Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-10-31
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& FRA Diavo1o!'
on are mistaken, Lillian.

Fra Diavo1o!' 81 $.z
You are mistaken, Lillian 5.
!: Z am not Mistaken" she answered,
positively. I saw you there, and Effe
did, also. Where's the use of trying to J
deceive me SO 2" T. ~. ~. X J.
He .colored, and for an instant looked
as if he would have spoken hastily; the
next moment, however, the cold, quiet
look came on his countenance.
81 am not trying to deceive you, Lii
ian; but there are some things which /
can not tell your
Engaged people should never have
| mysteries from each other" she an
swered, indignantly.
1.-The mystery is not mine Lilian!"
''tAs you choose" she retorted; ''but
I do not choose to be the butt of your
practical jokes any longer. Please to
consider our engagement at an end ]"
Lillian, do you mean what you say?"
Certainly I dol"
She drew the glittering engagement
ring from her finger and tossed it to-
wards him, but he, standing with fold
ed arms, made no. effort to catch it, and
it rolled down into the gutter. And
thus they parted, these two. who had
been atfianced lovers SO long!
The weeks passed by-b]eak March
softened into violet-eyed April, and,
somewhat to Lilian's disappointment,
| perhaps, Meredith Allston made on
| further effort to see her. She grew
pale and heayy-eyed, but she would
! have died ere she would have sent to her
lover, saying, Il have been wrong
| come to ME once mOre!'
For Lillian Graham persisted in be-
| lieving that Meredith alone had been
| i'll the wrong.
She sat at the head Of her fathers
dinner table one evening mechanically
devoting herself to the duties of hospi-
tality, when a we'll known name sound
ed in her ear.
+ "AlLston," said one, pussy looking
old gentleman, who was eating great
deal Of lobster salad. Eyes, I saw the
| notice CT the death in the morning pa
per- It's one Of the Allston of Ora
mercy Gardens-Meredith A]lston's
cousin. He was hopelessly insane, and
no one ever saw him until of late years,
when the old gentleman insisted OH
having him at home. He didn't believe
in asylums, he said; but he was 50 SEN
sitive on the subject he never allowed
any one to know the poor young man
was at his house, A fine looking young
fellow, too; they say he looked very
much like Meredith. Got loose one
night: I believe, and paraded about
town, behaving SO well that people
mistook linn for his co1sin-ha, ha, hal"
| And the old gentleman swallowed
half glass of champagne and turned
very purple in the face.
Lillian listened, feeling as if she were
in o dream!
This, then, was the secret of the
strange misunderstanding which had
parted herself and her afianeca lover.
The cruel secret which Meredith ALL
ston was Obliged to conceal-the mis-
taken identity Of the two cousins had
been at the bottom of her heart wreck!
She could hardly sit through the tedious
course of the formal dinner party and
rejo1ced when the time came for herself
and Mrs Wallis to leave the table!
'"Efie," she cried hreathlesslv, as
soon as they were alone, "lid yon hear
what MIR. Van Ness s5aid?"
! eyes isn't it strange story" her
cousin assented What rellet it must
be to the Allstons, But what are you
going to do?"
| "To send For Meredith at onee!' Lii
ian answered promptly.
"And confess yourself to have been
in the wrong?"
eyes, certainly"
eyebrows.
| "Then you have more moral courage
than l have"
| But Lilian's heart secretly urged her
! on, and she coall not rest until she had
summoned Meredith Allston to her pres
ence.
"He came somewhat surprised, vet
| not lacking in dignity
MEREDITH she said softly. coming
| up to him, "will you forgive me? L
have been wrong and hasty, but love
you still. [ never knew until tonight
of---of the cloud which overshadowed
your household"
II knew you were misunderstanding
me, Lillian" he said calmly, "but my
lips were sealed by promise exacted
by my father"
"Then you will forgive me?"
He smiled.
1T is easy to forgive those we love-"
he said gently.
Meredith" she whispered. do. you
| love me as you once did 2"
my sentiments have undergone no
| change Lilianr
The lover-like kiss he pressed upon
her brow was the signal Of newer
and more suspicious betrothal, whereof
the handspring was perfect love and
trust.