Osage Valley banner., 1880-04-15

away"
put my arms about her and drew
her head down on my breast
"Tell me all about Il, dear,u | said
- You can surely trust me with your
trouble, LutieP"
Aud then, her fast hidden. her hoart
tlirobbiug aGaifst my shoulder, she told
me her story.
al loved him, Boss, " she sobhod.
"He Is the son, the only son, ot a lady
for whom my old ewploycr worked l.
met him, at first, when I took bonnets
to his mother. Then, afterwards. he
got 10 Joining me ia the street was
foolish, mad, blind, Bess-st least for
awhile. He woocd me aud won me
against my WILL ! couldn't help Il,
Bess Bat very soon ! saw how wrong
it was to meet him clandestinely--n
Wen, dear, l said piiyiugly.
"Ah Bes-, wen may YOU pity mel
For then he offered 10 marry me at
once. He wanted me TO elopc. that
very night. But told him | would en-
ter no family, against the wish Of its
head aud his mother would never con-
sent. And then | broke away from
him.
" The very next day, was sent to
his mothers. 10 fetch bonnet she
wanted altered. He mus, haye told her
Of his offer TO me. She sent for me into
the parlor, a look of mockihg pity upon
her proud face.
"I'u not try 70 repeat what she said
10 me; IN make il rs short rs ! can,
BeSs. IL was her duty 10 warn me of
the danger | was in, she said Her son
had no right to tri1e With me rs he had
been doing, IIe--he alrbady--had a
wife of his own
"There was good deal more, Bess,
but | remember only shat another
woman was bis wife; for, oh Bcss.
loved him, in spite of what have said.
Great heavens, the Shame and agony Of
that hour! ! left her house, almost in
sane, and came homo with the bonnet.
box, ms you know, instead Of going to
the shop Up ia any room, alone, |
fought il ail out, Aud then we came
here, before The week had gone-and
that Is all
"But how can you be sure II is true,
Lutiegn ! said.
"True, Be5s' Why, his own mother
told me So
a" Nevertheless, il may hc falsehood.
| saw the man, tonight, and his face
isn't the face Of william. II he comes,
lMtie, you had better see him--n d
al can't she interrupted "Oh,
can't! The shame would kill mo.
must go away
Bat she had no limo 70 60. lie was
there, the next day, when we came home
from church. Lutte found him in the
sltling-room, awaiting her. l had
passed on, into the dining room, which
was next to IL, when the sound OF his
voice startled me.
"Iu,ie, Lutte, have | found you ct
lastP"
Leave this house, sir! This intru-
sion is unparddnable," cried Lutte.
But his eager tones drowned her in
dignaut words. ilo came up close 30
the table, behind which she had en-
trenched herself, and rested his hand on
it.
81 can mott viii not, hB answered,
mastcriully; "not till you hear me,
lutte. You need not explain. ! know
what sent you futtcriug out into the
world, my precious, little dove. Sec
ing that she had spoiled all my life for
ple, my poor mother confessed the
wrong she had done me. For months,
have been trying 10 trace you. You SAW
my mother. Her desire for my worldly
welfare, her anxiety 10 see me marry a
fortune, caused her 10 seek to separate
us. have no wife, Lutte, and | shall
never have one, unless l can get You"
Only Lutie's sobs answered him. Is.
" My mother, he went ON, :" waits
10 receive you, with open arms, Come
back to me, Lutte, poor, tired, storm
worn little dove, come back 10 your
shelter. Precious, pretty, labor-worn
little hands, y and knew he was kiss
lng thom, ''your toll is all ended. Lutte,
Lutte, have you no word of welcome for
meP Look up, dearA Obi ] have
searched for yun everywhere, and at
last, the dear, old shawl, that used TO
like 80 TO see you wear, was my ,clow 10
your hiding place. ] knew the queer
spots, and the brilliant colors, the in
slant | caught sight Of those baskets.
| was sure; an odd sort Of feel.
ing convinced me that wasn't
mistaken. And il was so, ] hayo
found you at last. Lutte, look up, and
speak to me. Tell me that You have
cared for me Just little, through AT
the dreary months of our separation -
% have cared for you Always ans
swered Lutte, softly, and at that mo-
ment realized what shocking thing /
was doing in listening.
! was at work on an unfinished basket
that we had had left over from the
bazar had found out, at church. that
Mr. Egerton, the young minister, had
been very anxious 70 obtain one, but
was too late, all Of them having been
sold, so ! determined 10 finish that one