The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-04-21

tered and handed him letter. As he
| glanced at the handwriting a wOman's
delicate chirography, he started back as
| If he had seen an apparitiOn. At last,
regainiBg his composure, he tore IL open
and read as follows:
"ARTHUR-Ere you receive this letter,
the heart which loved and trusted you
so fully will be at rest, and you will be
free to wed the beautiful girl who has
won your heart away from me. So you
thought did not love you'll WellC per-
haps not, Arthur Melville; but l care d
| for you 80 much that your smile made
all the suHlight OF the world for me.
Your voice was sweeter than the sweet
est music to my ears. l loved you so
beneath the shy exterior which hid
the depth oil my devotion, that can not
live in the black darkness whicn has
| fallen upon my life with the withdrawal
of your love. ! should have answered
your letter ere this, but l have been
very, very Ill ever since received 1t. l
do not think / am entirely we'll yet,
for my poor little head burns and
throbs 80 all the time. Last night,
when they were all asleep, rose very
softly, and went down into the orchards; !;
the moon was shining, D, SO soft and
clear! just as it did that night when you
told me that you loved me. Went and
stood under the same tree, and then l
walked over to the little lake by the
north woods; it is all covered Win the
lilies now, just as 1t was the day when
we went rowing there, and you gathe red
SO many fer your Lily, you SAID. Tue
lilies kept whispering to me last night
to come there aud tuu rest; but l hau to
write to you first, and you must tell
grandfather and grandmother where
PVe gone. ., the water is 80 blue and
sottl l must 60 now while the moon
shines SO brightly. So gOod-by, Arthur;
don't forget me; think sometimes OF poor
little Lily. sleeping underneath the
calm, still waters."
With deep groan Arthur Melville
sank back in his chair, and just then the
door Was suddenly opened, and the form
of old Mr.. FfasIer entered.
"HaYe you seen anything of my grand
daughter, Arthur MelyIllep he ex-
claimed. "Three days ago she Suddenly
disappeared; we have searched every
where, DuL can ind no clue to her where
abouts; sue sent letter to the post by
the boy, directed to you, on the same
evening in which she disappeared. L
found OUT about it yesterday, and so l
took the next train and came here. Lily
mas not Deen III ner rlBnI nina IOf TWO
or three weeks; she was gentle anu
quiet, but, OF l have bad such dread
lul fear. That letter is Ia her writingW
aud before ArGhur could interfere he had
snatched il from The table and read the
fatal missive. When he had finished 1t,
he sprang to his feet, and pointing his
finger at Arthur, cried:
"Arthur Melville, the law may never
brand you as such, but l declare you as
murderer, just as much as though you
had plunged knife into my darIing's
heart. D, aecursed was the day in
which you came to Linden Farm, with
your false words, to break tue heart of
the sweetest maiden that ever lived!
Dead-drowned-my little Lilyl May
your life be as Wretched as you have
made minel May-"
"Hush! your curses can not make me
more Wretched tAan l am," exclaimed
Arthur, springing TO his feet. IL feel
the brand OF Cain upon my hetr.l l
loved your granddaughter know it
nowI l was fascinated by another, but
my heart was Lily's all the tim, l know
it when, alasl it is too late"
Arthur Melville married Jessie Earle,
but from the hour in winch he received
Lillian Frasiel's letter ne never knew
real happiness.