Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-06-23

child.
i haven't papa, she said, dropping
her voice; he died, oh, long before
can remember, but ! never ask about
him, because it always makes mamma
cry. Would you tell me the time,
pleaseY
Ernest glanced at his watch. Near
ly one o'clock, he told her.
Then ] must bid you good bye she
said, or | shall be late home And
setting down her basket she bethought
herself OF the hat, which she proceeded
to adjust on the top other golden curls.
DO you come here every day? she
asked of Ernest.
Il shall be hefe every day for a lit
tie 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 rested on his own, her lips parted
in another smile and then she was
gone. fastening away with all possible
speed across the sunny fields, bearing
her sweet burden of howers-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 painting but even that had
lost its wonted charm-he was rest
less, 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 invested
the whole OF his money, and he was a
ruined man, his sons prospects also)
left him-.his six months bride, leav-
ing behind her cody worded note,
intimating that she could share power
ty with no one, and that he need not
seek her, as she never intended to re-
turn.
And he never had sought her; but
the love he had borne her was as warm
in his heart now as it had been on the
day they were 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. He had lived such a
lonely life since his father died (broken
down by the trouble that had come up
on him in the loss of his wealth. and,
nothing to care for in the world but
the art he was. welded to, the child
had come across his path like ray of
sunshine in the darkness. But one day,
as he was returning home, she came
dancing toward him, and seizing his
hand as if their acquaintance had been
of years instead of days, she i1nmedi-
ately began an animated conversation,
Esuch as only children car. begin on the
spur of a moment 4
Ernest was certainly amused, if not
interested; but as their way along led
them past the brook where they had
met before, Lilly broke away from him
and ran eagerly toward it. 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 up
on the bank.
Wet clothes and severe fright was
all the harm the child had sustained;
and as Ernest proceeded to wrap round
her a 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.
4 have gathered my water-lily now,'
said the young artist, smiling; and I
would not exchange it for all the 9TH
ers in creation
He took her, entirely enveloped in
the warm shawl, up in his strong arms
and continued his walk, now in the di-
rection Of Lilian's home.
4 am so sorry-mamma will be out,
she said, lifting her beautiful eyes to
his face. She would so liked to have
thanked you herself. But doyo know
which way to go?
II want you to direct me, Lily, he
said.
The distance was short, as he sup
posed; and as they reached the gate of
pretty villa residence, which had oft
en- attracted Ernest's attention before
by its quaint picturesqueness. Lillian
informed him that this was 'her home
4 thank you so very much, said the
child as she stood once more upon the