The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-01-28

Lily's step on the stairs, saw her glide
past the window and down the garden
path, saw Charles start to his feet at her
approach. The two stood moment,
then Rose saw that white Charles hid
his face in his hands and leaned against
the trunk of tree, Lily stood beside
him, and after moment touched his
arm with her hand.
Dear little Lily she will comfort
him" J" she said, with sigh Of reief,and
went back to her sofa.
The late moon had arisen, and shone
in over her, flinging its beams in sill
very mantle over that pure brow and
white-r1bed form. Rose got up and ex-
tinguished the lamp, then sat down
again and gazed thoughtfully out into
The night.
I" 1 wonder why feel so unhappy 7"
she murmured. 81 felt so before
Charles spoke. 1t must be because am
doing wrong. haven't said my pray
ers to night. Oh, nea culpdP
Rising instantly, she knelt before her
sofa in the moonlight, and, blessing her
self, folded her hands, and, lifting her
pale and spiritual face, went softly and
solemnly through with her neglected
devotions. SO intent was she that she
scarcely was aware of the soft opening
and closing of the front door, or of the
step that went shrough the entry. But
when she rose from her knees, she saw
Doctor Thayer standing In the door of
his study, his form outlined against the
window behind him.
ooh, / thought it was Charles" she
said, as he came forward. '' / happened
to remember that l hadn't said my
prayers tonight, and so said them
right away, lest I should get sleepy"
"Are you sleepy 2" he asked.
"Oh, no, / am wide awake. think
that my first party has excited me. /
shall not be able to sleep tonight, and
/ don't want to try"
Doctor Thayer seated himself on the
sofa she had left, and presently she took
a seat there also. She fanced that he
had motioned her to- For minute he
sat looking thoughtfully out into the
moonlighted night, seeming to have for
gotten Rose; but just as she was getting
a little uneasy, and thinking that per-
haps he wanted to be alone, he turned
| his face toward her
Z" How beautiful he is,' was her in
voluntary thought.
And, indeed, that fine high-bred face
did look beautiful in the softening light
that shone over it, and with the added
charm of the faint smile that stirred his
lips as he looked at her.
81 have been mentally travelling back
ten years." he said, "and have been
thinking that / should like to ask you
something about your experience at
that time, If the subject will not be
painful to you. In all the gossip and
wondering that has been made over
your history, you and / have never
mentioned it to each other. There was
no need we should. There Is no need
now, except to crafty professional Gu
riosity of mine. Would you rather not
speak of that strange illness of yours 2"
Rose leaned back in her corner of the
sofa,and rested her head upon her hand,
shading her eyes; but her forehead
shone pure in the light, and the small
ringless hand looked as though carved
from ivory.
&c remember so little!" she murmur-
ed, in an agitated voice "and yet, all
that knew ten years ago, know now.
My sickness was full of terror. L can
recollect that the moment / was left
alone, strange little men and women,
with ugly faces, used to crowd my room,
and seem to threaten me. Mrs. Warren
was not, certainly, very tender; but 1
dreaded to have her leave me at night.
Doctor Marsden was kind, 1 think.
Once he put his hand on my head, and
said, poor child!' But through it all
was the thought that if you, or Charles,
or Mrs. Coolidge, would come to me, all
would be well. OF course was delir-
ious all the time. At last, one night,
l heard the doctor say to Mrs. Warren
that / was going to die. 1t filled me
me with terror, and began to scream.
In my delirium, 1t seemed to me that
they wanted to kill me; and tried to
get out of bed, and run away. / sup
pose did run across the room, and fall.
l had sensation which even now il
chills me recall. 1t was as though /