The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-04-28
"But you are safe here till

with a sigh. "But you are safe here till
| can think"
l don't expect you to believe me, but
l am as innocent of the crime for which |
was brought here as you are.
Guilty or innocent, pity you-you
are so young"
Concealing him till the hue aud cry
were over, Marion smuggled him through
the gates in a woman's dress and with
basket of soied linen. And so the mys.
terry of Aymer Preston's escape remained.
The years moved On. Mrlion was TWEEN
ty-fve. Her father was dead. Her idol
lied brother had persisted in brawl, She
was alone in the world; an invalid, living
on the meerest pittance earned with her
needle, but the same sweet-laced, sweet
voiced girl that had won the hearts of the
prisoners in the gloomy abode of which
her father was warder One day she was
sent for, to see about some embroidery.
She was received by a young lady, and
something in the young girls bright face
drew Marion's glance unconsciously.-
Where had she seen those eyes, so large
and so intensely black.
Why do you look at me SOP asked
the young girl, with naiee eargerness
" You remind me of some one have
known Marion answered simply.
No one ever accused me of looking
like any one but Robert before laughed
the girl.
All, yes, you do. | SEQ the resem-
blanee now quite strong and Marion's
face flushed with emotion. "Perhaps you
are related to him; his name was Aymer
Preston"
"0hr' cried the yodng girl, spriuging
up, "and you are lame, aud your name is
Marion Hyde, Tell me, isn't it? knew
it. oh, Robert, what will you say 2"
She vanished from Marion's astonished
eyes, with the words on her lips. She
was back, however, in trice, and with
her came tall dark-haired heavily
beared gentleman.
" Marion Hyde Is it possible p he
exclaimed, clasping both the little trem-
bling hands in his and putting them over
and over again to his lips, which were
quiyering with emotion. "Surey you
know me?'
" "You-you are Aymer Preston, STAN
mered Marion.
" | was Aymer Preston; am now Rob
ert Liesson A relative of my mothers
left me his property on condition of my
taking his name and home. have
searched for you vainly, Marion Hyde.
My prosperity has been bitter to me till
now | find you. Oh you shall never
touch needle or work again"
" No, indeed, that you shall not, chin
ed in she who had been the means of this
happy recognition, and as she said it both
her arms were thrown around Marions
neck, and she was sobbing and kissing her
alternately. Robert always said he would
never marry anybody but you, and you'll
have him, won't you, dear?"
" | have proved my innocence of that
charge of robbing my guardian" said
Robert, gravely. but it was long before
| could do so. iollowed up the man
whose testimony convicted me till he lay
dying, aud he gave written confession of
false witness. My guardian paid him to
injure me. He wanted me out of the way.
| will not be so abrupt as to ask you to
marry me now, but as this rash sister of
mine has said so much can no less than
testify to its truth. have always loved
your sweet, dear face, Marion. | shall
never cease to wish it my wifes face till
that wish is realized"
And then he left Marion to his sisters
petting and soothing
=" This morning was alone-not
friend in the wide world, and now"
A burst Of tears came to her relief
She is Robert lessons wife now, and
her beautiful eyes are as dove like as ever,
with compassion for the unfortunate.