The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-05-06

a sudden resolution came to her. She
WOULD go to the CITY where he lived.
Her pride forbade her seeking him, but
maybe, II he were not dead, as she often
reared she might one day meet him IN
him.
Inc nope OF meeting him-of hearing
hlm-vanlshed, when she found herself
size and immensity
She had secured n comfortable home
With a good, motherly woman, but her
purse was growing scanty, and she coulu
not tell how long it might hold out, I'M
less she could find some means OF sup
port, when one day, sauntering idly on
the street, glanclng into a shop-wlndo"'
she saw some fancy articles, painted by
hand.
Gathering up her courage, she went IN
and asked if there was sale for that sort
OF work, and If she might be allowed 10
test her skill.
From that hour all dread of want van
lshed. and. now that hands were busy,
she found less time to brood and think
want tan painted, the man SAID
to her, one day. You may make an
original design, but it must be very
beautiful.
Lena heart had been very sad all day,
as. at evening. she unfolded the satin,
and sat down, brush in hand, TO fulfill
this latest order
1T is a gift to an expectant bride,
the shopkeeper had said; and the words
had recalled all the long waiting, the
weary disappointment, those words
might bring.
And, as she thought. she sketched,
and the hours crypt on and the evening
grew into night, and the night into
morning. and still she bent over her
work, silent engrossed.
The next day, the gentleman who had
given the order for the fan sauntered into
the store. With an air of pardonable
satisfaction, the man drew it from the
box.
1.-The young artist has outdone herself,
sir" he said. II never saw more
beautiful piece of work, and the design
is entirely her own. =
But he checked his sentence.
The gentleman had taken the fan in
his hands, and was examining it with
startled eyes, and face from which every
trace of color had fled
Could it be that the word Nemesis
was painted upon the satin? No, this
was all he saw On one side was a
woodland scene, while, seated on a log
beneath the leafy branches of an old
oak, were two figures, one a man, and
one n woman. His arm was about her
waist. Her lips seemed to move. her
whole expression was tuu of love and
trust, aud his of promise. A little laugh
ing stream ripppled at their feet. A
bird sang overhead.
Where had he seen Just such a scene
before? tie turned the fan on the other
side Summer had vanished 1t was
winter here. Naught but the fast-falling
snow drifting in white heaps upon the
earth.
WHO painted this?" he asked, in
hoarse, changed tones.
The man gave the name and address.
How well he had known it but how
came Lena here? And what was this
which stirred through every fibre of his
being? Could it be that his manhood
might vet redeem him?
With swift steps he walked to the
house of his betrothed. Stately and
beautiful, she came into the drawing
room to greet him, and bent her head
that he might touch her forehead with
his lips.
"Helen, do you love me?"
She had known him for long years, but
never mad she heard such earnestness,
such real passion, in his tones.
1t was as though his very soul hung on
her answer. Strange, she had never
ireampt his love for her was more than
such as she had felt for him.
A tinge of color crept into her cheek.
II have promised TO marry you, Earl
You know that / am fond of vou. aud
highly respect you. Will not this sat
sly your non. 81 ~. t,,,,, :. ,,,,u
heart mine-all mine, so that, to tear me
rom it, would be TO tear 1t asunder?"
mo, Earl If it were for your happi-
ness or mine, could give up my lover
md still hold my friend and cousin"
He seized her hand and carried it to his
lips more fervently than he had done
even in the moment of his courtship.
Then, taking the fan from his pocket, he
it, and told her all the tale of
his summer romance.
II thought L could forget her." he
,aid, in ending, land that when the
snow fell and did not return to her, she
would cease to remember me: but see.
-.
love. I do not know what brings her
here. / have heard nothing from her
since last summer But tell me co-.si'
mine, what must do? leave it all 70
you"
81 said that / would be your friend.
Now, 1 will be hers as we'll Go to her.
Earl. Tell her all the truth. Then, if
she forgives you, make her your wife. If
she is alone in the world, as perhaps she
may be. bring her to me. She shall be
married from my house, as my sister. 1
accept this fan, not as lovers gift, but
a pledge to the truer, more honest bond
which henceforth binds us"
Lena was exhausted after her sleep
less night, and, throwing herself on the
lounge in the sitting room of her kind
hostess, she had fallen into a dreamless
Long Earl Lysle stood and watched
her, until the magnetism Of his glance
aroused her. She thought that she was
dreaming of the fan; but as he stooped
and took her in his arms, she knew that
1t was reality.
She listened silently while he told ber
all-even his struggle for foroetfnIness
and his ignorance of his own heart and
its demands. She heard that abe had
sent the paper with the new, OF bar
fathers death to the wrong address, that
he had known nothing of the long.
lonely winter to which had succeeded
this wonderful, glorious summertime of
hope.
Poor child She had no room for
pride in tho heart so filed by his image.
She forgot that there was sore need for
forgiveness.
He loved her now! OF that shewas
assured; and after all, the snow had only
lam upon the ground to warm the earth,
and foster the rich, sweet violets, which
now bloomed and clustered at her feet,
ready for her to stoop and pluck them.
Perhaps some women, in their pride.
would have rejected them. She could
not; but, STOPPING. kissed them, then
tIlansplanted them to her heart, there to
shed sweet fragrance forevermore.
PROF TIDY, in paper read before the
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