Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-11-11

meeting him, when she heard behlni her
the quick step of the horses hoofs. His
rider drew rein at her side.
so am to find you at last" he said.
His voice sounded the same as of old; the
bright, CHEEKY tone was unchanged.
'Have yol seen Lille, lately9" she at
last found courage to ask.
''No," he answered, and then she saw
the frown gather on his brow, and an eX-
preston of pain comes about his lips. 81
see as little of your cousin rs possible now.
You know, Miss Loring, | am no longer a
subject of congratulation."
''Yes, l know, she said. 81"
"Don't pity me, " he interrupted; "Hcan't
bear that quite yet"
Il did not mean TO pity yOu," she re-
piled.
"Oh, if Lillian had not spoken of the
heart caught in the rebound She thought,
when week after week Oscar Dering would
find his way to the rectory garden or the
rectory parlor, to spend long hours with Its
fair young mistress.
She understood so we'll why he calAe, be-
cause now and then Lillian's name drifted
into the idle talk, and because, as he grew
stronger, he dared speak of her and of the
love he had borne her. 1t was q mingled
pain and pleasure to listen. II only she
had not learned her own heart the pain
| Dat ak, do
stined to learn it more fatally, yet, as one
morning strolling through the woods to-
gether, the sharp report of q hunters gun
close beside them startled them both. The
next instant Der companion sank white and
senseless ON the sward beside her, while
the affrighted hunter, whose misaimed
charge had entered his arm, hastenen for
ward.
"Bring assistance quickly" exclaimed
Edith, while she raised the heavy head to
her lap; Oscar, speak to ME, "shemoaned.
"Oscar! Oscar"
Over and over again she repeated his
name in the same accents of desparing love,
until they had forced their way into the
lite-pulses of his being and aroused them
to ACTIVITY.
He opened his eyes in half-wandering
look, as though delirium had overtaken
him,
At this instant the hunter returned with
assistance, and half hour later the wound
ed man had been borne TO the rectory, the
wound dressed, and the knowledge gwen
that it was merely flesh wound, painful,
but not dangerous Yet his recovery was
tedious affair
He grew moody and distracted. 1t gave
| him more time to think of Lillian ana his
loss, Edith thought, even while abe 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 put them, Mr. Dering?'
she inquired.
"Mr. Dering2" he answered. "Did |
not once hear you call me Oscar, or was it
a sweet fancy waited from dreamlandl"
Again the crimson tide dyed her face.
Don't 7" she said, as though he had
hurt her, and fastened 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 see2
A grand ball was to be given at Ames
court. Lillian insisted that Edith should
be present, and the invalid also was sum
moned to the feast.
On the evening of Miss Ames's ball she
picked up the paper sent down by the after
noon mail from London. She was sudden
ly startled at seeing the name of the man to
whom she so lately had been betrothed.
1t was published decision of the court
that owning to some disability, the title
could not descend to Oscar Dering's cousin.
He was, then, Lord Dering still Fool
that she had been. But tonight, while he
still thought her in ignorance, she must win
him back.
1t was late when he entered the spacious
drawing rooms.
'IhaVe been waiting for you" she said,
in her sweetest, lowest tones.
'You honor ME toogreatly, Miss Ames, ''
he replied.
''Let us go into the conservatory" she
added, F" it is cooler there"
He offered her his arm.
From distant corner of the room Edith
saw them.
81 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.
mo, " he answered gravely, looking into
the beautiful face beside MN.
"Can one ever retrieve a mistake" she
asked, ''when one finds it out?''
Il don't know" he replied. "Can one
cause the rose, blighted in midsummer, to
bloom again in the depths of wInter2"
She knew then what he meant.
''We are dealing in similes;" she exclalm.
ed, '1et us return to our guests"
An hour later Oscar Derlng led Miss
Loring to the same spot.
81 love you, Edith,'' he said, 81 thought
my hearr was dead when l met you. My