The daily gazette., 1880-01-31
Edith's Lover.

future husband when SO many attract
i've yourg gentlemen aspired TO the
honor Of her hand.
As approached, Mr.. Hollis was say
in:
Tomorrow Is our wedding day, dear
Edith! Tomorrow l can scarcely
realize 1t. All, how proud aud glad
an"
My lady looked up at this lao ment,
her cheeks all aglow, her eyes shining
with happiness. Hearing my step she
said in her gentle way:
"What is 1t, Jennie ?"
"A & ange woman has presented her
self at the kitchen door, madam. She
a ked for you and will not be denied.
She does not live In these parts, | think;
her accent and dress are both peculiar.
Good gracious, there she comes now,
and / left her on the kitchen stepsW ~
My mistress looked In the direction
indicated and beheld dropping, for
lorn figure slowly advancing from the
rear of the house.
She changed color and drew back
with startled cry:
"Mrs, Hawkins ~
The woman came nearer and paused
on the upper step, looking curiously
about her.
"Forgive me for comin'," she said, In
low, broken voice. .'It amt TO be
troublin' one like you. But what could
l do with him beggin' and pleadin' and
frettIn' himself illp hadn't the heart
to refuse his prayer, and"
"Hushw MY mistress drew her
strange visitor hurrledly down the
steps.
She was very pale and trembled with
excitement.
'No more now-I cannot listen," said
she, in a whisper. "If you have any er-
rand with me come again by-and-by
when am alone"
The woman sighed heavily.
"Let me give you this note, ma'am-
it's from him, an I'll trouble you no
more. You'll read 1t, an do all it asks,
ma'am9" she added, quite plaintively,
as she thrust bit of crumpled paper
into my lady's hand.
"Yes, yes. Now go-go at once p
81 will. But don't disapp'int him,
ma'am don't do it,"
There was desperation In her voice and
looks-perhaps even menace-as she
turned and made her way with difficulty
down the path.
Mr.. Hollis naturally made some in
quiry as to the strange visitor, but, at
Miss Edlth's solicitation, he dropped the
sui tject, and soon afterward went away.
About 10 o'clock that night my lady's
bell summoned me TO her chamber.
l found her sitting with her wraps on
and bit of paper-the same the woman
hoA sri har al -. L..
Her face wore sadder expression than
had ever seen upon IL before.
"Jenny," she said, d,turning in her chair
as | entered, edo you know place in
the will ge called Holmes Cottage ?"
ayes, ma'am."
"Good. Get your bonnet, wish you
to take me there. wish to set out at
once"
"But IL is long distance, madam if
you must 60, shall l not order the car
riage ?"
81 do not wish this visit known to any
one else in the house, Jenny. The SER
wants would think strange of It. You,
| am sure, are discreet and faithful"
We left the house by side door, lock-
ing it and taking the key with us.
Presently we reached Holmes Cot
tage. 1t was long, low building IL the
the outskirts of the village, at some dis
tance from any other dwelling. Since
my knowledge of the house began, it
had been occupied by the poorer classes
of tenants.
"Some one wish to see is here" she
said, quietly. "Remain outside, Jenny,
| shall not be long away"
She entered without knocking and
closed the door. The next instant
heard a glad cry within, then burst of
sobs.
Suddenly Mr.. Hollis confronted me,
his face white and convulsed In the
moonlight.
"Tell me-" he said in husky whs.-
per, "was it Edith, my promised wife,
that went in yonder door?"
| could not speak, but my looks an
swered him.
He dtopped my hand, and was turn
ing away, when a few agitated words
came through the open window:
edith, | knew you would come, my
precious darling, my wifel You were not
so cruel AS to forsake me utterly"
1t was a mans voice, but Mr.. Hollis
seemed to hear a simple word only of
those it uttered.
"Wifel" he echoed in a hollow tone.
"Witel And tomorrow was to have
been our wedding dayp'
In spite of my terror and bewilder-
ment, had the presence of mind to
grasp his arm and drag him further
away from the house.
"What brings you here?" sternly de-
manded. "Why have you followed
us?"
II did not follow you; / am no spy; i,
was chance that brought me In this di-
rection tonight. Nay, not chance, he
added with sudden vehemence, "but the
providence of q God.'
Then, before could say a world In re-
ply, he had freed himself from my grasp |
and was stridiDg down the shadow-nunt- |
ed street.
Ten minutes later my mistress came
out. She drew deep breath as she cias-
ped arm, and 1 felt her trembles
"Come, Jenny, let us get away from
Eere quickly, / shall be glod to reach |
home again-so glad.o
She lookedlso miserable and dispirited
that had not the courage to tell her |
W hat had occurred outside the cottage |
while she fingered within.
The next morning, while she was at |
breakfast, and the m ystical stir of the |
bridal preparations was going on in the |
bouse, one of the servants brought in a |
large package. She cut the cords, and |
out fell heap of letters-the pure, dain. |
I, letters she had written from time to
time to her lover-and the few books