Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-09-04

up them you've got on. Dear, dear your
hat is just ruined-crape won't bear wet
ting-and you've no shawl. YCu must inst
put on dress of Lizzie's to go home in.
It's nearly dark anyway"
"Where is Lizzie o. Alice asked.
"Sewing at Mrs. Gorham's, dearie. She
will be coming home soon. | alters make
that part of the bargain that she's to be
let home afore dark, and it g9ts dark now
by six-fall days are shorter than summer
ones. So she'll be home soon. It's clear
ing up"
1t was clearing up, and it was also grow
ing dark, so promising to send home the
borrowed dress in the morning, Alice started
for home.
She smiled at herself as she stood before
the cottage mirror, for she had not worn a
gay color since her fathers death five years
before.
Lizzie's blue dress, scarlet shawl and gay
Sunday hat were sadly out of place upon
the slender figure, and setting off the pale,
refined face of Alice Hill.
"Dear me, said the old woman. | hope
you'll soon chirk up bit, Miss Alice, and
take off your black. The old gentleman
has been dead year, now. Them roses
do suit you beautiful"
Alice glanced at the staring red flowers
reflected in the mirror and smiled, as she
said:
81 will take great care of Lizzie's hat,
Mrs. Mason. Good-by, and thank you.
1t was nearly dusk, and there was a
quarter of a mile to walk before home was
reached, so Alice hurried through the grove
where the trees had already shut out the
lingering daylight.
She had tied small veil of gay tissue
over the gaudy hat, as she left the cottage,
and she hoped. if she met any acquaint-
ances, she would escape recognition.
When she was half through the grove
she heard quick footsteps coming from the
village, and a moment later a voice said:
"You are punctual," and she was caught
for moment in Godfrey Hills arms.
She knew his voice, and struggled to free
herself, before realizing that he had mis-
taken her for the village beauty.
"Pooh!" he said, releasing her. "Don't
put On airs, Liz Were you going to the
house 2"
"Yes," she answered, family, indignant
and yet curious, her woman's wits quickly
soeing his error.
81 must go, too, before long, though |
had far rather stay here in the woods with
you, sweetheart"
"four sweetheart is at the house." Alice
said, trying to assume the jealous tone of
an uneducated girl.
"What That chalky faced girl in
black? Not a bit of it. Didn't love
you long before she came to take what is
miner"
And curse followed, coupled with her
own name, that thrilled Alice Hill with
horror.
''But they say you will marry her, she
persisted, calming her voice as well as she
could.
''They say right! will marry her, and
have my own! Then, when she is dead,
you shall have your old beau again, Lizzie,
and come to the great house, my wife. 1t
is only waiting year or two"
"But she may not die" gasped the hor-
stricken girl.
"She will die! I'll have no fine ady
taking what is mine-mine, | tell you.
But what ails youl You are shaking as if
you had an ague fit. I've talked it all over
often enough before, and you never went
off into such shakes! 1t is nothing new
I'm telling YOU"
"But-you would - not murder
herr" the poor girl. gasped, drawing her
veil closer.
~Come now, none of that" was the
rough answer; "you're not going back on
me now, after al. you've heard of my
plans. You've sworn to keep my secrets,
or I'd never have told you them. But
what is the matter2"
And here Alice found herself shaken
with no gentle hand, to her great indigna
tion. But her fears overmastered her
anger. Godfrey was heir law to her
newly acquired fortune, and if he suspected
her identity, in those dark woods, she did
not doubt, after what he had already said,
that he would take her life.
81 am not well, she said, freeing her
self from the rough grasp on her arm,
land must hurry on. Wait for me here
until do my errand at the house and come
back
'Be quick, then," was the gruff reply.
And if she was In haste, the scoundrel
might well be satisfied at the rapidity with
which his companion left him.
She scarcely knew how she reached her
home, tore off her borrowed finery and
wrote to Godfrey Hill, declining the honor
he had proposed to her, but giving no
other reason for her refusal than the state
ment that she did not love him sufficiently
Mamma" she said, coming into the
drawing room, 81 have written to Godfrey,
refusing his offer, and sent the letter to him
bV James. | have remembered who and
what he is. D."
Mr.. Godfrey Hills amazement was un-
bounded when returning to his home, in the
village hotel, to dress for his promised call
upon Alice Hill, he found her note awaiting
him.
But he did not renounce his hope of
shaking her resolution until the next day,
when he met the true Lizzie Mason in the
shaded grove, and in the course of their
lover-like conversation, that damsel told
him who had worn her gay hat and red
shawl on the previous evening.
can she sent five dollar bill with the
dress, because it got wet" said the girl
can that l call real handsome of her.
Why, what ails you9 you're white as
chalk! +"
Nothing-nothing You were not in
the grove at all, then, yesterday"
"No; couldn't get off till long after
dark and SO l stayed all night. | knowed
you'd be mad waiting for me, but couldn't
help it this time. Why"
For her lover had started for the village
without even the ceremony Of goodbye.
He lost no time, on his way, until he
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