The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-06-10

and pleasure to listen. If only she had moi
learned her own heart, the pain would
have been less. But she was defined tc
learn it more fatally, yet, as, one morning,
strolling through the the woods together, the
them startled them both. The next instant
her companion sank white and sense1ess on
the sward beside her, while the affrighted
hunter, whose misaimed charge had entered
his arm, hastened forward.
Bring assistance, quicklyl" exclaimed
Edith, while she raised the heavy head to
her lap. Oscar, speak to me she moan
| ed. "Oscar Oscar!" a
| Over and over again she repeated his
name in the same accents of despairing love
until they seemed to force their way into
the life-pulses of his being, and reused
them to activity.
He opened his eyes with half wandering
look, as though delirium must have over
taken him.
At this instant the hunter returned with
assistance, and a half hour later the wound
ed man had been borne to the rectory, the
wound dressed, and the knowledge given
that it was merely flesh hurt, painful but
not dangerous yet his recovery was to-
dious affair.
He grew moody and abstracted. II
gave him more time to think Of Lillian and
his loss, Edith thought, even while she won-
dered why his eyes followed her with such a
strange, questioning look. Once she en-
tered his room with some freshly-cut flowers
In her hand.
"Where shall I put them, Mr.. Dering "
she questioned.
Mr.. Dering ?" he answered. "Did l
not once hear you call me Oscarf Or was
it sweet fancy waited from dream
land?"
Again the crimson tide dyed her face.
"Don't!" " she said, as though he had
hurt her, and hastened from the room, bear
ing 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 constant
gaiety since the breaking of her engagement
to Oscar Dering but it all had failed to fill
the empty place in her heart
On the evening of her ball, she picked mp
the paper sent down by the afternoons mail
from London. CHANGING idly over its pages,
she suddenly started at seeing. the name Of
the man to whom she SO lately had been be-
trothed. .s-.
1t was a published 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 possession.
He was, then, Lord Dering still! Fool
been made public but few hours He
would never dream of the accident which
had brought it to her knowledge. Tonight,
while he still thought her in Ignorance, she
must win him back.
Never had she been more capricious with
her toilet never had she looked more raw
ishingly lovely than when she descended to
receive her guests.
It was late when he entered the spacious
drawing rooms
81 have been waiting for you," she said,
in her, sweetest, lowest tones.
Vo,, boya houoro1 mo ton rvraotlxx Me-
Ames, he replied.
"Let US 60 into the conservatory" she
added. cit is cooler there"
He offered her his arm.
From distant corner Of the room, Edith
saw them.
the next moment, to re-
proach herself with her seldhness. "I will
not begrudge him any happiness" she said
to herself.
"Have you forgotten the last time we
were here together, Mr.. Dering2" Lillian
was asking at this moment.
"No," he answered, gravely, looking
quietly but surprisedly into the beautiful
face beside him.
"Can one ever retrieve q mistake" she
lsked, "when one finds it out ?"
"I do not know" he replied, toying with
IN exquisite rose beside him, as he contin.
1ed: "Can one cause the rose bighted in
midsummer to bloom again in the frosts of
xinter?"
She knew then what he meant, and knew
hat it was too late to retrieve the past.
"We are dealing in similesl she ex-
'laimed, hiding her wound with q proud
mile. perhaps it is the place. Let US re-
urn to our guests"
An hour later Oscar Dering led Miss Lor-
ing TO the same spot.
~ love you, Edith, he said, simply. 81
thought my heart was dead when met You.
I know now that it had never lived. My
darling, will you be my wife7"
ooh, Oscar, you are sure, sure of your
self?"
II Lave been made sure tonight" +" he an |
swered, drawing her close to his heart, and |
breaking of the splendid rose with which |
he had toyed an hour before, to place it in
her hair.
She was too happy to question his words
'r their meaning-too happy even to let |
Miss Ames' congratulations sting, when she |
,aid, scornfully:
"A heart caught in the rebound. Did I |
lot tell your"
Too happy even to be made happier when
The learned she was to share no humble lot |
With the man she loved, but that her we'd
ling day made her Lady Edith Dering.
STRANGE BIRTH MARK.
General Steedman recently said that while
ne was in command at Chattanooga he was