The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-06-09

some years ago, when he married girl
who loved him only for his fathers
wealth, and who (when the securities
failed in which old Mr.. Darrell had in
vested the whole of his money, and he
was a ruined man, his sons prospects
also) left him-his six months bride
leaving behind her cody worded-note,
intimating that she could share poverty
with no one, and that he need not seek
her, as she never intended to return. a.3-
And he never had sought her; but the
love he had borne her was as warm in
his heart now as it had been on the day
they were married. And as he sat at
his easel there, in the field where little
Lillian had left him, he wept for the
memory of her who, in those days, had
not been worthy one throb of his noble
heart. .........- ... -...
Several days elapsed before he saw the
little girl again, but during that time
she was hardly once absent from his
thoughts. He had lived such lonely
life since his father died (broken down
by the trouble that had come upon him
in the loss of his wealthy and, with
nothing to care for in the world but the
art he was welded to, the child had
come across his path like ray of sun
shine in the darkness. But one day, as
he was returning home, she came dane
ing toward him, and seizing his hand as
if their acquaintance had been Of years
instead of days, she Immediately began
an animated conversation, such as only
children can begin on the spur of mo-
ment.
Ernest was certainly amused, if not
interested; but as their way along led
them past the brook where they had
met before, Lily broke away from him
and ran eagerly toward it. She looked
back once or twice to laugh at Ernest,
and in doing so tripped over stone
hidden in the grass and fell forward into
the water.
A cry burst from her lips, but imme-
diately Ernest came to the rescue, and
ere she became totally submerged, had
succeeded in drawing her out upon the
bank. Es
Wet clothes and a severe fright was
all the harm the child had sustained;
and as Ernest proceeded to wrap round
her thick plaid shawl, which he gen.
orally carried with him to protect his
feet from damp grass, she began to
laugh at her little adventure.
sI have gathered my water lily now,"
said the young artist, smiling; "and /
would not exchange it for all the others
in creation" ...... .
He took her, entirely enveloped in the
warm shawl, up in his strong arms and
continued his walk, now In the direction
of Lilian's home
81 am so sorry-mamma will be out, "
she said, lifting her beautiful eyes to his
face. ssShe would so liked to have
thanked you herself. But do you know
which way to go?"
'1 want you to direct me, Lily, he
| said.
The distance was short, as he sup.
! posed; and as they reached the gate OF
| a pretty villa residence, which had often
attracted Ernest's attention before by its
| quaint picturesqueness. Lillian Informed
him that this was cher home" tsl
81 thank you so very much, said the
| child, as she stood once more upon the
ground and rang the bell. 81 wish
mamma could thank ouhersef II dom
know how to-" ri .s.ra.}a.e r. t.eg- -
s'You need not thank me at all, deal
child" Ernest Darrell assured her, witt
the old shade of sorrow darkening hi
face. 81 only hope the consequences
of what has happened may not ,bt
serious" He remained with her until {
middle-aged woman, whom Lillian called
stnurse," came forward to claim hel
young charge; and then, after giving I
brief explanation. of the whole affair
he bade Lily goodbye and walked on.
About week subsequent to this event
Ernest Darrell. happened to be passing
the house where little Lillian dwelt, whe1
he heard her voice calling after hin
down the sunny road: II i.,4ye[.s., III
"Come back-Oh, please come back!
she was saying, in, breathless eagerness
'.mamma does want to see you SO much
and thank you for saving me when fel
in the brook" --zr4 -'f.-se.r-
| And Ernest felt his hand grasped il
the child's, and almost before he wa
aware of it, she had led him through thu
gates and up the steps to the portico
Then across the wide hall she dragged
him, laughing and chatting gaily tn
while, into a luxuriously furnished room
where her mother sat- 81 5fi-s-
A beautiful woman, with, dark hal
and Oriental eyes, rose from an ottoman
at their entrance and came toward them
At least, she came half way, and the
tottered back, with deathly pallo
overspreading her countenance; Will.
he-Ernest-dropped Lilian's hand ant
stood gazing at that agonized face.
"Marian-my wife!'
ssErnest! Oh, is it possible that W
meet at last?''s 81 .'f'' 9lac3 ! a.-sp0 i ,
? There was dreadful silence, durin,
which, at sign from her mother, Lila
| &xv< IL ofk "a
seven long years. - - ~
The stern, grave face of Ernest Dar
re1 was sterner and graver still-evel
Lillian might have shrunk from it thel
and Marian, the woman who ha.
blighted his life, fell at his feet. %
"Oht Earnest, my husband - m,
she cried. 'T have suffered deeply
Suffered" repeated Ernest, in cold
rigid tones. "Have you ever though
of what have suffered?"
eyes, yes; ten thousand times" re
piled Lilian's mother, in voice well
has been the undying worm of an accus
ing conscience. Oh, Ernest, I ! hav
been justly punished for my wickedness
/ never knew how dearly I loved yo
until had lost you-until / had sacri
feed that which would have given tn
best years of my life to bring back. Re
member what I had always been
spoiled, petted child, with never q wis
ungratified, and it seemed 30 hard to fac
poverty-even with you. was yer
young-only seventeen, remember, Ell
nest-and all through the dim vista {
years that lay before me I saw nothin
but want, penury and deprivation.
fled in q moment Of madness, dehrium-
anything you like to call it-leaving be
hind me that cold note, in whicl
IT bade You never seek me.
did not go home, for my parent
would have Immediately have CON