The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-24
SIR HUBERTS WIFE.

''Then you will give her to me, Mrs.
Trevor?''
''Most willingly. Sir Hubert" and
Mrs. Trevor's handsome, patrician face
flushed with a glow of qualification as
she signified her consent to Sir Hubert
Glyndon's prayer for her daughter S
hand, '.believe me, there is no one
would more willingly trust with Lilian's
happiness"
A deep breath of relief escaped Sil
Hubert, but his face darkened and
clouded over little as he spoke again.
at shall be the object of my life to
prove that your trust is not undeserv-
ed" he said, ''if Lillian accepts me-"
'.Ifr' Mrs. Trevor broke in, with q
slight accent of surprise. ''Why do
you doubt it?'
II hardly dare hope" he answered.
''She is so young-I am so much her
senior-and 1 have fancied sometimes
that it is selfish in me to wish to bind
our lives together, that
'.Ah! why viii you do yourself so
much injustice?" said Mrs. Trevor, in
terrupting him once more, a little petu-
lantly, for she could not understand his
scruples. ''She is but child, certainly,
with child's heart-my little Lillian!
You need have no fear, Sir Hubert. She
loves you now. When you are her hus-
band, she will love you better.''
So spoke Mrs. Trevor, Liiian's moth
er, and she believed that she spoke for
her daughters good.''
True, there had been n foolish ro-
nance connected with the summer Just
past. A strolling artist had been struck
by the sweet flowcr-face, and had asked
permission to transfer it to his canvas.
The foolish mother had consented. She
deemed Lillian indeed only a child.
Through long ,sunshiny hours she and
the artist had strolled together, or she
had sat patient while he had painted
the young, lovely face, until one day,
or rather just in that wonderful time
when day was not yet ended, and evening
has begun mingling its shadows with
the fieeting sunbeams = little Lillian
listened with a fast beating heart, to q
story new and strange.
This artist loved her, and wished her
for his wife. She heard with the tim
idity of the timid fawn his passionate
expressions of endearment. They
frightened even while they filed her
soul with tumulluous joy.
Il will teach you to love me, little
one,'' he had said. "'Come, will you
not go With me to your mother, that 1
may ask her to give you to me. -
And shyly, with crimson blush, she
had placed her little fluttering hand in
his, and let him lead her whittier he
would.
She had hardly had time to realize
her Joy before it had ended; for her
mother had listened in frowning amaze.
The artist was poor. He had but his art
and his ambition. What were both to
balance Lilian's dover?
ssTake courage. darling, and be true
to me-" he whispered, in his short
Il go to make the for
tune 1 have hitherto despised, but
which now 1 covet for your sweet sake.
With it l will return to claim you. Let
me find you little Lillian"
And the child, amid her sobs, had
promised all he asked.
Yet now-now, when the little green
blades of grass were springing up. to
hide from sight the bare brown earth,
and the birds singing to each other
their love songs in the trees, and the
breath of spring heralded the coming
of another summer, her mother had
come to her and said:
Il have found lover for you Lillian.
He is good and rich, my child. See
to it that you do not mention to him
last years folly"
"a lover, mamma?' the girl had an
swered. ..Oh, have you forgottenP'
Il have forgotten all, as must you.
You will obey me. and later you will
thank me-"
The young face grew very pale.
..Is it not honorable that he should
know, mamma?' Lillian had said.
'.He shall hear all that is necessary
from me-"
He will not want me-" thought the
girl, "when he knows that have no
love to give him..
And the color crept back to her cheek
at the relief the thought brought re-
lief short lived; for that very evening
Sir Hubert Glyndon took in his own
warm, strong grasp her two little cold
hands, and, drawing her to him, stoop-
ed and kissed her brow.
5 She looked up into his face. 1t was
not handsome face. He was not
young lover. A full score of years di-
vided him from his girl sweetheart; but
it was a good face-a true face-and in
it one could read the love he bore her.
AT the mute, questioning. pitiful look
in her dark eyes, a pang had shot into
her honest heart, and it was the mem-
ory of this look which led him to her
mother, who thus had answered him.
..She has loved no one elseP" he said.
Mrs. Tremor smiled little scornful-
ly nj the question.
"A moment since, told you she was
but child. 1t is for you to waken her
heart"
Her words and his own great love
chased away the last doubt.
He was very tender during the short
space of time that elapsed before the
Sometimes he would appear
n little grieved that Lillian would shrink
even from his slightest caress, but he
chited himself for it. Perhaps when
she was his wife-his very Own-she
would one day steal to his side. and
hold up her sweet rosebud mouth, of
her own seeking. for his kiss.
Then he would tell her all that his
long fast. had cost him-then and not
until then.
Their wedding day dawned clear and
bright, and no ray Of sunshine was re-
fiected in the BRIDES face.
81 obey you, mother" she said, when
they fastened the veil of tulle, with the
wreath of orange blossoms on her head
81 obey you, mother, because you
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