Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-09-29

low easy chair then, seating himself
nearly opposite to her, he resumed
81 only want now to ask one or two qucs-
tons Do you mind telling me your pre-
sent name?"
She strove to answer, but for time
her quivering lips seemed rs though they
would refuse their Office. At length only
a single word was audible.
"Milman
"That before ?-I mean your maiden
name"
marion Lockhart Wilson,"
EXACTLY. l only wished to be sure of
making no mistake"
The sad eyes Of the poor frightened
girl asked the question her tongue could
not put his motive in making these in
quiries, North lost no time In replying
to the glance more pathetic than words
81 have trust to fulfil when | I'M
lcrtook it I thought should have been
in England much earlier than has actual
| ly been the cases, otherwise ! should
have cndcavored to intend to the matter
| by other means than personal Inter
view; l must express my regret for my
delay. About twelve months ago 1 was
up country long distance from Bombay,
surveying in wild and lonely district,
when was fetched one evening to see
sick person, nm Englishman. illness will
do its work sharply in that climate; four
and twenty hours will often see the be-
ginning and tho end, md l now found
this unfortunate stranger ut the point of
death"
Mr.. North paused; but ho saw by
Marion's face that the conclusion was
half-divined,
$50 on" whispered she, the breath
coming and going fast between her part
ed lips. "That person was ?"
"Henry Milman'
North had almost expected her to faint
or fall to weeping ; but Marion did
neither Her head dropped back against
the chair and she closed her eyes for
moment in silent thought or prayer.
odd he suffer much?" she murmurcd
at length.
No doubt he had suffered great pain"
answered North, even straightforward
and truthful whatever the temptation to
the contrary might be. "But by the
time reached him he was fast lasping
into unconsciousness.
"Did he did he speak at all about
religion ?" she asked next hcsitatingly."
81 read him psalm, and said n prayer
at his desire"
Had he no message to send TO me ?"
"The power of speech was beginning
to leave him when l saw him; he took
thought, you perceive, for the news of
his death to reach you. He was but Just
able to give me the necessary names and
one or two bare particulars, which at
once took down in writing In this pack
ct" continued North, placing in her
hands small sealed parcel, ''you will
find one or two articles, and the precise
date of his death, place of burial, and so
forth, BE assured that everything was
MS thoroughly attended to as his friends
could possibly desire concluded the
young man, without adding that it was Of
his care and mt his expense that all this
had been done for the destitute stranger.
She rose from her seat to leave the
room. North attended her to the door.
and, opening it, waited for her to pass
through but before doing so Marion
turned around, and her gratitude shining
out through her wet eyes, she said simp-
~ and softly: "Thank you for your
goodness to him, l thank you from the
bottom of my heart. | suspect your
kindness was even more and greater than
you have told me-"
The next moment Talbcrt North was
alone.
| Before there was chance of Miss
Lockhart's being down the next morning,
or Mr.. and Mrs Montagu's return, Tai
bot North had left again. Mrs. Montagu
was i'll despair at having missed her favo-
rite brothers brief visit; but letter
which she received from himself little
later brought consolation, for it announ-
ced that he had abandoned the idea of
returning to India, and was making ar
engagements for settling in England
"Ie must have been offered n splendid
appointment to altar his plans so great
ly," said Mrs. Montagu, sagcly.
And her husband was about to indorsc
this opinion, when he Glanced to catch
sight of Miss Lockhart's face, illumined
with tender roseate glow.
"There is the true cause of the
change" said he to himself. eve are to
have wedding"
And Mr., Montagu was right both in
his conclusions and his .prophecy.-7hc
IrgOsy