The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-07-26
my LADY'S LOVER.

remember thinking what handsome, noble
looking couple they made and how well
1T was that my mistress had chosen Mr..
Hollis TO her future husband when 30 many
attractive young gentlemen aspired to the
honor of her hand
AS approached Mr.. Hollis was saying
Tomorrow is our wedding day, dear
Edith! Tomorrow can scarcely realize
it. All, how proud and glad ami"
My lady looked up at this moment, her
checks all aglow, her eyes shining with
happiness. Hearing my step she said in
her gentle way:
"What is it Jennie?"
"a strange woman has presented herself
| at the kitchen-door, madam. She asked
| for you and will not be denied. She does
not live in these parts think; her accent
and dress are both peculiar. Good gracious,
there she comes now, and left her on the
kitchen step!"
My Mistress looked in the direction indi>
Gated, and beheld dropping, forlorn figure
slowly advancing from the rear of the
house.
She changed color and drew back with
startled cry:
'Mrs. Hawkins
The woman came nearer and paused on
the upper step, looking curiously about her |
Forgive me for comin',p she said, in a
low, broken voice. SIT amt right to be .
troublin' one like you, But what could .
do with him beggin and pleadin' and fret
tim himself i'll? l hadn't the heart to re-
fuse his prayear, and' -
"Hush?" My mistress drew her strange
visitor hurriedly down the steps.
She was very pale and trembled with ex-
citement.
''No more now--I cannot listen, said
she in whisper eff you have any errand
with me come again by and by when l am
alonen
The woman signed heavily.
"Lot me give you this note, maam-its
from him-an' I'll trouble you no moro.
You'll read it an do all it asks, ma'am,"
she added, quite plaintively, as she thrust
a bit of crumpled paper into my ladys
hand.
''Yes, yes. Now go-go at once!'
81 will. But don't disapp'int him,
ma'am; don't do it,
There was desperation in her voice and
even menace-as she turn
I'd and made her way with difficulty down /
he path.
Mr.. Hollis naturally made some inquiry v
Is to the strange visitor, but, at Miss
1dith's solicitation he dropped the subject
md soon after went away
About 10 o'clock that night my lady's
,ell summoned me to her chamber.
l found her sitting with her wraps on
nd bit of paper-the same the woman !
lad given her clenched in her hand.
Her face Wore sadder expression than II
had ever seen upon it before.
''Jenny," she said, turning in her chair a
8 | entered, "do you know a place in the !
illage called Holm's Cottage?" Il
''Yes, ma'am.' "
"Good. Get your bonnet; wish you to J.
AXE me there. / wish to set out at once" n
"But it is long distance, madam; if L
ou must go, shall not order the carriage?' IL
I" do not wish this visit known to any u
ne else in the house. Jenny The servants !,
'ould think strange of it. You, am sure u
re discreet and faithful III
We left the house by a side door, locking pl
and taking the key with us. nj
Presently we reached Holms cottage. 1t
as long, low building in the outskirts of
'e village, at some distance from any other
yelling. Since my knowledge of the house
egan it had been occupied by the poorer
asses of tenants.
"Some one I wish to see is here she
id, quietly. "Remain outside, Jenny, tn Il!
all not be long away" Ii
She entered without knocking, and clos mi
the door. The next instant heard co
ad cry within, then a burst of sobs. It,
Mr. Hollis confronted me, his
ce white and oonvulsed in the m oonlight!
''Tell me, he said in a husky whisper,
vas it Edith, my promised wife, that went
at yonder door?'
l could not speak, but my looks answer
him. a
He dropped my hand and was turning MI
-ay when a few agitated words came IN
rough the open window. Edith, knew wa
u would come my precious darling my DY
fe! You were not so cruel as to forsake IN
, utterly" 8o'
It was man S voice, but Mr.. Hollis SEEM al an
to hear single word only of those it ut ne ne
ed frt
g Wife," he echoed, in hollow tone. anl m
Iife good God! and tomorrow was to lDr
re been our wedding day" 81 sue L.
n spite of my terror and bewilderment, Gel %
lad the presence of mind to grasp his the
/ and drag him further away from that veS ye
lse. W"
{ Iybo+ br;ro, ,-o,, boro - T stor,,I,, 40 wrC
Md sIWb3, boyo VOL, f,IIor,ad ns2T HeI
II Ji5 NOT fofIo,r ,,o;,. an, M env II will
CuduC6 bllhJ DTOuSul luC al lulS NlLSC-
l tonight. Nay, not chance he Il
ed, with sudden vchemence, "but the sor
violence of God. tont
hen, before could say word in reply, will
lad freed himself from my grasp and was Mr..
ding down the shadow-haunted street. and
en- minutes later my mistress came out. enti
drew a deep breath rs she clasped my we {
j, and l felt her tremble. graf
Come, Jenny, let us got away from here Pres
,kly. shall be glad to reach home of Il
n-so glad. ofiic
be looked 80 miserable and dlspirited favo
l had not the heart to tell her what had in Il
lrred outside the cottage while she linN cont
ID within. We
he next morning, while she sat at break 5000
and the mystical stir of the bridal pre- We
Itions was going on in the house, one of capa
servants brought in a large package. carp
cut the cords, and out fell heap Of cont,
rs-the pure, dainty letters she had reno
ten from time to time to her lover- color
the few books and keepsalles she had KceT
II him. MAKE
saw her stagger, turn pale and catch her ernm
th. Then she looked at me with be- whit,
cred air. get
-I--don't understand Do you Jen- protC
whit,
ie package and brief note 1t contain pleas
ere Doane Hollis farewell.
y lady did not cry nor faint. Flinging II
tote from her, she clasped both hands siren
II forehead. him
Ny God! This is incomprehensihle. whic'
what does he mcan?" and
can tell you, madam the Il
ID did. hath
hen she knew that Mr.. Hollis had been blcss
Olm's Cottage the night before, and City