Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1881-11-29
MIscE.LLAHEo Gus.
tIbIAN's MISTAKE.

&9ILIAN Whitney looked ont into the
~ gathering twilight, her fair face with the
nut brown curls clinging about it, brought
out in startling relief by background of
vivid blush roses
The love>light shone and glowed in Lilian's
wondrous gray eyes, and a faint smile of
perfect peace and happiness curved the cor
nors of the proud, almost naughty mouth.
And how could she be other wise than rsr>
fectly happy this evening? Was she not ex>
pecting her lover-noble, handsome Frank
Carletou7 Only week ago be had poured
iuto her ears ,he story of his love. and had
asked her to be his wife
Aud she-she did not clearly remember
what answer she gave she only knew that
she was filled with 3 joy aud happiness that
was almost pain at times. Aud sho smiled
softly and blushed, as she looked at the dia.
mond ring, which cleaned in the tender
light OF the glorious June moon, Just eraud>
" rising behind the far off purple hills.
The faint aud plsiutiva cry of the whip>
poorwill was horne to her ears Oh the bree.cs
scented with june roscs A dreamy look
came into Liisn's eyes as sho slowly repeat.
ed a few limos Frank Carleton had read TO
her few days before -
"And ~hat,is SO rare As n day in June9
Then Beavsn triss the esfth Il t be in tano.
And over it softly her warm ear lays.
sss+
Nov the heart is SO fall that q drop ovorsIt it
We are happy now because Gcd will it,"
eyes," murmured Lillian, tI am hsnpv
| now because God has willed that Frank Car
Teton should meet me aud ask me to become
his wife. What have l ever done, wonder.
that such grand, noble man should love
me? 7" And rich, happy blush, rivaIIiug
in eolor the blush of the June roses, came
over her delicate checks.
The lovc>light in her eyes became bright
er, the blush on her check deeper, for she
heard foot>step which she could never miss
take. With fluttering heart Lillian ahraok
back among the rose bushes, thinking foudIy
that Frank would soon find her.
q 5utsFrauk Carleton was not alone for a
woman, tall and graceful 10 form, dressed in
sombre black was walking beside him. Lillian
,peered out at them With wild, Jealous papg
| at her heart. The strange woman's beau,is
full face cleaned white as marble in tho
moenlight.
Hark Frank was speaking, and Lilia;n,
strained her ears to hear. What look of
love aud devotion there vas on hts face as
be bent over her Lillian clenched her bands.
aud hor lips grew white aud rigid
'Dear Maud" he said, softly and tender
", "you can never guess how very, very
L
you are free, and nothing shall part us
again."
"Nothing, Frank ?" she said, looking tip
at him and Lillian could see the passionate
love shining in her eyes. "Not even your
marriage with this beautiful Miss Whitnsy?"
"Surely not" he answered, almost re-
proaehfully. "Why should it2" And then
they passed on.
With low moan Lillian fell prone among
the rOsc bushes. A rose which she had
/ plucked stuug her hand cruelty With its sharp
thorn, but she scarcely needed it s; the thorn
in her heart was too terribly real for that.
| Tho Juno roses bsnt lew over her. aud the
dew drops fell softly from them, like tears
| upon her white, uPtuEned face but still she
lay there.
And this was The man she loved This
was the msn whom she had thought 90
grandly noble-this man who, she doubted
net, had deliberately intended to wrong her
Lillian did not stop TO reason-did not stop
to srgGe that there might be mistake, that
deceit and falsehood had ever been foreign
to Frank Cstleton's nature. She was too
nadly jealous aud wounded for that.
And SO the next day Frank received
small psckage-a few books, some old love
letters, and diamond ring. There was NO
note of explanation, but he knew who had
sent them.
Enraged and astonished, he Immediately
sought Lillian for an explanation but The
servant who snsvered his impatient ring said
that she was "not at home"
a week lster, Frank Carleton started fer
the West; and so these two lives. that have
been all in all to each other, driftcd farther
and farther apart.
: Five years later. II. was the svsning oil
Mrs. Rodsrick Fofrsst's bali, aud the besi
society Of Melville vas there. Lillian Whit;