The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-02-12
the dew glistening in her sunny curls
and hanging on her dark lashes.

and hanging on her dark lasles.
With cry of agony he caught her in
his arms and flew back to the house.
and had her maid called to undress and
put her to bed; he then summoned the
doctor, for she was raging in a fever.
and soon her life hung on Il thread.
Night after night the faithful friend
stayed by her never closing his ewes.
striving by his skill to save. and beg
Slng 10y prayers for the life of the Young
girl who was so dear to his honest heart.
And ut last he was rewarded. for one
blessed ver-to-be-forgotten night
when all else slept those wondrous
eyes opened and reason glanced therein.
a soft smile illumined the waxlike
face rs she beheld the eyes of an arch
angel gazing in her own-so she dreamed
great gray eyes which bcamed like
the sun ut MONDAY, and II face bronzed
and beautiful, surrounded bv masses of
tawniy hair, and flowing beard which
she longed to touch but could not. for
weakness chained her hands and the
eyes seemed to burn to her hearts core.
so she closed them. and-and the
face vanished, and sleep healing and
restoring came to her. After MANY
hours she again awoke, and still the
eyes were there, clear, luminous gray
eyes She was not afraid of them. they
seemed strangely dear and. familiar.
She reached up her hand and touched
tho bronzeu cheek it was caught in
two strong ones and pressed passion
atel y to the bearded lips. A slight flush
tinted the marble pallor of her cheek
and the smile deepcned; but the hand
was not drawn away. it rested ike n
white dove in its welcome nest ns she
murmured:
Who are you?
One who would lay down his life
for you. One who has saved us from
death or despair said Claude. who had
quietly entered the room.
| thought he was an angel. Claulc."
tie Is, my darling," her brother
warmly answered.
catingly.
" Impossible to do that; cannot cx
ait You high enough. SO NV little
Stella Is home again, God bless her"
Have / been away, Claude 2" she
innocently asked
lon have indeed, darling, long
weary while; but you are back again.
and l am happy" Then seeing the
wondering look i'll tho sweet ewes. he
said:
-" ion have been sick long time lit
tie sister, and your mind has wandered.
but this good friend has saved you."
On, yes, and this is his home. I
was wondering where all the beautiful
Things came from. He is very kind; we
shall never he hungry again Claude.
shall we?"
Never again, please God" he whis-
pered, MS he bent with tears in his eyes
TO KISS the pale lips which questioned
him, and then left the room.
"A month later Stella stood by the
open window half covered with the
falling lace, idly pulling n rose to
pieces. A step heard npon the walk
and her heart throhs to bursting-thcy
sound nearer, they are by her side; She
feels u pair of eyes cleaning into her
own, even though her lids aro low
efed. a falnt sickness possesses her,
the blood ponrs in torrent to her brow
and neck, and then recedes, leaving her
pale and cold as chiseled marble.
She turns her head to escape those
haunting eyes, and then finding il vain
covers her trembling features will, no
less trembling hands; they are quickly
drawn away and claspcd in the warm
brown hands OF Florian Renouard, the
KIND doctor who had befriended them
IN their restitution, but who had lost
his heart irrevocably in the discharge of
his charitable duties.
stella, he murmnred, in passion
ate tones, do not turn from me. let me
LOOK mo yonr eyes once, let me read
my fate IN them, | shall need no words.
Stella, l love yom, do You hear me.
daring. All. do not madden me see |
AIN at your feet, | kiss the hem of your
garment. | implorc one look. let il be
love or hate, but not Indifference" All,
he flew to his feet, and caught her pas
! sionately to his breast, kissing her on
check, and brow, and lips. for with Il
shy lifting Of the snowy lids. and II
swift motion of the drowsy brown eyes.
stella had sent an answering look of
love INTO the gray eyes bent SO inplor-
ingly before her.
Hours slipped by as minutes. and at
last they were released by the entrance
OF Claude, who was wild with delight at
the turn affairs had taken. and also i'm.
parted startling piece of news. The
doctor had proved ii true prophet.
Claude had wood and won one Of the
nohlcst ladies' in Florence, and they
were married at the same time as Stella
and her doctor, and lived happy ever
after After Stella rcpaincd her reason.
she painted no more Dream Pictures.
a BLACK Newfoundland doc, L,v;n,,