Daily globe., 1878-02-24

my emotion. My hand shook asI
snatched up my hat and rushed out of
DOORS
The sun was setting across the water.
The air had grown cool, and a pair of
singing shore birds flew before me as 1
sought favorite seat of mine, retired
among the rocks.
had not composed my mind, when
there was a rustic of silk and soft hand
was laid on my arm.
"Forrestm
sStephenie!''
"You know am here now, and so l
have come to speak to you.
| She sat down close beside me, facing
me, her arm across my knee, her clear
blue eyes steadily meeting mine; and,
before she spoke word / took the fair
hand tenderly, feeling that she was to be
restored to me.
Forrest had been here week wish
ing to see you, yet repelled by your de-
termined seclusion. If the old woman
called Aunt Betsey, who frequents this
place, had not told me tonight that ac-
cident had revealed my presence to you,
[ should have lost my last remnant OF
courage, and returned home without
speaking to yeu.''
"What have you to say to me now,
Stephenie!"
"You overheard me talking, as you
supposed to Captain Langdale, Forrest. /
was reading letter"
"a letter?'
81 have startling story to tell. Lis
ten. All the spring my cousin Lily's
malady had seemed strange to me. l
could not understand her loss of strength
and color. until learned, by occupying
the next apartment to her at Branchville,
that she spent her nights in weeping.
While l wondered that she should have
a secret trouble from me, and perplexed
myself how to gain her confidence, en-
tered her room one morning, and found
1t to be full OF strange, sickening scent,
while Lilly lay senseless upon the bed.
She had taken an opiate powerful enough
to produce death, and upon the table lay
two letters. One was addressed 10 me,
the other to Captain I.angdale.
Gas soon as had procured assistance,
and aphysician's help had saved her life,
| read the letter the poor child had ad-
dressed to me- Poor Kitten her heart
was breaking, for she had set itupon one
friend, aud she believed that he loved me
am speaking of Captain Langdale He
is handsome, gay, and debonnaire, and
the poor girl believed him necessary to
her existence. So she confessed to me
yet her heart seemed to hold no bitter
ness for her supposed rival.
"She had always loved me, she said
and I was more worthy of her nero. But
she was so pitifully miserable, poor little
thing. Well, I considered the matter
carefully. 1t was only an hours ride
from Captain Langdale, and resolved tc
see him. Lily was sleeping restorative
slumber, and | could go to the city ano
return in about three hours. I did so
When reached the depot sent a car
riagc for him to come to our house He
came, and read the letter. Our soldier
has tender heart; he was affected te
tears. He gave nle the letter to read, bid
ding me to read it aloud, AS 1 did so
you entered and heard the words which
mislcd you"
Her eyes were swimming as they me-
mine; but after an instant she went on
c1p'dbI Ldii7udlC ohOWcu dccpcI ant
more delicate feeling than l had supposed
him capable Of
"'If little lilly thinks such harum
scarum fellows as | am worth dying for
| ought to make myself worthy the bless
ing Of such love- he said; and added, j
will give myself to Kitten to- morrow, il
she wants me, and will be better man
than ever have been, for her sake
So said Stephenie, Frightening
'sthere is to be a marriage in early autumn
My Lilly is quite happy in the prospect
OF sharing a soldiers life, and--and''-
i blushing radiantly, and flashing one beau.
teous look into my eyes-"there may be
double wedding, if you please, dear.'
tell my wife my happiness was saved
by such fragile thing as an embroider
ed stocking certainly for this world
and believe for the next.