Mexico weekly ledger., 1880-05-20

ing through the woods together, the
sharp report of hunters gun close
beside them startled them both. The
next instant her companion sank
white and scnsclcss on the sward be-
side her, while the afrrighted hunter,
whose misaimcd charge had entered
his arm, fastened forward.
"Bring assistance, quickiy!" ex-
claimed Edith, while she raised the
heavy head to her lap. "Oscar,
speak to me!' she moaned. "Oscar!
Oscar!'
Over and over again she repeated
his name in the same accents of de-
spairing love until they seemed to
force their way into the life pulses of
his being, and reused them to ac-
tivity.
He opened his eyes with half
wandering look, as though delirium
must have overtaken him.
At this instant the hunter returned
with assistance, and a half-hour later
the wounded man had been borne to
the rectory, the wound dressed, and
the knowledge given that it was mere
ly a flesh hurt, painful but not dam
gerous; yet his recovery was te-
dious affair.
He grew moody and distracted.
1t gave him more time to think of
Lillian and his loss, Edith thought,
even while she wondered why his
eyes followed her with such strange
questioning look. Once she entered
his room with some freshly-cut flowers
in her hand.
"Where shall I put them, Mr..
Dering:' she questioned.
"Mr. Dering?" he answered.
"Did / not once hear you call me
Oscar? Or was it sweet fancy
waited from dreamland?"
Again the crimson tide dyed her
face.
"Don't," she said, rs though he
had hurt her, and hastcned from the
room, bearing with her the flowers,
and it seemed to him the light and
sunshine.
Had he been blind all this time,
and was he just beginning to see?
A grand ball was to be given at
Ames Court, at which Lillian insisted
that Edith should be present. The
invalid was fully recovered now, and
he, too, was summoned to the feast.
Miss Ames had plunged into con-
stant gaiety since breaking off her
engagement TO Oscar Dering, but it
all had failed to fll the empty place
in her heart.
On the evening Of her ball, she
picked up the paper sent down by
the afternoons mail from London.
Glancing idly over its pages, she
suddenly started at seeing the name
of the man to whom she so lately had
been betrothed.
1t was a apublished decision of the
court that, owing to some disability,
the title could not descend to Oscar
Dering's cousin, but together with
the estates, must remain IN his pos
session.
He was, then, Lord Dering still
Fool that she had been! But the de-
cision had been made public but a
few hours. He would never dream
of the accident which had brought il
to her knowledge. To night, while
he still thought her in ignorance, she
must win him back.
Never had she heen more capriciou.
with her toilet; never had she looked
more ravishiDg lovely than when she
descended to receive her guests.
1t was late when he entered the
spscious drawing-rooms.
81 have been waiting for you,''
"You have honored me too great.
ly, Miss Ames," he replied.
''Let us go into the conservatory,
!, , she added. cit is cooler there.
He offered her his arm.
From distant corner of the room
Edith saw them.
''She need not have feared" she
thought bitterlv-only, the mex,
moment, to reproach herself with hel
sellishncss. II will not begrudgt
him any happiness she said tt
herself.
''Have you forgotten the last time
we were here together, Mr.. Dering?'
Lillian was asking at this moment.
"No,' he answered, gravely, look
ing quietly but surpriscdly into thu
beautiful face beside him.
,, ''Can one ever retrieve mistake,
= she said, "when one finds it out?''
81 do not KNOW" he replied, toy
i ing with an exquisite rose beside him
,, as he continued: ''Can one cause til,
= rose blighted in midsummer to bloom
4, again in the trosts of winter?"
: She knew then what he meant, ant
, , knew that it was too late to retriev,
the past.
"We are dealing in smiles - sh
exclaimed, hiding her wound with
9 proud smile. ''Perhaps it Is tn
- place. Let US return to our guests.
An hour later, Oscar Dering lie,
Miss Loring TO The same spot.
81 love you, Edith" he said simp
= ly. 81 thought my heart was dea
!. when l met you. know now that
4 had never lived. My darling, Wi
. you be my wife?'
e "Oh, Oscar, are you sure, sure Q
e yourself?'
- 81 have been made sure to night,
he answered, drawing her close to hi
:, heart, and breaking off the splendi
~ rose with which he had toyed an hou
J" before, to place it in her hair.
:, She was too happy to question hi
;" ;" words or their meaning-too happ
~ even to let Miss Ames' congratuls
- tions sting, when she said, scornfully
:, "a heart caught in the reboune
~ y Did not tell you?'
IS Too happy even to be made happie
)" when she learned she was to share q
s. humble lot with the man she lovet
u but that her wedding day made hi
,, Lady Edith Dering.
u. Mrs. woodruff to Marry.
From the London Life.