Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-07-31

the tnIgn. DuG oy InIs lime utnois
had reached them. and the lunatic
was overpowered by numbers and se-
cured.
Louis, however, lay like one dead
prostrated by the shock, and with the
blood pouring from his ghastly wound.
Unless il could be stanched at once,
he must bleed to death; but where
were the cloths to apply to 1t before s
message could be sent to the farm
house?
This question was soon answered.
Hermione was dressed in dainty
gown of embroidered white linen. with
a mantle Of the same material over ner
shoulders.
She tore this in pieces, and, kneeling
by him. applied one after another to
his wound as each in turn became wet
with blood.
Her white hands were colored GRIM
son, and her dress WAS spotted with
the same ensanguined hue-but she
faltered not She, who had always be-
fore felt faint even at the sight of
blood, now unfinchingly played the
part of surgeon until more skilled help
could arrive.
In these terrible moments Hermione
first learned her hearts secret With
out Louis the whole world would
henceforth be as nothing to her.
For long days afterwards the youths
life trembled in the balance, but at
last his naturally strong constitution
triumphed, and he began to mend.
Guy and Hermione were rarely abb
sent from his bedside, and one day
Louis surprised them by saying, with
faltering voice, while his pale lips
parted in half smile:
cousin Guy, we are even One
good turn deserves another. You
saved my reputation, and i rather
think you would have been q dead
man now if it hadn't been for me. It's
worth ones while to earn fellows
gratitude, isn't it?'
What does he meanp Is his mind
wandering?" asked Hermione, looking
from one to the other with surprised
eyes.
He is thinking of the handbook
you lost, Hermione. BE was afraid l
would connect him with the forgery on
account of his fancy for copying
signatures.
':What silly boy! 1 would as soon
imagine an angel from heaven could do
such a thing rs you, Louis" and
Hermione took his poor pale hand and
kissed it, bright tears falling upon it as
she did so, in spite of her efforts at
self-control. "And l am sure Cousin
Guy never once thought of it, did
you?" turning almost fiercely towards
her guardian. '1f you did l would
never forgive your
Guy smiled. Her indignation was so
childishly impulsive that it took away
the sting of her words. Then, too, he
did not deserve it.
Gently. Hermione," he said, "or
you may hurt Louis feelings. You
won't hear Cousin Guy scolding, will
you, boy?"
But Louis mad no answer. He was
for the moment oblivious of the pres
ence or even of the existence of any
one but Hermione.
Her agitation had betrayed her secret
to him, and he was so exultantly. reck-
lessly happy that he rocked not of
anything outside of the one blissful
fact that his love was returned by
Hermione.
Il see. 'Tis the old, old story"
said Guy, gravely but kindly; and he
took Hermione's hand and placed il
within Louis, "snd l will now leave
you alone to settle matters between
You, merely saying to you. Louis, that
the Upland Farm is yours. and that
shall secure to you the funds with
which to carry it on successfully. As
you said, little while ago, '.One
good turn deserves another and
thus prove the truth Of the adage. You
proved it previously in what was al
most your DEATH"
As soon IS Louis was fully recover
ed, he and Hcrm .nne were married.
1t was not until several years later
that the truth about the bank-book
came out.
1t had been left carelessly upon the
library-table, and a thief. who had
gained unobserved entrance to the
house. had stole it. and at the same
time had picked up one of Louis prac-
tice-papers, thinking that it would
serve to aid him in drawing the money,
as he had confederate who was
handy enough with his pen to take ad-
vantage of the fac-simile to Guy Fell
lows handwriting.