The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-07-25

performance. George Bertram was
soon there, of course, rs u lover should
be, to congratulate his dear Lillian on
her fortunate escape, and to express,
also, to Harry Graham, his grateful ac-
acknowledgements for the valuable SER
vices he had rendered.
But whence this strange reversionP
Lillian looks at and regards her de-
voted lover somewhat as she might
have been expected to do II she had
Just taken cold bath and had not yet
recovered from the chill.
Harry left soon after Mr.. Bertram
came in, thinking his presence might
with him the young lady's very cordial
thanks, to which he was of course very
properly entitled, in return for the SER
vices he had rendered. He did not
however, call until the evening of the
fourth day after that remarkable adj
venture. His reason for not calling
was that he felt certain that the pros
pective husband of that young lady be-
lieved that as there was no longer any
danger of her being drowned, he could
easily bestow upon her all the attention
she required.
II am very glad. my dear. that you
were SO happily rescued, said George
Bertram, when he was alone with his
lady-love.
II am gratified to learn that you feel
so much interest in my welfare" was
Lilian's quiet response.
To have the young lady stop at this
point was very embarrassing. II she
had said little more, her lover might
have seen where and how to fit in
remark that would suit the occasion.
A very ugly feeling began to crowd it
self up into his thoughts. Jealousy,
the demon, was catching and twingeing
at q corner of his liver.
'.Mr. Graham" he finally said, "has
shown himself in this instance very
gallant and brave; quite hero"
"Mr. Graham" replied Lillian, ''has
done no more for me than he or any
man of true courage would do for any
lady in q similar position of peril"
and flash of her dark eyes gave a pc
cuiiar and significant force to the
words.
Mr.. Bertram felt like changing the
subject, and began to say something in
a commonplace way in regard to their
approaching nuptials.
"You will not think me capricious,
hope, SIR" said Lillian, "but the APP
preaching marriage you speak of has
no longer any interest to me. have
often heard you boast of your bravery
and of the wonderful things you have
done, but when saw you rush for the
shore at the first indication of danger,
as if the preservation of your own
precious life was the only thing that
inspired you, a broad gulf suddenly
opened between you and me, and /
made up my mind right there on the
ice, that whether l lived or died you
should never be my husband. That is
all, SIR"
'Mr. Graham" said the discarded
lover, "must have made himself very
interesting to you"
"Mr. Graham" said Lillian "has
never, either to-day or any other time,
uttered word implying that he felt
any special or personal interest in me,
unless such an interest as he has mani
tested in saving my life at the risk of
his own; as you would have done had
you not cared more for yourself than
for anyone else."
The rumor that Miss Ashton had
discarded her lover, soon after that
skating adventure, soon spread through
the town, and on the third day was
openly spoken of by her father, when
countermanding some orders relating
to preparations for the proposed mar
riage.
Under those circumstances Harry
felt at liberty to call at the Towers, and
had the satisfaction of knowing that
his visit was neither too soon nor too
long.
No allusion was made. either then or
for several weeks afterwards, to the
engagement which had so suddenly
terminated; but his visits were con-
tinued, and before the end of three
months it was generally known that
Harry Graham was the accepted lover
of Miss Ashton.
The wedding day was approaching,
and all the circumstances were provo
cative of that state of mind into which
men about to be married occasionally
fall, when they feel disposed to tell
the affianced everything they can think
of likely to interest her.
"The hope, my DEAR" said Harry,
''that you would some day be my wife
has been the guiding star of my life.'
Lillian heard the declaration with
deep interest and delight, and then,
with her head resting upon the Shout
der of her lover, she said
II know, my dear Harry, that the
gossipers are saying, and will say, that
/ discarded George Bertram with the
hope of getting you in his stead. There
is no truth in that charge. My graft
tude for the noble impulse that
prompted you to imperil your own life
to save mine would have been mani
tested in very poor way if it had led
me to discard worthy man whom /
had loved until then, with the hope of
subjecting you to the much greater
peril of marrying one whom 1 had no
reason to suppose that you loved. I
dismissed Mr.. Bertram because felt
that could not trust my life and my
welfare in the hands of weak, self
loving coward. l had not the least
reason to suppose that your perilous
risk of your own life to save mine
would be followed by your offering me