The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-02-01

/ duu one ulal1 servant OF EeVeDLY o
thereabouts, whose life was a burden be
cause old Mr.. Gilroy had failed co maxi
her his wife, after accepting her atten
tions for matter of thirty or fortl
years.
Geolgina had the free, open country
perfect liberty TO 90 as she pleased, anC
the command of her own income.
But she was not happy.
al do believe / am naturally of dis
contented disposition" she thought, ai
she wandered up shady lane. ''Tve got
all want, country home, old woman
to help, and children to be kind to.
can pI2y Lady Bountiful to half Fry
Corners on a small scale l have miles
of good, useful sewing, plenty of books
my own piano, nobody to sco1d me, nc
finery to worry over, and yeti won
der IL Duncan Holcroft cares because
have gone 2"
What made that uestion leap to hel
mind hundred times a day?
She had refused him, put him out oI
her life, and We. sine thought of his courtly
manner, his grave, gentle kindness, hi.
real conversation, 50 different from the
society small talk that wearied and puz.
zled her.
Did he miss her?
She felt herself such an atom in his
circle of friends, so lowly and little, COM
pared to bellies futtering ever in view,
so ignorant and insignificant, that she
could only wonder when she remembered
the honor he had paid her.
Spring flowers faded, summer blooms
died, autumn fruits were gathered IN,
winter SHOWS melted.
Il was May again, and Georgina had
/ been one year at Fry Corners.
The old farmer had failed in that year.
and very tenderly and pitifuny his
grandchild nursed him.
| And, wearying for an interest in life,
Georgina gave time, strength, and an
unfailing patience to the guerulous in
valid, never faltering in her self-imposed
duties.
He died in May, blessing her with his
last breath, and after the funeral, Janet,
tbe old servant, produced a will giving
her the farm and the savings of years of
grinding economy.
Georgina had known of this, and had
demonstrated when Dir. GiIroy would
have made another viii.
q have more than 1 spend" she
said and Janet has served you faith
fully"
But once more homeless, she joined
party Of Mrs Cassowin's friends and went
abroad.
Here was surely interest, variety, but
never ease for the old heart-hunger.
What would fill her life, round il to its
full perfection
Love WAS oaered more than once, but
met no return, aud she sighed heavily
over her own hard heart.
In Rome, where the party fingered
many weeks, Georgina lived a new life
of delight il seeing what she had imag-
ined in hours OF reading, what her father
had often described to her, having visited
the Eternal City as tutor in his young
days.
But in Rome, one of the party, loung-
ing in lazily to the general sitting>room
of the wide house where they all lodged,
said, half yawning
Holcroft Is here, down with the ma
larial :"
" Where ." some one asked indifer-
emily.
At the hotel where we stopped the
first week we were here. He's going to
die they say"
Die Duncan Holcroft ?'
Georgina groped her way dizzily un.
perceived to the balcony.
Could the wide world hold 50 much
misery as pressed her down.
Light lightning fash she read the
cause of all her restless craving since she
had lett London.
She loved Duncan Ho croft, king
amongst men. She had walked away
from her own paradise, closing the door
and Duncan Holcroft would die, and
never knew she had loved him.
At the hotel where they had stopped!
Why it was close beside them.
She could be there in ten minutes.
She never paused to think of propriety.
Wrapping her head and shoulders in a
feecy white shawl, she sped along the
street, thankful for the gathering twi-
light
The walters paused, but led her to the
room. At the door she paused.
She could see a sister of charity kneel-
ing beside high bed, could hear sweet
voice say:
She is here, in Rome. When I am
dead, carry her my message. Tell her l
loved her to the last. You will find her
at the address gave you. Georgina
Gilroy You will not forget the name ?''
Trembling and white, Georgina crept
in, softly laying her band upon the sis
ter's shoulder.
"I am Georgina Gilroy," she whis-
pered, very low.
But low as it was, the whisper reached
Duncan Holcroft's ears, and a smile
lighted his white, wasted face
Little Geergie," he said family.
" Darling, have you come to say fare
well ?''
No." she answered, strangling the
sob in her throat. " 1 have come to pray
you to live-for me''
A great joy lighted his languid eyes.
"For you George, do you love me at
last ?''
think ] have always loved you"
she sobbed, "only know it at last"
cannot die now," he said.
And he did not.
Clasping Georgiana's slender hand fast
he found the life-giving sleep all narcot-
les had failed to give him, waking after
many hours to see loving eyes wear1edIy
watching him.
They were married when the priest
came in a few hours later, the good
sister still remaining to share the nurs-
ing.
But the life giving joy was Georgina's