San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-08-02

A footstep outside made Lillian
start up quickly. 1t was the postman
on his way to the house.
"Have you any letters for meY'
asked the girl.
"Yes, miss, surely" said the man;
and he found three, handed them to
her and passed on.
Lillian re-entered the iron room,
sank on sofa, and with trembling
hands tore open one-it was from
Jack. AS she read it she found that
other letters had been sent her-who
had them2 Jack was in London
said he was fast recovering from his
wounds, and that he had determined
to come down and hear from her own
lips that she gave him up. And con-
cluded by saying he would be at the
boathouse by 5 o'clock the next even
ing-woud she meet him there?
The next evening meant this even
ing; this evening that ever was; for
the letter had been written the day
before. sI . ..r.. Gig #rl l.
Lillian's delight at this unexpected
news was paramount. She fastened
back to the house determining that
nothing should reveal the change.
She inquired civilly after Lord Black
moor, had five dresses tried on by the
maker, drove with her mother to
pay some calls; and when they re-
turned home it was quarter to five
o'clock. Mrs. Hope ordered tea for
herself in her bedroom saying she
would sit afterward with Lord Black
moor till dinner time, so Lillian was
at liberty. She escaped in the dark
winter afternoon, ran swiftly down
through the park, and as she neared
the boathouse, she saw tall, we'll
known figure keeping out of the way
of observation. Her heart beat so vi
olently that she could scarcely go on,
and then the lover threw cautions to
the winds, and in another few seconds
all that was needful was told, and the
old, old story went on as smoothly as
if no old Lord Blackmoor existed.
Later that night, after Mrs. Hope
and the servants had gone to bed,
Lillian sought her father in the IL
brary.
"My dear girl what is the matter?"
he cried, as the fair form of his
daughter, robed in a light blue dress
ing gown, suddenly appeared and sa
down on, his foot-stool.
Papa, Jack isn't Dead" whispered
Lillian, fixing her lovely eyes on Mr..
Hopes wondering countenance and
fondling his hand.
Isn't he, my dear?" helplessly in
quired the old gentleman who had
been aware Of the fact for some time.
81 am going to marry Jack, papa
"Then don't tell me my dear, don't
tell mel" exclaimed Mr.. Hope, a beam
of delight on his countenance. 81
know nothing about it, mind; if [ did
your mother would worm it out of
me-" For there are still "Caudle
Lectures" dear reader.
"Then, dear, dear, papa--,,you won't
be angry if tomorrow"
"Never, my love, never, as long as
1 know nothing about it," hastily
cried the father, kissing the pretty
upturned face, and adding in whis
per, "Talbot is the soul OF honor, and
l can trust him."
In the gray morning it was Miss
Hopes habit to take a walk. She
took one the next morning, and a
muffied figure emerged from the iron
room to meet her. And by the first
up train these two reached London,
and by the time Lord Blackmeor's
govt relented sufficiently to enable
him to appear at late breakfast,
where he hoped to meet his fair aft
anced, a telegram from Mr.. John
Talbot announced to the scandalized
the apparently scandalized
father, and the mortified nobleman
that Lillian would never wear coro-
net.
She did not do badly, though. An
eccentric godmotner of Captain Tai
bots was so impressed by the fact
that girl had refused a coronet for
his sake that she left him her fortune.
The Invasion of the North,