The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-10-27

school-room to give her pupils then
music lessons.
Only one child was there, a pretty
little girl with faxen hair.
"Oh, Miss Grey, Uncle George has
come And he has brought me such
beautiful dolll 1t can turn head over
heels, and can squint and he says it
came all the way from Japan, where
the tea-trays are made, you know"
But this gratuitous information did
not secure the attention expected; and
a few minutes after the child was stum-
bling through her scales in most
reckless and unchecked fashion, as far
as Lillian was concerned.
When half an hour of this sort of
thing had passed, the child got down
off the stool without word.
eyes, Fanny; you may CO." said
Lillian, rousing herself. "Send Charlie
to me for his lesson"
Away went little Fanny, and Lillian
was left to her reflections alone.
Some minutes elapsed, and no "Char-
lie" appeared.
Very bitter were her thoughts, and
the tears kept stealing to her eyes, how
ever much she tried to hold them back.
At last they welled up so fast they top
pied over their brims and rolled down
her cheeks.
She buried her poor, Scared face on
her arms, leaning on the desk, and gave
way to little sweep" over her cares.
Presently she heard voices approach
ing, and little Charlie entered the room,
accompanied by gentleman, both talk
ing vivaciously; but they stopped as
soon as their eyes fell upon her. Then
she heard the gentleman ask in whis-
pered tones that sent strange thrill
through her:
"Who is the lady, Charlie ?"
"That is Miss Grey, my music teacher
She is going to give me my lesson,
Uncle George"
"She seems asleep"
With that tear-stained face Lillian dare
not look up to show them that she was
not.
"I think SO, too, I will call her.
Miss Greyp
"Stay-stay, Churliel Do you know
what her Christian name is? Think,
now."
And there was an earnestness in the
deep tones that went straight to her
heart.
emo, Uncle George; I can't think" "
"Was it, Lillian? Can you remember
that ?"
eyes, yes-it is! I member; it is
in her music-case," exclaimed little
Charlie.
1T can't be her." she heard the MUIR
INJURED tones in soliloquy; and then, "Is
he very beautiful, Charlie ?"
"No. Uncle George. She has big
re mark all down her cheek; so," and
he put his little finger along his face
diagonally. "But her eyes are very
pretty. She was burned
Burnedl" came the whispered voice,
breathlessly.
She felt, at any risk, she must pre-
tend sleep now, rather than admit she
had heard so much.
eyes, uncle. It was at ball few
years ago. And they say she was very
beautiful, and going to be married soon
to lord; but after that ho wouldn't
have her. I know, because heard
mamma tell Mrs. Gre en- all about it,"
She heard deep catching Of his
breath and hurried step forward, and
then he said
"Charlie, would you like me to give
you that Chinese top bought? Very
we'll, then. Go up TO my room and get
it, and you may set to work and play
with it there for half an hour"
Off scampered the boy with a crow Of
delight, and then the school-room door
was closed behind him.
Light steps approached her, and she
felt light hand on her shoulder. She
was quivering all over with emotion, and
the great sobs would surge up and have
vent.
"Miss Grey. you have not been asleep;
You have heard what was said. Are you
the Lillian L once knew-the Lillian
left to become the bride of Lord Walls.
over? Nay, | know you are, and thai
you remember George Howell STILL"
But her face was buried on her arms
as before, and the tears were flowing
silently.
He continued, tenderly and gravely
"Do you remember said was very
patient, Lillian ?-I could wait and hopet
And do you remember what answer
asked you for that night in the conser-
vatory9 Will you give me that answe,
now, my love?"
And he bent over her, and gently
tried to raise her head.
"No, George" she sobbed; "I an
altered since my accident. You haven
seen me. You would not ask me if YOU
had still keeping her burning face il
the sheltering arms.
"Do you not remember what 1 ther
said about your beauty, Lillian? You
face would always be beautiful to me
Then give me your answer before SCI
you, love-"
He drew the music stool toward him
and sat down beside her, with his arm
round her waist.
"Never You shall know whom yol
would marry, George"
And she raised her head bravely.
There certainly was change. A big
dull scar down one side of the face, ant
cutting into the curved upper lip; tn,
eyebrows grown again, but not so finel,
penciled as OF yore; and the dark lashe
, not so deep in their fringing as the,
were when he last saw her.
But, then, the soft, wistful eye
looked up at him through mist o
tears with new and purer expression
and the chastening finger of sorrow hat
:. left light on the pale features sweete
, and caJmer than pride could give.
: And George Howell, as he gazed OF
5 her, forgot the scars and all that wa