The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-03-12

calico dress, holding milk-pail il
either hand. She would not set thu
pals down and wipe her eyes for fear HI
would know that she was crying. Sh'
stood with her head erect.
Osborne looked at her misery for some
time, enjoying it, then he said: "Whal
is the matter, Lizzie2 Have I offended
you2 Why do You turn from me?"
"I-I--" she began, but she
could not say any more. He stepped
down into the milk-house. The buckets
fell, and the little arms went up to shield
her face. He laid his hand on her
shoulder and turned her gently around.
"Whyp he said, in pretended sur.
prise. whats the matter? Has one
Of the cows gone dry?"
"Oh, Mr.. Hicks !" she sobbed. deeply
mortified that he knew she was crying.
Don't cry" he said, kindly changing
his tone. "J'll be back next summer.
care you, really?' she gasped.
eyes, really; but / don't suppose
you'll be here. You'll be over there
with that corn.shelling man."
ooh, never |" she sobbed.
"Now, don't cry. Look upi" He
took her hands from her face. "The
winter won't be long, and I'll be back in
June"
"Will you, sir ?" she asked, looking
down as he held her hands, and catch
ing her breath in quick sobs.
81 will, indeed. ] am going to say
goodbye to you now, as l shall not see
you alone again"
He bent down suddenly and kissed
her, and then went quickly away. His
conscience troubled him little. He
did have u little conscience, surprising
as that may seem.
at won't hurt her" he said to himself.
"She'll forget all about me in two
weeks; and Helen will never know any
thing about it,.
"But it did hurt Lizzie. 1t hurt her
then as she lay on the milk-house floor,
sobbing hopelessly.
He went away the next day, and then
began the weary waiting for juno to
come and bring him back. Autumn
went slowly by-winter came and passed.
Every Tuesday evening during that
time Jason came over to borrow some
thing, and on Thursday evening came
over to bring it back. On Saturday
evening he walked home from singing
school with Lizzie.
On Saturday evening in the begin
ming Of March he screwed up his courage
again, and asked her to MARY him.
She was not surprised now, for she had
begun to understand his attentions, bu.
it panied her, for her answer was Il firm
"no." She had too much sense TO ex'
pect to marry Osborne Hicks, but she
would never marry any one else. March
and April dragged by; there was only
May left to live through. But now
that the time Of his coming was really &c
near Lizzie did not know how she coulC
wait patiently till he came.
Mrs. Grimes had taken boarders earl
in May. The day after their arrival sh,
came over to see Mrs. Henson. He
house was full, she said, and one Of tn,
ladies, Mrs, Cooper, had some friend
who would like to come, but as she (Mfs
| Grimes) could not accommodate them
they would be willing to board at Mrs
Henson's.
They we're talking in the stting-room
and Lizzie was ironing in the kitchen
with the connecting door open.
IL would be glad to take them. re
piled Mrs. Henson, "but we have bu
one spare room, and that is promised t,
Mr.. Hicks. He will be here in n littl,
while now"
Lizzie stopped ironing to listen
Had they heard from him2
"You needn't expect him, responded
Mrs. Grimes. "Mrs. Cooper knows hin
well, and she says ho sailed for Europ,
two weeks ago with his wife,"
His wife |"
"Why, yes Didn't you know h
was married? Mrs. Cooper told me al
about it. He was married last Christ
mnS-"
"Good gracious, Lizzie. :" Mrs. Hon
son cried, as tlat-iron fell to the floor
"lIave you broken anything?"
Lizzie made no answer, .nd the mex
moment the outer kitchendoor was pulle,
shut. She ran down the garden path
holding her hands to her head Sh
ran to get away from herself. She wa
suddenly bereft of her reason. and sh
did not know where she went. The creel
was Mt the foot of the garden. Sh,
stopped nm instant to look into it, thel
cast herself forward.
Down Mt the village that night body
was found iloating in the water. 1t was
poorly dressed, with scanty skirts cling
ing around it, and with yellow hair abou
its neck. 1t didn't matter so much
The world went on Just the same as il
Farmer Ilenson's "help" had not lost hel
reason and drowned herself. Mrs. Hen.
son got another "help", without delay.
Jason had long ago taken to borrowing
tools of Smiths, who had daughter
and II daughter who looked favorably on
him and his borrowing. Osborne Hicks,
in n foreign land with his bride, had
forgotten that Lizzie Stone ever lived