The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-07-06

rested on his own, her lips parted in an.
other smile and then she was gone, has
tening away with all llpossible speed across
the sunny fields, bearing her sweet bur
den OF ilowers-types Of her own pure
soul.
Ernest Darrell stood gazing after her.
Was it the touch of her light fingers that
had brought so strange a thrill to his
heart =? He sat down to resume his paint
Ing 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 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 ruined man, his sons prospects
also) left him-his six months bride
leaving behind her cooiy worded-note,
intimating that she could share poverty
with no one, and that he need not seek
her, as she never intended 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
they were married. And as he sat Mt
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 wealth. 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 i'll 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 a mo-
ment.
Ernest was certainly amused, il 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 ut 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-
diatcly Ernest came to the rescue, and
ere she became totally submerged, had
succeeded i'll drawing her out upon the
bank.
Wet clothes and severe fright was
all the harm the child had sustained;
aud as Ernest proceeded to wrap round
her thick plaid shawl, which he gem
orally carried with him to protect his
feet from damp grass, she began to
laugh at her little adventure,
"T have gathered my water lily now"
said the Young artist, smiling; "andl |
would not exchange it for all the others
in creation
He took her, entirely envelopcd in the
warm shawl, mp in his strong arms and
continued his walk, now in the direction
Of liian's home
81 am SO sorry-mamma will be ont,
she said. lifting her beautiful eyes to his
face. "Shc would SO liked to have
thanked you herself. But do you know
which way to go?"
81 want you to direct me, Llly, he
said.
The distance was short, as he sup
posed; and as they reached the gate OF
pretty villa residence, which had often
attracted ErneSt's attention before by itS
quaint pirturesqnenesS Lillian informed
him that this was cher home.
II 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 you herself don't
know how to-"
."You need not thank me at all, dear
child" Ernest Darrell assured her, with
the old shade OF sorrow darkenlnS his
face. II only hope the consequences
of what has happened may not be
serious he remained WIN :I nei UNI LILLY y
Hioule-"Scu "on''''i' whom '''''"'' '''''''
nurse came forward to claim her
young Charge and then, after giving a
brief explanation OF the whole Hll'ir'
he bade LILY goodbye ana "hikeu oil'
About week subsequent to this event,
Ernest Darrell happened 10 DC P0sJ.n8 Is
the house where little Lillian dwelt, when
he heard her voice calling after him
down tho sum sunny n,' IT"" ,,,ooso Gonna hack"
she wos saving. in brcathless caGcrness
mamma uocs SaAI ~ n.r ,;o "" ,rhon L feIi
a. nnd 1na thank hrHoy y0" Tor saving "'0 WHICH ''
,ha anu ohiiJ's iii md almost before he was
.ne enii n, i she a %oJ % led him through the
a"n.e ""toa and ", IT, nm tbe steps to the portico.
"'IS Thon across the wide hall abe dragged
him laughing and chatting ooiIv the
wmIc, INTO m1uriously f'ifhi'"e'' i'',n'
"peie hOnutifnI n woman with dark hair
"A 6e"ntaI Dea.,'ai oy"s ~@ r"se from an ottoman
ana oflen,t. pas', ond nJ' cam" toward them
at their on'r'u'' "'',' ,'''o =. and ,bon