The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-10-22
A SHOWER OF RAIN.


with faces expressive Of disgust and
dismay.
What chance had Ethel Thornton's
poor little weary feet, so small, so mis-
erably clad, in such a slough as this?
She glanced around despairingly.
And the next moment she found her
self lifted in a pair of strong arms, car
ried high and dry over the mud and
mire, and set down on the other side,
while her rescuer, raising his dripping
hat, with a pleasant bow and smile,
passed quickly on his way.
She stood where he had placed her as
If turned to stone, following his fast dis
appearing figure with her dark eyes; her
hands were clasped convulsively, the
color was flaming in her cheeks under
her wet black veil.
at was FrankP' she gasped. at was
Frank himself, and he held me in his
arms and never knew me"
A quick sob burst from her lips. o
hard, hard fate! to meet thus-sO close
and part without word!
Her Iover-her promised husband of
one year ago.
Just then her foot struck against some
thing hard.
She stopped and picked it up-a large
pocketbOOk
Frank'sp she said, quietly and hope
lessly; then she wiped it tenderly with
her handkerchief, pressed it to her lips,
and slipped it into her bosom.
AS she did this, she threw her veil
aside, for the tears and rain together
nearly blinded her.
I doubt if Frank would have recog-
nized her, even if he had seen her face
it was so worn and weary-loOking, and
80 stained by the wet black veil.
Not much resemblance there to the
pretty, piquant, blooming girl whose love
he had sought so eagerly year ago; not
much in her appearance just now to
tempt any man to WOO her.
So thought Mrs. Benton, the landlady,
as she let her in, and stared at her utterly
drenched condition.
Glad .Gdeed was Ethel to reach the
quiet of her own roOm-glad of the cup
of tea her mother gave her-glad to lie
down and rest.
She CROPPED blindly to her little desk
and put the pocketbook away.
Tomorrow" she whispered to herself
this address will be inside-r1 send
it back tomorrow"
Then sinking wearily on her bed, she
murmured:
Mother, 1 feel so strangely. wish
-now-that l had taken-yOur advice,
and stayed at home, to-day"
The words came family, in low, broken
gasps, from her parched lips.
She lay without speaking for some
time, and then articulated:
81 failed again-no work-no hope
no"
Her eyes closed, her voice ceased, she
fell back, burning and shivering. The
poor child had contracted a serious i'll
ness in that merciless shower of rain.
Meantime Frank Merrifeld was anathe-
matizing his i'll luck in losing valuable
pocketbook with bills, receipts, money
all sorts of important matters in vt.
" 1t must have been when | carried
that girl over the muddy crossing. l
had it the minute before, and missed it
shortly afterwards COnfound my quix-
otic folly! Why couldn't I mind my
own business and let her alone? Poor
little thing, she looked SO wet and miser-
able, and something about her somehow
reminds me Of
He paused and leaned his head upon
his hands in painful thought.
"Why can't l ever forget her? Poor
little frail, false heart, why can't let
her go? Why does her sweet face haunt
me everywhere-not bright and sparkling
as l used to know it, but pale and re.
proachful looking? ReprOaching me-
All, Ethel, how much I loved you! How
happy we might have been to-day had
you only been truep
He arose with an impatient gesture,
as of one who, by an effort of will, puts
vain regrets aside.
How toNSecover the pocketbooki
That's the present question. There wal
money in it; the finder is welcome to
that; the bills and papers are what ]
want, and-her portrait. Yes-there's
no use in denying it to myself, am fOol
enough to care for that. I'll advertise
in the papers. Confound that shower Of
rain"
X
"Three weeks, mamma? Three weeks
lying here delirious? Why, what could
have made me so i'll? My head is sc
strange 60 seem to forget everything"
Mrs. Thornton gazed anxiOusly on the
girls wasted face-almOst as white as
the pillow on which it lay.
You got badly drenched and chilled
my love, in shower of rain"
A shower of rainY'
The weak voice rang out clear and
strong-the dark eyes flashed excitedlyt
she clasped her hands, while vivid
crimson suddenly dyed her cheeks.
90, / remember it all now. Please
reach me my desk!'
Then she told her mother her adven
ture in the rain, and drew out of the
desk Franks pocketbook.
Three weeks ago. In all probability
he has needed it. We must open it
mamma, to find his address and send il
back to him at once"
Mrs Thorton looked pityingly at the
flushed, eager face and trembling hands
She shook her head doubtfully and sadly
and said:
You love Frank still, Ethel-nov
don't your
No reply In words, but the poor pale
face was hidden upon the pillow with {
great sob, and little hand stole int
the mothers pleadingly.
Mrs. Thornton caTessed the hand ant
put it to her lips.
If he were worthy, dear,.I shoulC
say nothing, but he abandoned you
Ethel o child, where is your pride
You are hoping against hope, my daugh
ter. 1t would be cruel in me to encour
age you. Mr.. Merrifeld could hav
found you had he wished; our addres
was left for all who might enquire for il
He has not even written to you sine
your fortune was lost. | remember wei
that his last letter arrived Just as w
were going to your cousin Ethefs wed
dingothat was just a week before ou
trouble came"
Ethel made no reply.
Her face was hidden again, and sob
shook her slender form. Mrs. Thornton
continued:
"Would that you had never seer