American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-07-16

the water-lilies He savs-oh, Ross,
listen!-that my little one laughed with
delight, and that when they came to
those fatal lilies the child leaned over
the boats side and, with cry of Joy,
caught one of the blossoms in his
hand; but. while trying to secure it, he
fell into the mere and sank at once.
The boy seems to have been paralvzed
with fear. He made some attempt to
save him, but, finding it impossible, he
hurried back to land. He says there
was no creature near. lie drew the
boat up on the bank, and then, instead
of running to tell us what had hap
pened, fastened to hide himself. He
was dripping wct-for he jumped into
the water TO save the child and, fear
ing to 60 home with his wet clothes,
lest any questions should be asked. and
knowing that in the excitement he
would not be missed. he slept in the
woods all night, and so took this chill
which will end in his death"
She stopped abruptly and held out to
Ross n faded knot of blue ribbon that
had been torn in two.
"See. Ross-here is proof of what
he saws. The boy tells me that as lit
tie Hugh fell he clutchcd at the Shout
der-knot my darling wore, and it gave
way in his hands. He has kept it ever
since"
And Leam," cried Ross, "has
sacrificed her freedom for thisp'
..She will be free now" said Lady
Gunner.
"Free2 Yes-with a blight on her
life that nothing can remove; she will
he free. but the odium will cling to her
to the last!'
NO. cried Lady Cumnor, "you
are mistaken! There will be no faint.
no blame, no shame. Everybody will
know how Lean loved you. because of
what she did to save you. So far from
loved and honored than ever"
81 should like to see the. boy" said
Ross. .and hear the story from his
own lips" -.
He went up into the room where the
boy lay dying. There Ross found
Gotham, the boatman, and the lawyer
who had written down the statement,
and the clergyman who had listened to
1t. Sir Austen was comforting the dy-
ing boy with kindly words.
.'To think" said the old boatmaE,
while the tears dropped down his face,
.'that my lad should have done such a
thing as that and kept it to himselfr'
81 was frightened" gasped the boy.
81 thought they would hang me for it.
1 dared not tell"
My poor Leamr' sighed Sir Aus
ten.
The boyturned his haggard, dying
face to him.
a never had the lady out of my
mind. sir,'' he said 81 heard mother
read how the young lady said she was
guilty; but knew that had done it,
and no one else. Ask her to forgive
me.F sir was 50 afraid of being
Fl.k
Half an hour afterward the boy died.
his ]ast moments soothed by the cler-
gyman at his side. .sif - -
Some days elapsed before Lean was
liberated, and then she became the
heroine of the day. Her story was in
every newspaper and on almost every
lip. 1t was another nine days wonder,
and then it died away; but in the hearts
of the people who lived near her home.
and in the hearts of those who loved
her, the memory of her great sacrifice
never died.
crossed the threshold of the mere, was
Lady Cumnor; and Lean, whose heart
was all aglow with happiness and love,
forgave her her past hostility. She
kissed the proud, fair face bent before
her in such utter humiliation.
Il WISH" she whispered, gently
"oh, how wish, Lady Cumnor, that l
could give you back your little son.
1t was Lady Cumnor who fixed the
wedding day; she was SO humble. 40
loving, SO patient, so anxious to make
Lean and Ross happy, that they could
not resist her.
at was on Christmas Eve" she said,
"that came here; and l brought with
me misfortune and sorrow, Let me
atone for it by bringing to this Christ
mas Eve gladness and love-
1t was strange day for a wedding,
as every one agreed; yet it had aeharm
of its own. No weddng-day could
have seen two fairer brides; for Prince
Cenci had won beautiful Lady Viola.
and they were married on the same day.
That same Christmas Eve, while the
wedding-guests were all busily occu-
pied, Lady Cumnor called Ross and
looked right queenly in her wedding
attire. She took the hand of her hus-
bands son and held it in her own.
Ross she said, gently. - did you
a cruel injustice once; now let me atone
for it. My little son in Heaven has
taught me many lessons that | should
never have learned from earthly wis
dom. Let me atone for my injustice
now. Heaven may bless ME with other
children; but your inheritance, Ross,
shall be yours. have asked Sir Austen
to leave Larchton Mere to you and your
heirs forever; and he has decided to do
SO. Kiss me, and let us bury the past"
And he did SO.
Another matter that touched and
pleased Ross was this. On going into
the gallery where his mothers picture
hung, he found it wreathedl with ivy
and Christmas berries. He brought his
wife Lean to look at it, and Lady Cum
nor followed them. The carol singers
were singing just then, and the Christ
mas bells were Ginning merrily.
+ Lean turned and clasped her arms
round the stately figure, always for the
future to be loved and never again
feared. They formed Il pretty group
when Ross lovingly put his arm round
his wife's shoulders, smiling the while
into his step-mother'sface.
"What a change" he said, "from
the Christmas Eve when you came!
How perplexed and anxious was then,
and how happy l am nowp'
MY heart has been touched by the
vision of little child,'' said Lady Cum
nor. Heaven knows best. Perhaps.
if my boy had lived, l should always
have been proud, jealous and envious.
believe his bright, pure little spirit