The Russellville Democrat., 1879-12-18

IIEfT JE8tEN sNaffF for bim, and he will come" The gray head fell back upon the chair as he spoke. II The girl, pearly frantic, and knowing not what to do, kissed him in wild frenzied way, and then dashed out into the night H and storm. N " 9
 lIsdItwasa M n long way, more than mile, N but she did not mind fatigue. She did \ not feel, 1t any more than she felt the I stormy sweep of ram that drenched her 4 to the skin. Her mind had room for only one thought-that she might be too II fate. Tzsflg sertt Hi
 nfSho reached the house at last, and de- \ iivered the message to MT. Italian inp son, and then her overstrained faculties gave way, and she sank in a swoon on the floor. When she came to her senses N again she was lying in differentiated \ bed in a room finer than she had ever seem before, and bending over her was the stately young lady who had come to 1her fathers cottage the night before T Has he gone?o she asked
 A"Yes,'' the lady answered, "he is with him now" ffi@ 2
 BsShe would have risen at once and re- ned1through the storm through which she had come but the lady was kindly resolute and firm, and forced her to be quiet and wait.
 An hour passed it seemed an eterni- Il ty to Leah--when the door opened and Mr. Haliam entered, still dripping with the rain, He crossed the room to the couch and took her hand in his. I My poor child" he said, "You can not go home tonight; this is your home from this time forth"
 She,looked at him in dull amazement.
 "You are my daughter now,n he said. "and you must look on me as you would your father.", sts,H. '
 And he?" she cried out, finging up her arms with an unconcious gesture of entreaty. PIT pc l'
 Ts You must bear it calmly, poor child, 7 he answered her. He is dead" s+n
 How it ehanced that she should be- 4 come the adopted daughter of the wealthy Mfr. Hallam was much of mys- tefv to Leah, even when months had passed, and the sorrow for her father be- ginning to wear of, she became more ac- custorned to her new position Mir. Hal lam was kindness personifed; but from the rest of the household her quick in stind held her aloof. They were kind I to her, but an Indefnable something fell, though not expressed, that she was not 'manor born," and sort of interloper raised barrier between them. As for l Visitors of whom there were many, of course this had nothing to do, but still the feeling in her mind was the same and she became cold and reserved.
 As for Frank Vernon, he became fas scin*ted with her-so much so that it be- l came q subject of remark. At last he II rrnnncaH md ch.a taI
 She did not love him, but she liked his society, and she loved no one else, and felt proud of his talent and hand some person, as any girl might have done, She made condition, however, | that their engagement should be kept a secret until her brother Stephen, who had gone on voyage of several months should return. F8aia afa
 .sg A week afterwards Stephen came. She was almost beside herself with delight | at seeing him. It would have been a I revelation to any one who only knew her as the stately Juno-like beauty of the Lodge, to see her hang around his neck and kiss him again and again through her joyful tears. 41
 | At length she told him how Frank Yer l non had asked her to be his wife, and she had accepted him. The change that came over him startled her. His face grew pale as death 10 the very lips, and a wild mist swept over his eyes--only | for a moment, then he brushed the back | of his hand across his eyes and forced smile 94. te
 @Eeah," he said in a voice that trem- bled in spite of his efforts to keep it calm, If it's for your happiness I will btry to bear it. l have had dreams, when I kept my lonely watches, that yon | might love inc well enough to be some- thing nearer than sister to me. I see Ewhat fool have been now--you lady, kaniheiress, while am but poor fisher man-but let it pass; the memory of my 1 little sister will always be the dearest | thing I can have on earth"
 She stood thunderstruck for moment almost deeming him mad l19"What do you mean?" she managed to gasp at length. l.fl tofd'y ou?" he cried, "that youare not my father's daughter, nor mysister, but the 1 only child of Mir Hallam's brother, and tic lawful mistress of Hallam Lodge" lsl The color faded from her face, leaving it so pallid that he thought she was go- ing to faint, Then as quickly the warm blood rushed back again suffusing her face to the roots of her hair.
 Are you quite sure of this," she asked. ia .o @
 s"As sure as of my own life," he an- swered. 'T heard it when Mir. Hallam did, from fathers dying lips, and saw the documents to prove his wor,ls. l know 1 should not have spoken to you as 1 did; but I forgot it all, Leah -"
 ca'It is so sudden" she interrupted him but do not wish to forget them. They have lost me my brother it Is true, but they have found the something nearer, though dearer he could never be. Steph. en, look into my eyes and tell me were your dreams SO very wild after ,ll?" r. Of course MT. Hallam was very much disappointed, and Frank Vernon even more so, The one, however, found con. solation In being allowed to retain pos session of Haiiam Lodge and the other by returning to his old love and marry ing Edith. Leah and her husband are happy in each others love-what more need be saidY
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 coluIlbus Miss Index,
 A colored man who had contracted debt some years ago with one of our merchants, came to town yesterday and called upon his old creditor.