The Russellville Democrat., 1880-07-08

had put upon him, as he thoughtlessly l led Kate to the alter. Then a short time after the fatal step was taken the | truth came out. He found out that Marion had loved him devotedly, and that her heart was breaking over the disertion. He had made an indifferent husband, for he could not forget Marion and his wife, during her short married life, was not happy woman. He was not unkind by any means, but she missed the affection she had right to expect, and pined over the disappoint- ment. Since her death he had felt some remorse that he had been thoughtless enough to take into his keeping the life of a loving, sensitive woman from no other motive than pique. Lately his thoughts had turned to his early love, but he had no clew to her whereabouts After his marriage her father had died, ill few months her mother, and sine, an only child, had drifted out into the world alone, to earn her own living, he had heard, far her father had left very little property. "She may be married,n D he thought, "and if not, she may have ceased to love me, but she is the one love of my life, and if only knew where to find her."
 With these thoughts in his mind his eyes wandered through the open win dow to the yard below. They were back yards, but pleasent ones for all that, with clean brick pavements. with beds of bright, fragrant summer flowers here and there, grape vines and other shrubbery clinging to trellises, in all making a perfect picture of summer bloom and verdure. Two or three trees reared their heads skyward, faintly sug- gesting the forrest primeyal" to fhe city donizens. Then he looked across to a window exactly opposite to his where a lady sat sewing. He had watched her every day since he had been prisoner in that room. She piled her needle steadily all day long with only short intervals of absence from her room, and must accomplish great deal he thought, he fingers flew so rapidly. She was not near enough to him to discern her features, but there was something in her air aud attitude as she sat at work that interested him and made him like to watch her. He could perceive that she was not posing for his benefit, although she must be aware that he looked a good deal in her direction. She was tall and graceful, he could see that when she arose to walk, and there was cer- tain self-possession and absence of furry that made him feel it would be relief Is hIs tried soul to have such a woman near him.
 Sewing! eternally sewingp he nut tered.
 'tI wonder women do not get tired to death of such monotonous, confusing work! I suppose they do. Probably she has to earn her living that way. I wonder if she is widow" He had a horror of widows. Probably, not or she would have scraped an acquaintance before this time. 1 wish I could have just such neat looking woman for housekeeper. But, perhaps distance lends enchantment. I've great mind to go around and see her when I get well. That house is-let me see-the same number as this, for these streets are numbered just alike. But then l should not know who to ask for. It would be rather awkward to ask for the lady who sits sewing by the window up two flights, tor it's lodging house, where folks are not supposed to know each others business. l guess she is alone in the world, for she don't seem to have many callers; so there would be no use to talk about her." he thought, spitefully, us remembering how Dora Robinson, a spinster of for.y-fve, had refused to come and keep house for him, man of twenty-eight, for fear people would talk. "No one would be foolish enough to accuse me of designs on that ancient female" he thought, ungallently. "I shouldn't think of meddling with my grandmother" The idea of getting this quIet, lady-like person across the yard to keep house for him seemed to possess him. q should think she might prefer it to that everlasting sewing. l wish l could call across and ask her. Hang conventionalities! It's duced bore when a man is in my position"
 A sudden gust of summer wind, bear ing on its wings the odor of flowers swept through the yards, causing the blinds to close with quick chatter, stirring the grape-vines smartlv, and causing small commotion among the foliage of the trees. Quite a little whirlwind," he thought, and at that moment he saw something white sail quickly out of her window and whirl fantastically over the yards. It mean dered a few minutes gracefully, then, llke u CtiiiSI uONC hilh a uiScoaHt, i' flew straight across to his window paused moment in front of it, and then fluttered into his face, It was bit oi soft, costly, delicate lace. ''It belongs to her work" he thought. "I wonder if she saw where it came?" Her head was turned in his direction. He held ur the lace, of which there was about hall yard.
 She nodded with smile that showed her pearly teeth. "Wonder if they are her own," he thought. He saw her get up and put on her hat and shawl. "She is coming" he thought. "This too valu. able to lose" Before long he heard the bell ring, and the girl came to tell him that a lady at the door wanted some thing she could not tell what She un. derstood her to say something about a bit of lace.
 "Show her up," he said, and in few moments the lady he had so much de sired to see closer, stood in the room. Sho had bright, good-natnred, practi' cal face; just the lace he should suppose would be associated with her move ments. She was past her first youth was probably thirty-five He politely asked her to be seated.
 "I called for my lace, which the wind was ill-natured enough to carry oil, she said, with frank smile.
 Which 1 am happy to return to you, he said, as he passed 1t to her.
 Tt is a small piece" she sad, but Il is quite expensive. 1t belongs to an other person, and if l lost 1t l should have to replace it."