The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-10-08

and Effie did, also. Where's the |
use of trying to deceive me SOP"
He colored, and for an instant
looked as if he would have spoken
hastily the next instant, however,
the cold quiet look came on his
countenance.
Il am not trying to deceive you,
Lillian but there are some things
which | cannot tell youl
Engaged people should never
have mysteries from each other"
she answered, Indignantly.
"The mystery is not mine, Lii
ianl"
"As you choose" she retorted
=" but / do not choose to me the butt
of your practical jokes any longer.
Please to consider our engagement
at an end !"
Lillian, do you mean what you
say?"
Certainly l dol"
She drew the glittering engage
ment ring from her finger and tossed
it toward him, but he, standing
with folded arms made no effort to
catch it and it rolled down into the
gutter. And thus they parted, these
two, who had been affianced lovers
for so long!
The weeks passed by-Bleak
March eoftened into violet-eyed
April, and somewhat to Lilian's dis
appointment, perhaps, Meredith
Aliston made no further effort to
see her. Size grew pale and heavy
eyed, but she would have died ere
she would have sent to her lover, say
ing, Il have been wrong-come to
me once more
For Lillian Graham persisted in
believing that Meredith alone had
been in the wrong.
She sat at the head of her fathers
dinner-table one evening, mechani-
calIy devoting herself TO the duties
of hospitality, when a well known
name sounded on her ear.
Allston," said one, pussy-look-
ing old gentleman, who was eating
great deal of lobster salad. Yes, |
saw the notice of the death in the
morning paper. It's one of the All
stons of Gramercy Gardens-Mere-
dith Allston's cousin. He was hope
lessly insane, and no one ever was
him until of late years, when the
old gentleman insisted on having
him at home. He didn't believe in
asylums, he said but he was SO
sensitive on the subject he never al
lowed 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 Mere
dith. Got loose one night. believe,
and paraded about town, behaving
himself so well that half the people
mistook him for his cousin-ha, ba,
hal"
And the old gentleman swallowed
half glass of champagne, and turn
ed very purple in the face.
Lillian listened, feeling as if she
were in a dream!
This, then, was the secret of the
strange misunderstanding which had
parted herself and her afiianced low
er. The cruel secret which Meredith |
Allston was obliged to conceal-the |
mistaken identity of the two cousins
had been at the bottom of her heart
wreck She could hardly sit through |
the tedious courses of the formal
dinner party and reioicei when the
time came for herself and Mrs. Wal
lis to leave the tablet
Etfie,' she cried, breathlessly, as |
soon as they were alone, "did you
hear what Mr.. Van Ness said?"
Yes isn't it strange story?
her cousin assented. What re-
lief it must be to the Allstons But
what are you going to do
TO send for Meredith at once" +"
Lillian answered, promptly.
And confess yourself to have
been in the wrong?"
Yes, certainly :"
Effie Wallis smiled and elevated |
her eyebrows.
"Then you have more moral cour-
age than / have "
But Lilian's heart secretly urged
her on-and she could not rest until /
she had summoned Meredith ALI
ston to her presence.
He came somewhat surprised, yet
not lacking in dignity.
Meredith" she said softly, COM
ing up to him, will you forgive
me? / have been wrong and hasty, |
but l love you still. ] never knew
until tonight of-of the cloud which
overshadowed your household"
81 knew you were misunderstand-
ing me, Lilian," he said calmly, out
my lips were sealed by a promise
exacted by my father "
"Then you will forgive me?"
He smiled.
1T is easy TO forgive one we love"
he said, gently.
Meredith" she whispered, Z" do
you love me as you once did ?"
my sentiments have undergone
no change, Lillian"
And the lover-like kiss he pressed
upon her brow was the signal of
newer and more auspicious be-
trothal, whereof the handspring was
perfect love and trust.