Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-08-31

Sn0ulQ demand IT, NOW, cnllu, you
know the trouble that has been weigh
ing upon me, for knew that it would
be almost impossible for me to raise the
sum necessary, and that we must leave
the dear old home that we bad loved so
we'll. And now this very morning.
Mr.. Burton came and told me that
kind friend hearing of the intended
foreclosure, has paid the amount in
full
who is it that helped you motherY
THAT is the strangest part OF 1t, Lily.
Mr.. Burton said he had strictly prom
ised not to tell the name of my bene-
factor. AS to who it can be, have no
| idea.' .
But though she did not say so, Lily
had; AND when later, in her usual i'm
pulsive way she told John Holloway
how sorry she was that she had been so
rude to him, and then asked him frank
ly whether he was not the kind friend
who had come so OPPORTUNITY 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, it is certain that from that time
the manly young farmer was often in
Lily's thoughts, while Richard Blake
was just as steadily losing ground. But
John of course did not know it. He
was not one to wear his heart upon his
sleeve. and at length, after hard strug-
gle, had decided to abandon his hope
less suit and leave the field to that rival,
who evidently was the favored one.
Lily noticed the difference, but woman
like she cid not appear to care, and so
the months went by much the same,
until at length the crisis came.
The village III which our heroine liv-
ed was just on the shores of little bay,
and many were the pleasure parties
that enjoyed trip over its limpid wa
tiers.
One afternoon Richard Blake obtain
ing Mrs. Lawrence's consent, invited
Lily to take a sail.
When they reached the beach who
should be waiting in readiness to man
age the sail boat but John Holloway.
'Hollo, Holloway, are you turning in
to boatmanY exclaimed Blake in aston
ishment.
Lifting his cap to Lily, John answer
ed:
Not exactly; but Joe came to me in
great distress; he did not feel well
enough to go out, but had promised not
to disappoint you, and knowing l could
manage boat he asked me to take his
place. Joe has done me many good
turn and so could not refuse him. he
added, wrongfully interpreting the lit
tie flush that had risen in Lily's face as
she listened; and he said, too, that it
was your sister who was to be your
companion. Else L should not have
come; would not for the world be a
mar sport
The bitterness in his tone touched a
like chord in Lily's heart. For some
little time back she had been slowly
but surely learning lesson-the differ
ence between real worth and mere gilt
ter; and now her heart sank, as she
saw, or thought she saw, how CON-
pletely her conduct had driven almost
all affection towards her from Johns
mind, and that she had thrown away
her own happiness,
We'll, Holloway, I'm sure I'm much
obliged. It's very kind of you,' was
Blake's reply.
And the two young men soon had the
little craft in readiness for its fair
freight.
Blake had seen Johns liking for Lily,
but his vanity had not been alarmed ;
he knew by experience the power Of
his dark eyes, and Lily Lawrence was
like any other young lady, if she were
ten times prettier. So he reasoned.
They foated lightly over the blue
water, anchoring after awhile under a
bluff, and dropping their lines to fish.
Lily chatted gaily in her own fascinat-
ing away, and never had she seemed
more lovely in Richard Blake's eyes,
while poor John who had thought of
late that he had driven her image from
his mind, felt the OH charm creeping
over him again stronger than ever be-
fore but he hid his pain manfully, and
kept his part in the lively CONVERSE
ton.
Time crept on, and just as they de-
cided on returning, to their dismay the
heavens suddenly clouded over, and a
peal of thunder brought them to their
feet in alarm. Squalls were not COM
mon upon the bay, but one was evident
ly upon them, and John saw the great
danger. A moment and they were DASH
ing at mad rate over the waves, while
overhead the awful darkness gathered
more ominously all the while, and
every now and theu vivid flashes of
flame seemed to envelop them on all
| sides.
Suddenly there was binding glare,
then terrific flash, and half the mast
dropped into the seethlng water. For
an instant John was almost stunned;
theh his FIRST thought was Lily. Where
was she? A second more and he
caught the CLEAN of yellow curls in the
cruel waves among the tattered sails;
the ropes had twisted about her light
figure and dragged her over the bow.
He sprang to Blake's side.
If she is to be yours, it is you who
Il - L.. A n