South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-06-16

on me, for l knew that it would be
impossible for me to raise the sum
necessary, and that we must leave the
dear old home that we had loved so
well. And now, this very morning.
Mr.. Burton came and told me that a
Kind friend, hearing OF the intended
foreclosure, has paid tho amount in
full
who is it that helped you, mo.
ther?'
That is the strangest part OF it, lii
~. Mr.. Burton said he had strictly
promised not 10 tell the name OF my
benefactor, and rs 10 who il can oe /
have no idea
But though she did not cay SO, Lily
had and when later, in her usual i'm.
pnlsive way, she told John Hollaway
how sorry she was that she had been
so rude to him, and then asked him
frankly whether he was not the kind
friend who had come 80 opportunely
to her mothers relief, his manner
confirmed her suspicious.
1t is said that gratitude is neighbor
to love- and whether that be true or
not, 1t Is certain that from that time
the manly young farmer was often in
Lays thoughts while Richard Blake
was Just as steadily losing ground
Dut John, OF course, did not know il.
lie was not one TO wear his heart up
on his sleeve, and at length, after a
hard struggle, had decided 20 aban.
don hia hopeless suit and leave the
field 10 that riva! who evidently was
the favored one. Lily noticed the
difference but, womau-iko, she did
not appear 10 care, and so the months
went by much the same, until at length
the crisis came.
The village in which our heroine
lived was just on the shores of a little
bay and many were the pleasure par.
ties that enjoyed trip over its limpid
waters.
One afternoon Richard Blake, oh.
tanning Mrs. Lawrence consent, in.
vited Lily 10 take sail.
When they reached the beach who
should be waiting III readiness to mau-
age the boat but j Ohm Holaway.
Halo, Iioliaway, are you turning
into boatman?' exclaimed Blake, in
establishment.
Lifting his cap to Lily, John aa.
swcred
Not exactly; but Joe came to me
IN great distress, saying he did not feel
we'll enough 10 go out, but had prom
lsed not to disappoiut you, and know
ing | could manage boat, he asked
ne to take his place. Joe has done
me many a good turn and so / could
not refuse him, he added, wronofullv
interpreting the little flush that had
risen Ill Lily's face as she listened ,
'and no said, too, that it was your sis
ter who was to be your companion.
Else should not have come; | would
not for the world be mar-sport.'
The bitterness in his tone touched
q like chord in Liiy's heart. For some
little time back she had Leen slowly
bet surely learning a lesson-thc dif.
ference between real worth and mere
glitter and now her heart sank "a
she saw. or thought she saw, how COM
pletely her conduct had driven all af.
lection toward her from Johns mind,
and that she had foolishly thrown a.
way Lcr own happiness,
We'll, uol!away, Pm sure I'm
much obliged. It's very kind Of YOU
WAS Dlake's reply.
And the two young men soon had
the little craft in readiness for It's fair
freight.
Blake had seen Johns liking for
LILY, but his vanity had rot been q,
harmed: he knew by experience the
power OF his dark eyes, and Lily Law.
renee was like any other young lady
If she were ten times piettier. So he
reasoned.
They iloatcd lightly over the blue
water, anchoring aftera while under
bIalf, and dropping their lines TO fish
LILY chatted gayly in her own fasci-
mating way, and never had she seem.
ed more lovely in Richard BlalSe's
eyes, while poor John, who had
thought Of lato that he bad driven hor
image from bis mind, felt tho old
charm creeping over him again stron-
ger than ever before; but he hid his
pain manfuIly, aud kept his part in
the lively conversation.
Time crept OF, and Just as they dc.
c.dc1 on returning, to their dismay
the heavens suddenly cloudod over
and appeal Of thunder brought them TO
their feet ~ alarm. Squalls were not
common upon The bay, but one ,yas
evidently now upon them, aud John
saw the great danger. a moment
and they were dashng ut mad rate
over tho waves, while orerheal the
awful darkness gathered more omi.
nously all the while, and every now
AMI then vivid flashes of flame seem.
ed TO envelOp them on all sides.
Suddenly there was a binding glare,
then q terrific fash. and half tho n,aat