The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-07-10

\ shame dyed her face at sight OF it. 81
wonder what is in it" she said, picking il
up. "Dora's married and gone away, SC
there's no harm in my reading it now. Il
was jastas honorable in my reading il
then as to do what did with it"
/ She opened it and read it thrt ugh, with
a face that was very pale before she fin.
ished it.
"MEs DARE-1 called to see you this
| afternoon, but your sister said that YOU
were away, and would not be home for a
day or two. l wanted to ask you some
thing, and perhaps it is better for me to
ask it in this way than any other.
| thinkyou must have seen that love your
sister. But have never told any one so
before. | have never limited it to her in
any words, but she has probably under
stood me well enough. heard yesterday
that she was engaged. | ask you frankly
to tell ME if this is so? If she is, of course
l shall never tell her what have hoped
might be.
off 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,
l shall understand it from your silence.
"Yours, truly, STANwooD LEE"
Lucia Dare got up, with a very pale
face, and great ache at her heart She
had been guilty of doing a 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 that by her own
folly she had lost it all.
Before she went to BID she took the let
ter and inclosed it to Dora. She wrote
only few lines:
"Professor Lee left letter for you one
day when you were not at home, and did
not give it to you. found it to-day, and
send it to you. have read it, and know
how near happiness came to me-"
She could not bring herself to confess,
in plain words, why it never had been
given. But her heart accused her bitterly
enough, and she slept upon pillow wet
with tears of sorrow and repentance.
Hard, indeed, was the punishment of her
Nrong-doing.
1t was 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 seemed in q
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!
lie came straight to her pew She made
room for him, while her heart was in a
wild futter 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 word of the sermon.
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.
II have come to ask you question
Should have asked long ago. May | 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 have
come to ask"
LET me tell you what | did, she said
while her eyes filed with hot tears O
shame and her cheeks burnt; and then SHE
confessed the disgraceful deed which ha(
kept them apart so long.
"You have had your punishment h'
answered, gravely. "If what you did wa
done for love of me, / am sure that ma!
hope you will not tell me No when l asl
you to be my wife. That is the question
| have come to ask. What answer hav,
you to give me?"
What her answer was, you know
O reader, as well as if were.to tell You.
WOMEN AS RULL.EECs