The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-06-28

the speaker mana cordlally.
"Jack Dudley, as ! live! What are
you doing in town at this time of the
year, when the hunting is so good
down in your shire?" he says.
ooh, the same old story; that beast
~ lawsuit" answers Jack, shaking his
blonde head savagely.
as that not decided YETI" queries
Lion. "But come: walk down with
me, and tell me the news"
Nothing 10th, Dudly complies, and
the two saunter slowly on, meeting
with many glance of approval from
for Lionel, though much
changed, is still u goodly fellow tolook
ON, and they make handsome pair.
After all the choicest bits OF gossip
have been retailed for Stanley's bene-
fit, Jack says, suddenly:
isn't it sad about poor Milly Carrie
TONI"
"Sad? What do you mean?" stam-
mers Lionel, brcathlossly.
Haven't you heard? They say she
has never recovered from that attack
she had last summer; and, from last
accounts, she is dying slowly"
dying" 4
The voice that repeats the word is
so altered that Jack starts, and turn
ing, sees Lion, with a face from which
all vestige of color has vanished, gaz-
ing at him with a look of horror.
Then it all comes back to Dudley {:
the old story of young Stanley's devo-
ton to beautiful Millcent Carleton,
last season.
He says, contrtely;
Lion, forgive me! Ihad forgotten.
Don't take it so hard, my hoyl She
may"
But he gets no further: for Lion,
shaking off his OBTAINING hand, PUSHES
blindly away.
He never stops till he is in a rail
way-carriage, flying along as fast as
steam can carry him to his poor i'll
used darling, as he now feels convinced
that she is s~9 s
"Dying! dyingw The shorrible
word seems to beat into his brain. 1t
keeps time with the whirling of the
wheels. The shrill scream of the en-
CINE seems to echo it:
"DyingW
He has loved her, and lost her; but,
please heaven, he will see her once
again.
Meantime, in an invalid-rOom, far
away, a fair girl, with her head in the
lap of an older woman, is saying,
family:
aunt Mercy
"Wcll, my dlrling?'
"Do you think he will Gomez
"My love, cannot tell. But if our
message reaches him, there can be no
doubt of it,"
"Do you know, something seems to
tell me he is not far off. Oh, if / could
only see him once more before | die!"
The words have ring of passionate
pain, that goes to gentle Aunt Mercy's
heart.
"My poor Milly" she murmurs, pit
yingly.
Milly is now but the wan ghost of
her former self. She rises, with sigh
and takes a seat in a great cushioned
chair by the western window, where
she can watch the pale spring sunlight
shining on the distant hills.
After awhile, her eyes close, and
Aunt Mercy, glancing at her, thinks
she is asleep, and rising, softly leaves
the room.
An hour passes.
Still Milly sleeps on, smiling now
and then, as if her dreams are pleas
ant.
Suddenly, the door is pushed open
ard some one comes in with faltcr-
ing step. At sight of the fragile fig
ure in the great chair, he utters low
cry, and crosses the room in two
strides and Milly wakes to find the
face she has dreamed of bending over
her, in an agony of pity and grief
"Lion," she says, softly, "you have
come? Oh, my dear" she goes on, Il
have 50 longed to see you, to ask you
to forgive me. Hush! let me say my
say now-indeed, you misjudged me
dear! 1t is true, | was changeful and
capricious; but never to you. Fol
the first time, ! really loved. And,
with a sob, 81 never knew how much
| cared for you until | lost YOU"
"My love, my love! I've killed your
he means, drearily.
NO" she says, with a tender little
smile, "it was just that | could not
live without you. / know all about it
Lion how you overheard Lady Stan,
ton and the Major talking behind the
fferlfs bit yott'i1cver stopped VI think
there might be design in it all. Yes
it was meant for you to hear. Lady
Violet has always been an enemy 81
mine, and she knew you were there
You might have trusted me a little
more, dear"
'"But you will get well formy sakc?'
whispers Lion, tenderly, an hour later
after the story of their love had beer
gone over, again and again fss|
81 will try" she returns, with u hap
Ply smile, which itself is an augury o
| success.
We will leave them now to Their
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, their now certain
hopes. AS we pause for last glanc,
at the pair, the dying rays of the sun
light are lingering lovingly on Lionel'
blissful face, and lighting with glory
the wealth of her glorious hair 4 ;tnt
the sound of distant wedding-bells,
premonition OF their own, falls softl,
on our ears.
| etHsanRE &HnAAIx