The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-08-14
beside the fire and listened to the storm

Leah" said the old man, breakin
the silence, "where' is Stephen tc
night:" ~ S-+-..- r- --s
She had been busy with her ow
thoughts, intently gazing into the glowin
Goals, and she raised her face, aglOw witt
tile freight. to his. Then, with cry o
alarm, she sprang from her seat and caugh
his head, which was falling forward ON hi
bosom, in her arms.
Father. speak to mel What is tn
matterg" she cried, gazing with grea
dread at the set and rigid features and lips
from which all color had fled, leaving
them white as ashes. "I
LEAH" the old man gasped, 81 an
dying. Quick-old Mr.. Hallam a
the old lodge. must see him
Tell him 1 sent for him and he will
come"
The gray head fell back upon th'
chair as he spoke. The girl, nearl,
frantic, and knowing not what to do
kissed him in a wild, frenzied way, ant
then dashed out into the night ant
storm. .-..rt. rE. -.s-
1t was a long way, more than mile
but she did not mind fatigue. She die
not feel it any more than she felt thu
stormy sweep of rain that drenched he
to the skin Her mind had room only
for one thought-that she might be TOT
late. - -.
She reached the house at last and de
llvered the message to MIR. Hallam II
person. and then her ovcr-strained facul
ties gave way, and sho sank in swoon or
the floor. When she came to her sense!
again she was lying in a white-curtainet
bed in a room finer than she had ever seer
before, and bending over her was the
stately young lady who had come tC
her fathers cottage the night be
fore. ---,s-.=., - 80 900. -r.-R
HAS he gomez" she asked: - ~
"Yes," the lady answered" he is will
him now"
She would have risen at once and re
turned through the storm through which
she had come, but the lady was kindly
rosolnte and firm. and forced her to lie
quiet and wait.
An hour passed--it seemed an eternity
to Leah-when the door opened and Mr.,
Hallam entered, still dripping with the
rain. He crossed the room to the couch
and took her hand in his.
| My poor child" he said, "you cannot
go home tonight; this is your home from
this time forth"
| She looked at him in dumb amazement
| "You are my daughter now," he said,
land you must learn ito look on me as
you would your father" sA 2.
And hep she cried out, f1inging up
her arms with an unconscious gesture OF
entreaty.
"You must bear it calmly, poor child"
| he answered her. HE is dead"
How it CHANGED that she should become
the adopted daughter of the wealthy Mr..
Hallam was much of q mystery to Leah,
even when months had passed, and, the
sorrow for her father beginning to wear
off, she became accustomed to her new
position. Mr.. Hallam was kindness person
| flied but from the rest of the household
her quick instinct held her aloof. They
were all kind to her, but an indefinable
something felt, though not expressed, that
she was not to the "manor born," and
sort ofinterloper, raised barrier between
them. As for visitors, of whom there
were MANY, of course this had nothing to
do; but still the feeling was in II er mind
all the same, and she became cold and re-
served.
As for Frank Vernon, he became fasci-
mated by her-so much so that it became
a subject of remark. At last he proposed,
and she accepted him.
She did not love him, but she liked his
society, and she loved no one else, and felt
proud Of his talents and handsome person
as any girl would have done. She made
a condition, however, that their engage
| mcnt SnOulu Dt kcpt q sCSIct uhth nv
brother Stephen, WHO had gone on voy.
age of several months, should retuan.
| A week afterward Stephen came. She
was almost beside herself with delight at
seeing him. 1t would have been a revela-
ton to any one who only knew her as the
stately, Juno-like beauty of the lodge, to
see her hang about his neck and kiss him
again and again through her joyful tears
| AT length she told him how Frank Yer.
non had asked her to be his wife, and she
had accepted him. The change that had
come over him startled her. His face
grew pale as death TO the very lips, and d
wild mist swept over his eyes-oniy ior 3
moment, however, and then he brushed
the back of his hand across his eyes and
forced a smile.
Leah" he said, in a voice that trem
bled in spite of his efforts 10 keep 1t calm
.'if it is for your happiness I will try to
bear it. haye had dreams, when / kept
NV lonely watches. that some time you
might love me well enough to be some
thing nearer to me than sister. l sec
what fool l have been now-you lady
and an heiress, while am but poor fish
erman-but let 1t pass the memory OF my
little sister will, always be. the 0eares
thing I can have on earth.
She stood thunderstruck for moment
almost deeming him mad. ET-7 = !
"What do you mean ?" she managed Il
gasp at length.
"bo you not know? Have they no
told YOU p" he cried, shat you are 60
nv fathers daughter, not my sister, bu
tho only child Of Mr.. ,Hallam's brother
and the lawful. mistress of sHallan
Lodge?"
The color faded from her face, leavin.
1t SO pallid he thought she was going t.
faint. Then, as quickly, the warm bloot
rushed back again, suffusing her face y
the very roots Of her hair. r
"Are you sure of this :" she asked.
"a sure as of my own life, he answered
"I heard it when Mr. Hallam did, from
fathers dying lips, and saw the docu
ments to prove his words. / know
should not have spoken to you as did
but forget it all, Leah" -.
at is SO sudden" she interrupted him
'sbut I do not wish to forget them. The.
have lost me my brother, it is true, bu
they have also found me something neal
er. though dearer he could never be
Stephen, look into my eyes and tell m
were your dreams SO very wild, after all J
OF course, Mr. Hallam was very mucl
dis appointed, and Frank Vernon evel
more 30. The one, however, found consola
ton in being allowed to retain Hallan
Lodge, and the other by returning to Ii
old love and marrying Edith. Leah an,
her husband are happy in each other
, love-what more need be saids
heSpirit World
The very grave is a passage into til
beautiful and the glorious. We lay on
| friends in the grave, but. they are .aroun
us, The little children that sat upon on
49, Ill