
for some little time after she was really
dead
AS Lille hurried on, with her heart
filled with sadness, she ran plump into
the arms of some ope, who was apparently
turning the corner in the same blind haste
as herself.
She uttered little scream, and at the
sound Of her voice the man peered curl
ously under the hood of the navy-bluo
cloak which enveloped her slight form.
"Lillic! Is it really you--where are
you going at this time of night p
Il am on my way home now, Dick
My aunt Sarah has just died, and"
"And was it to stay with her that
you absentcd yourself from the party p
"For no other reason p
.'Then it was not to avoid meeting
me, Lille p
'Indeed, MOI
"And if you had not been called away
by sickness, what would have been your
answer p persisted this inconsideratt
young man, who surely ought to have
seen the improperly Of making such Q
medley Of love and death.
"Only this, dear Dick !" cried impul
sve Lille, throwing back the disfgur.
ing hood from her fair, blushing face
and revealing crushed, but fragrant
rose, shining in the dark ripplcs of hen
hair.
MY Lille p he cried. joyously
catching her in his arms II ask for
no sweeter nor fuller ans ser--my owr
little betrotbed p
And so little Lille. by her unsclfsh-
ness, gained both husband and for
tune, for it was found when aunt Sarah s
will was read, that she had left the
greater port of her wealth to her niece,
Lillian Evelyn.