The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-12-15

AT this moment, while she was still
uncertain; while her heart lenped into
her throat, and then stopped beating,
while she felt dizzy, and about to fall,
and had to clutch at the railing, Dossy's
companion, dropping the child's hand,
darted forward, for he had recognized
Lizzie, and came hurrying over the
meadow, waving his hat. He reached
the stile, was over it in bound, and
the next moment was at Lizzie's side.
"Thank God 1 have found you at
last !" he cried, clasping her sinking
form. "Poor, timid darling Did you
think I had deserted you 2"
What Lizzie would have replied, il
anything, we do not know; but he gave
her no chance; hurriedly, as if life and
death depended on it, he went on to
tell his story.
"Not one of your letters ever came
to hand" he said. "They were inter.
cepted, as l discovered at last. /
wouldn't mention how, under other cir.
cumstances, but you, at least, ought to
know the whole truth. The fact is, dar-
ling, that while my parents were eager to
welcome you as a daughter, 1 had q
cousin, an ambitious girl, who had al
ways lived with US, and who, it seems,
wished to marry me, not, of course" he
said quickly, "that she loved me, but
merely to secure the title and position.
Well, to make long story short, she
bribed the postmistress at the village
to give her your letters, so that I never
heard word from you, or about you,
till, at last, in despair, I came over, be-
fore intended, to solve the mystery
-"
"Came over?' said Lizzie, family,
and guiltily, conscious how she had
misiudged him.
"To be sure" repeated Ross Dever-
eaux, frankly. "Ah' little skeptic,
you doubted me. did you?
"Indeed, indeed" began Lizzie.
But he stopped her with kiss.
"'Ihen it was," he went on, "that
heard for the first time of your fathers
death. But no one could give me any
information of your whereabouts, L did
not know your relations in New York,
but found ont their names, though it
was some time, and one was at New.
port and another at Saratoga, and a
third at Virginia Springs. Before l
could do anything came the news of my
fathers sudden death, and summons
home, for am, you know, his heir as
to both the titles and estates. When 1
had been at Deyereaux hall for week
or so the postmistress came up, tremb-
ling and penitent, for I was now Sir
Ross, and she had discovered by this
time that my cousin was not to be Lady
Devereaux. Then the villa plot was
revealed. Darling, ever since I have
been wild to discover you. hurried
up my business and left England at
once. But for long time was foiled.
Your city cousins, on whom had re-
lied. could not tell me where you had
gone. All they knew, and they told it
with evident confusion, was that your
mothers father had sent for you, and
that he lived in this State, and in this
part of it. So | have visited every
square mile of this and four other coun-
ties, and only lighted on Dossy by
accident, to-day. didn't even know
your grardfather's name."
There was much more to tell, details
with which we will not tire the reader,
eager questions and as eager replies.
Lizzie could hardly c;edit her happiness.
Dossy danced around, shouting in glee.
If you ever visit England, and should
ever go in the neighborhood of Dever-
eaux hall, you will hear everybody
talking of the beautiful Lady Dever.
eaux whom Sir Ross brought home
from America. Should you see her
you will recognize, as we did, in the
gracious matron the Miller's grand
daughter.