Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-07-28

occupation totally forgotten in the new
pleasure he felt in oonVersing with the
child.
81 haven't a apapa," she said dropping
her voice; ''he died, oh, long before /
can remember, but 1 never ask about
him, because it always makes mama
cry. Would you tell me the time,
pleaseI"
Ernest glanced at his watch. "Near-
ly o'clock" he told her.
"Then / must bid you goodbye"
she said, cor / shall be late home"
And setting down her basket she be-
thought herself Of the hat, which she
proceeded to adjust on the top of her
golden curls.
"Do you come here every dayY she
asked of Ernest.
II shall be here every day for a little
WHILE" he answered her.
"Then / hope will see you again.
she said artlessly. "And thank you so
very much for getting me the water
lily"
For a moment her little ungloved
hand res.rl ON his own, her lips .Aarted
IN another smile and thea sac was
gone. fastening away with all possible
speed across the sunny fields, bearing
her sweet burden of flowers-types of
her own pure soul.
Ernest Darrell stood gazing after he.
Was it the touch of her light fingers
that had brought so strange a thrill to
his heart? He sat down to resume his
painting, but even that had lost its
wOnted charm-he was restless, and
his thoughts wandered back to what
might have been some years ago, when
he married girl who loved him only
fOT his father wealth, and who (when
the securities failed in which old Mr..
Darrell had invested the whole of his
money, and he was a ruined man, his
sons prospects also) left him-his six
months bride-leaving him coolly-
wOrded note, intimating that she could
share poverty with no one, and that he
need not seek her, rs she never intend
ed TO return.
And he never had sought her; but
the love he had borne her was as warm
in his heart now as il had been on the
day he was 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. lie had lived such a
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 i'm the
world but the art he was welded TO.
the child had come across his path like
a ray Of sunshine i'm the darkness. But
one day. as he was returning home she
came dancing toward him, and seizing
his hand as IL their acquaintance had
been of years instead of days, she inn
mediately began an animated conveTsa-
tion, such as only children can begin
on the spur Of moment
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 il. She looked
back once or twice to laugh at Ernest,
and in doing SO tripped over a stone
hidden in the grass and fell forward
into the water.
A cry burst from her lips, but i'm
mediately Ernest came TO the rescue,
and ere she became totally submerged,
had succeeded in drawing her out upon
the bank.
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.
81 have gathered my water lily now,' IS
said the young artist smiling; 'and l
would not exchange it for all the others
I'm creation"
lie took her, entirely enveloped in
the warm shawl, up in his strong arms
and continued his walk, now in the
direction of Eilian's home.
Il am so sorry-mamma will be out, y
she said, lifting her beautiful eyes to
his face. "She would so liked tc
have thanked you herself. q. But do you
know which way to goY"
81 want you to direct me, Lily" he
said.
The distance was short, rs he sup
posed; and as they reached the gate OF
a pretty villa residence, which lsRd
=. ofto,, oNNr,nNoI ,NNo,tfnn 10
fore by its quaint picturesquesness
Lillian Informed him that this was "hel
home"
al thank yon very much." said the
child, as she stood once more upon thC
ground and rang the bell. ~ wisl
mamma could thank you herself
, don't know how to-"
"You need not thank me at all, deal
7 child" Ernest Darrell assured her, will
the old shade Of sorrow darkening hi
face. "I only hope the consequence!
of what has happened may not b.
serious" He remained with her unit
middle-aged woman, whom Lillian
: called nurse" came toward to claim
: her young charge; and then, after Civ
ing brief explanation of the Who'll,
/. affair, he bade Lily goodbye ant
walked on.
About n week subsequent to thi
. event, Ernest Darrell happened to b.
passing the house where little Lillian
dwelt, when he heard her voice callin,
after him down the sunny road:
~Come back-ol, please come back J
she was saying. in breathless eagerness
mamma does want TO see you so much
and thank you for saving me when
fell In the brook"
And Ernest felt his hand graspe,
: in the child's and almost before me wa
aware of it, she had led him througl
: the gates and up the steps TO the POI
tico.
Then across the wide ball she drag
) ged him. laughing and chatting gail
the while, into a luxuriously furnishe