The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-08-14

understood me we'll enough. / heard
yesterday that she was engaged. l ask
you frankly to tell me IL this be sol If
she is, of course shall never tell her
what 1 have hoped might be.
If there Is nothing which should
keep me from seeking to win her for my
wife, let me hear from you at once. If
there is, j shall understand 1t from your
silence.
Yours, truly,
STANwooD LEE"
Lucia Dare got up, with very pale
face, and great ache at her heart. She
had been guilty of doing disgraceful
thing, and that very act had been the
means of bringing to her the one great
sorrow of her life.
"You are terribly punished Lucia
Dare" she said to the white face in the
glass that stared at her as she crossed
the room. BY that one dishonorable
act you destroyed your life's happiness.
She sat alone that night when the
house was still, and thought about it. 1t
was torture to think how near she had
come to the realization of the sweetest
dream of her life, and to know by her
own folly she had lost 1t all.
Before she went to bed she took the
letter and enclosed it to Dora. She wrote
only a few lines:
Professor Lee left letter for you one
day when you were not at home, and L
did not give 1t to you. / found it to-
day, and send it to you. L have read it
and know how near happiness came to
| me.o
She could not bring herself to confess,
in plain words, why 1t never had been
given. But her heart accused her bitter
ly enough land she slept upon pillow
wet with tears of sorrow and repentance.
Hard, indeed, was the punishment of her
wrong-doing.
1t was a peaceful Sabbath day. The
air was sweet with scents of new-mown
grass and clover, and the birds sang in
the elms outside the open windows of
the little church, and all the world SEEM
ed in Sabbath mood.
Lucia Dare heard little ripple of sur
prise run over the congregation just be-
fore the sermon began, and raised her
head to see, coming down the aisle-Pro-
fessor Lee
He came straight to her pew. She
made room for him, while her heart was
in wild flutter of hope and love and
gladness, and he sat down beside her,
reaching out his hand in wordless
greeting, which held a powerful eloquence
in its long, close clasp.
Lucia heard not a word of the SER
mon. Her heart was too full of many
emotions for that. She was glad when
it ended.
When the benediction was over he
turned to her.
81 have come to ask you question L
should have asked long ago. May L
walk home with you and tell you what
it is ?''
AT last they were free from the crowd
of old friends who clamored for hand
shake with the professor, and he drew
her hand within his arm.
81 received letter from your sister
two days ago, and the few words she
wrote sent me here, he said, when they
were out in the pleasant street alone.
"You know now what the question is l
have come to ask"
" Let me tell you what did," she
said, while her eyes filled with hot tears
of shame and her cheeks burned, and
then she confessed the disgraceful deed
which had kept them apart SO long
" You have had your punishment ~
he answered, gravely. 8" If what you
did was done for love of me, am sure
that may hope you will not tell me No
when ask you TO be my wife. That is
is the question L have come to ask.
What answer have you to give me ?''
What her answer was, you know, oh
reader, as well as if L were to tell you.